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sides were so high and the pools in many places so small we could 

 not cast, and had simply to drop the tail fly in the water, and when 

 taken by a trout, we got sport and no mistake, for the water was 

 deep, with, of course, another fall or steep rocky outlet, which if the 

 fish got over, or into, he was lost ; and it was in such places we 

 generally met the heaviest. Of course, we lost several, and would 

 have lost many more but for the assistance the keeper gave us with 

 the landing-net. 



In other places along this stream we met rapid runs and eddying 

 pools, studded plentifully with huge boulders rising high out of the 

 water, while the bottom was rugged with rocks and stones carried 

 down by winter floods. In this sporting river the fish had plenty of 

 fair play, while we had fine play, for our rods and tackle were light. 

 The whole was surrounded by mountains clad with blooming heather 

 and evergreen gorse, with patches of granite rockwork here and there. 

 Grouse apparently were plentiful in the neighbourhood, for on several 

 occasions we heard the old cock crowing the evening-meal call to his 

 pack. The scenery was that of the mountains overlooking Bantry 

 Bay, than which there is nothing grander in the kingdom. 



The greater portion of this chapter appeared as an article from me 

 in Land and Water in September, 1892. Unfortunately, I omitted in 

 the MS. to state that my companion and I were little more than 

 schoolboys when we made this excursion into Kerry, and that we 

 asked leave whenever we could do so. Moreover, that it occurred 

 over thirty years ago. Without this qualification and explanation, of 

 course my article showed me to have been guilty of most unsportsman- 

 like conduct in having fished places for which we had not leave. 

 The consequence was severe criticism was passed upon my conduct 

 by correspondents in Land and Water. But, as I said in a subsequent 

 letter of explanation to that paper, I do not think that the 

 escutcheon of a sportsman is in the least degree tarnished by having 

 done what we two lads did in Kerry, particularly under such peculiar 

 circumstances. 



Knowing as little as I do about fishing, I would not have alluded to 

 that branch of sport in my book but for these correspondents. I do 

 so to afi'ord myself an opportunity of repeating the story of my exploit 

 in Kerry, to show how little ashamed I am of it, and of conveying to 

 my critics a word or two, which I do as follows : — 



Someone signing himself " Rose Price," but giving no address, wrote 

 most ofi"ensively, and wound up with the suggestion that if ever I 

 again went to Kerry, some landlord of that county shoul.l duck me in 

 a boghole. I beg to state that I am not at all unknown m Kerry, and 

 have the pleasure of being acquainted with some of the leading 

 gentry in that sporting county ; none of whom, I flatter myself 

 think me deserving of that treatment. 



If, therefore, this Rose Price be what is called gentleman, and 

 wishes to take upon himself the execution of the sentence which he 



