156 WATERSIDE SKETCHES. 



At Antrim a river known as the Six Mile Water runs into 

 the lough. Other streams feed the lake, but only the River 

 Bann, a capital salmon river, carries its waters to the sea. 

 I made my first bow to Lough Neagh from the Antrim end, 

 and in that same Six Mile Water there should be, unless the 

 shrewd lad who witnessed my loss has since recovered it, a 

 derelict Canadian spoon-bait which caught a snag instead of 

 a fish. The fishermen use a stiff open boat that carries a 

 good press of sail, and if you can catch a mild breeze a trip 

 across to the opposite shore should be unfortunate for the 

 pike and an occasional trout. The Six Mile Water used to 

 lie an excellent salmon and trout stream, but it has been 

 poisoned time after time by mills and factories, and is now 

 in its lower portion scarcely worth the trouble of fishing. 



An idle day — that is to say, a day on a boat on Lough 

 Neagh, with a couple of spinning baits to take care of them- 

 selves, the glamour of sunshine over the woods and shores, 

 and a sweet bell-like voice reading softly to you (as the 

 incense of the meerschaum slowly ascends into the clear 

 atmosphere) about the legend of Shane's Castle, and the 

 traditions of the lake and land — is a penance one would risk 

 not a little to suffer. After three days' conscientious whip- 

 ping and wading at Randalstown or Toome Bridge a right- 

 minded man should find it quite bearable to be petted and 

 read to for a few hours while reclining lazily in the roomy 

 stern-sheets of a Lough Neagh fishing boat. 



The Main is a river after the angler's own heart, especially 

 in September and October. Visit it in August, and your 

 execrations are likely to be as deep as the rolling Zuyder Zee. 

 The flax plant is an interesting object no doubt, and useful 

 withal. In June when the pretty blue flowers are in 



