THE HABITS. OF THE SALMON. 41 



we account for this ? By the simple fact that the 

 fall at Ballyshannon is a far more formidable ob- 

 struction than the others to which I have referred. 

 Salmon will not face the Ballyshannon fall, when 

 the temperature of the water is low, even in that 

 mild climate, and this is invariably the case during 

 the early spring months. It would be interesting 

 to know why the Banni with its capabilities of 

 holding early salmon, and having no formidable 

 obstructions, is such a late river ; whilst the Bush, 

 a little river hard by, with no lake, is well stocked 

 early in the year. This may be accounted for by 

 the presence of cold springs in Lough Neagh, 

 which of course lower the temperature of the water 

 in the river so much as to prevent salmon entering 

 it early in the season. The same cause and effect 

 may possibly be the case with the Erne. I re- 

 member, some years ago, when I had shooting on 

 the banks of Lough Erne, with its islands which 

 were the favourite resort of woodcocks, that on 

 one occasion the Lough was frozen over, and that 



