THE ANGLER IN IRELAND. 153 



perceiving that the line was carelessly entangled in the 

 handle of the winch. 



Let us now change the scene to another lough across the 

 country, the largest lake in the three kingdoms, and one of 

 the first four largest in Europe. In considering the angler's 

 opportunities in North Ireland it were almost a sin to deal 

 slightingly with the splendid lakes and rivers of Donegal and 

 Londonderry, but there is such a thing as space to be thought 

 of when your notions are to be put in type, and thattho'ght 

 will intrude itself at this moment. 



As a skeleton guide to angling in Ireland I cn^i with a - 

 very clear conscience recommend the inquirer to the chapter 

 devoted to that subject in Murray's Guide ; and this is a 

 tribute one all the more gladly pays, as a set-off against hard 

 words provoked by the vices of such literature on other 

 occasions. The compiler of this guide to the angling waters 

 in Ireland had the good common sense to aim at nothing 

 more attractive than the imparting of reliable information, 

 and this he has certainly succeeded in getting and giving. 

 Shifting my responsibility to those unknown shoulders, I 

 therefore turn to the waters of which I have had recent 

 experience. 



It has been the aim of these chapters, in a plain fashion, 

 to hint to the angler the sport most suitable for each month, 

 and that aim is not here forgotten. By October, on almost 

 all waters, fly-fishing has become very scarce. There are, to 

 be sure, sewin iii Wales, and peel in Devonshire, and sea- 

 trout in various places ; but the ordinary trout season is 

 gone, and none but late salmon rivers remain. Pike- 

 fishing and all the coarser fish are now in their prime ; but 

 I shall conclude this sketch for the special benefit of any 



