278 SPORTS AND ANECDOTES. 



rowed me down in my boat, which in those days I 

 kept at Ballina for the purpose of salmon fishing, to 

 the mouth of the river Moy, which was a capital 

 place for seals, and where I have seen a dozen or 

 more together, at low water, lying on a sand-bank 

 at the bar, which at certain tides was high and 

 dry, enough to prevent vessels entering the river. 

 When the tide began to flow and the salmon began 

 to run up, the seals followed them, and upon the 

 occasion I name I killed one, not quite as big as a 

 donkey, but so big that it was all the two men could 

 do to get him into the boat. 



Taking advantage of the flowing tide we rowed 

 back to Ballina, where we landed, and were soon 

 surrounded by admiring Paddies, who were loud in 

 their congratulations at his anner having killed the 

 big sale. " By dad, that's a fine fellow," said one. 

 " In troth, that's a grate sale," said another. u Sure, 

 that's niver good for ating," said another : " but them 

 bastes is full of ile, and you've only to bile it down 

 to get endless of grase from it, and it's capital good 

 for shoes. By the powers, it's a grate fine baste, 

 however." 



"Well, boys," said I, "when I've got his skin 

 off you shall do what you like with him, but I want 



