98 A Sportsman at Large 



unproductive, and so on and so forth, though the fish kept 

 bulging in between whiles. I tried every fly recommended 

 by Gallagher, as well as my own particular fancies, but all 

 to no purpose. 



At last there was a mighty splash and plunge. I thought 

 that a bolt from the blue had descended on the tantalizing 

 salmon, but a simultaneous yell from old Pat indicated from 

 whence the seismic disturbance had arisen. 



' Take that, yez dirthy, ungrateful omadhaun," he shouted. 

 " Uts not the loikes av yeu teu be playin' the fule wid the 

 quality, bad cess teu yez for a slimey, mangey scaled, ill- 

 conditioned cod fish ! " 



Pat had hurled a great rock at the dour and disappointing 

 brute. 



I introduced my tenancy at Burrishoole as a bit of local 

 colouring to set off the capture of my first salmon, but now I 

 have started on this very sporting let I may as well deal with 

 it here and now, without respect to chronological sequence. 



There was an infinite variety of sport to be enjoyed in this 

 delectable pitch. Had I known as much about the devious 

 ways of feather, fur and fin as I do now, I could have dupli- 

 cated my tally and evolved all sorts of gamesome sports. 



As it was, Ted Jaquet and I, together with the various 

 guests that from time to time honoured our shack, found plenty 

 to employ us. We had an eighteen ton smack, very broad in 

 the beam, and somewhat lethargic under sail. Hers were not 

 exactly the perfumes of Araby, for they were redolent of the 

 sea, and of the scaly crop reaped therefrom, plus the usual 

 soupon of tar and bilge water. She was euphemistically 

 named White Wings. Hardly appropriate, having regard to 

 her grimy sheets. 



But she served us well. 



In her we cruised about the 365 islands of Clew Bay, and 

 even made several attempts to reach Clare Island conspicuous 

 nine miles west of the bay itself but on each occasion stress 

 of weather and the " safety first " principle constrained us 

 to go about. 



I am afraid we did not take proper advantages of the sea 

 fishing which my later acquired knowledge now assures me 



