SALMON FISHING WITH THE FLY. 185 
The climate of Ireland is milder than that of any other part 
of the United Kingdom. The temperature of the water is con- 
sequently much higher than in either England or Scotland, 
and many newly run salmon will be found in early spring in 
the upper waters of Ivish rivers where obstructions exist. The 
majority of them, however, seem to object to face an obstruc- 
tion until about the month of April, when the weather gets 
warmer. 
A lake is a great attraction to a salmon. If there is no 
obstruction between lake and sea, a spring salmon will, on 
leaving the salt water, make straight for the lake without halt- 
ing. This is particularly the case in Irish rivers, where the tem- 
-perature of the water is generally high for the time of year. 
Autumn salmon are different in their habits from spring and 
summer fish. For some unknown reason they remain in the 
sea until they are full of spawn, and then, not being able, on 
that account, to surmount the difficulties which a spring or 
‘summer salmon is capable of, are seldom found above a certain 
distance from the sea. Their journey up is also a very slow 
one, and I have always: noticed this peculiarity in the habits of 
an autumn salmon. 
In many of our rivers the heaviest salmon of the season, 
in splendid condition and in appearance like spring salmon, 
run’ during the winter months. The run commences in the 
autumn, when now and then one is caught, but the great run 
takes place in December, and I often think it is a pity we are 
prohibited by law from fishing for them.! 
that the fish in the Garry come from the east and not the west coast (which is 
close by), and come all the way up the river Ness and through loch Ness, 
double the distance to the Garry, and whilst they are being caught there in 
numbers, not a fish could be seen or caught on the Ness. In July and autumn 
when sport is fast and furious in the rivers Lochy and Ness, not a fish is to be 
seen in the Garry.—Ep. 
1 This is peculiarly the case in the Wye. Up near Builth in December, 
beautiful fish called Blue Cocks appear. The Wye Fishing Board, of which I 
am Chairman, gave permission a few years ago to the Honourable Major 
Geoffrey Hill to catch some of these for scientific purposes, As yet he has not 
succeeded in doing so.—ED. --* 
