IRELAND 257 



traffic upon it makes the fish difficult to hook. The 

 trout are excellent as well as the salmon ; and immedi- 

 ately after a summer flood, a good day's sport may be 

 anticipated. The small stream called the Anna, which 

 empties itself into the Suir, two miles below Clonmel, 

 is a good angling locality. The trout are here smaller 

 than in the Suir. The Anna has pike, for which its 

 broad, deep, and sluggish waters are very favourable. 

 Trout have been caught, it is said, of seven pounds 

 weight ; but such captures are rare. 



In the higher departments of the Shannon there are 

 some most delightful scenes, which it is impossible 

 without the aid of paintiog or poetry to briug before the 

 mind's eye. Imagine yourself seated on the top of an 

 elevated promontory, and see the mass of waters striking 

 against the foot of an island which they encircle, and 

 where fine trees and the greenest verdiu-e deck their 

 edges with the loveliest hues, in which all the magic 

 play of light and shade are reflected on their brilliant 

 surfaces. Here they rush down a rapid descent, and 

 break against the scattered rocks which obstruct their 

 passage, and dash and send up their spray, in a thousand 

 forms. U'ow you see them fall into a transverse basin, 

 something like the shape of a cradle, and are urged 

 forward by the force of gravitation against the sides of 

 a precipice, which seems to stop them a moment only to 

 increase the rapidity of their current. The rocks against 

 which the volumes of water strike, throw them back in 

 white foam and glittering spray ; and then you see them 

 plunge into deep cavities, and rush forth again in 

 tumultuous waves, breaking against masses of stone, 

 and, perchance, forming a little island, in the midst of 

 which a few dwarfish trees or shrubs spread out their 

 shaded branches. 



The little wooded islands in the waters of the Shannon 

 are disposed in beautiful order by the hand of nature, 

 and give a perpetual variety to the prospect. When 

 the river is smooth and calm, and reflecting the dazzling 

 rays of a bright sun like glass, the scenes are often most 

 delightful ; when the smiling hills are taken into view, 



17 



