IRELAND 265 



from various classes of people with whom they come 

 in. contact. If it should so happen that an English 

 travelling tourist should require the assistance of any 

 of the professed angling helps in this singular land of 

 wonders and miracles, he will be sure to hear some 

 stories very like the following, which we take, for its 

 real genuine fun, from one of our British periodicals : — 



" ' Wouldn't it be right, Paddy ' (for, as a fisherman, 

 there are few more skilful on the lake), ' to have a blue 

 hackle ? I'd like to try one.' 



" ' Nothing for the Gap but brown. There's a fellow ' 

 (holding it between him and the light) ; ' and they'll 

 rise to it as fast as you can throw out.' 



" ' The blue hackle I had from you the other day 

 killed me a noble salmon, very near thirty pounds ; and, 

 what is odd, he gave me no play whatever — after a 

 tumble or two he was gaifed. But the strangest thing 

 is, that Doherty, in helping to get him in with the 

 landing-net, caught a fine trout.' 



" It may be readily guessed that the last circumstance 

 was invented, for anything like skill or luck on Doherty's 

 part (he was a rival) displeased Paddy exceedingly ; but 

 he took no notice of it, and said, ' Oh ! the large fish 

 never give play : a lively pail,^ now, is worth twenty 

 of 'em for that, sir. But, talking of large fish,' con- 

 tinued he, looking at the fire and then turning to me, 

 ' I was fishing over there at Benson's Point one day. 

 The boat was almost wracked' to pieces on that black- 

 guard little quay that the Madam has below; two or 

 three of her ribs war broken, and so I was obliged to 

 fish from the land. Well, just as I was thinking where 

 I'd put her when she was mended, I feels a mighty 

 heavy pull at the line, that I knew must be from a great 

 fellow. I tried him, but not a stir could I get out of 

 him for any money. Says I, " This must be the making 

 of me, when he won't rise his head at all out of the 

 sand ; 'tis the way with the great salmon that they won't 

 give any play at all." Well, we tried him again, and 

 again, and again ; but 'twas no use. I thought that 

 1 A spring salmon. 



