CHAPTER III 



IRELAND 



" Islets so freshly fair, 



That never hath bird come nigh them, 

 But from his course through air 



Hath been won downward by them. 

 Types, sweet maid, of thee. 



Whose look, whose blush inviting, 

 Never did Love yet see 



From heaven without alighting. 



Lakes, where the pearl lies hid. 



And caves where the diamond's sleeping, 

 Bright as the gems that lid 



Of thine lets fall in weeping. 

 Caves where Ocean comes 



To 'scape the wild wind's rancour ; 

 And harbours, worthier homes, 



Where Freedom's sails could anchor." — Moohe. 



When the angler crosses the Irish Channel, and sets 

 his foot on the Green Isle, he will soon perceive that 

 its general aspect is entirely diiferent from that of 

 Scotland. Ireland is comparatively a level country, 

 its chain of mountains being of no great length, and 

 the elevation of them slight. 



Numerous lakes, rivers, streams, bays, havens, harbours, 

 and creeks diversify the landscape, and produce a pleas- 

 ing effect upon the mind of the traveller. 



Ireland stands next to Scotland in angling resources, 

 but in the estimation of many sportsmen the Emerald 

 Isle is equal to the latter. My own opinion is, that 

 Ireland is greatly inferior to Scotland as an angling 

 country, but that the Irish trout are vastly superior in 



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