THE SALMON. 
145 
last twenty years the quantity taken has decreased very considerably, 
partly owing to the number of machines on the different waters, and 
partly to the practice of fishing too late in the season, which was pursued 
for some years. It is pleasing, however, to state that they are now gradually 
improving. During two days I passed at the Cranagh in 1823, the value 
of the fish taken exceeded £400. On the 5th of July, 1824, 400 salmon 
were taken at one ‘ haul ’ of the nets, and at the next above 350. The 
entire weight taken that day amounted to two tons ; this quantity, at the 
average English price of Is. per lb., would amount to £242.” 
Salmon. August lQth, 1851. — The gamekeeper in Tollymore Park 
assures me that he has taken some here up to the weight of twenty-seven 
pounds. This year he took a few up to sixteen pounds. I was told they 
are taken of the latter weight in the inner bay of Dundrum. 
The Rev. G. M. Black knew of a salmon, three pounds weight, being 
taken in the sea of Annalong, the bait being a piece of mackerel. The 
fishermen told him they had known an instance of this before. 
A salmon of the weight of twenty-three pounds and three-quarters is 
the largest that a fisherman of old standing has known to be taken in 
Dundrum Bay : the run is too small and shallow for large fish. 
The following notes have reference to the river Lagan, near Belfast, 
described in a letter written in the year 1635, as “ a pleasant river which 
abounds with salmon.” * 
“ Mr. Sinclaire states that the river Lagan was once a capital salmon river, 
not only supplying the town of Belfast and neighbourhood, but that quantities 
were exported. His father used to ship them from it to the Continent, the 
Mediterranean ports, &c. This fishery was destroyed by the formation of the 
canal — being excellent until that period. There were three fishing stations 
between Stranmillis and the Long Bridge of Belfast. I have heard a relative 
say, that previous to the formation of this canal, salmon were so abundant and 
cheap about Lismoyne, that his uncle’s or grandfather’s servants stipulated that 
they should not be obliged to eat it more than a certain number of days in the 
week.” 
On 12 th Sept., 1844, I saw a salmon, about 18 inches in length, which 
was taken with mullet in Belfast Bay; and Mr. B. Meenan told me that 
he had before got similar fish taken here along with mullet. 
Bushmills, July 13 th, 1842. — This, so far, has been a good season, on 
account of the fine mild weather. In stormy, coarse weather very few 
fish are taken here. I saw sixty-seven captured this morning at the cuts, 
which, excepting a few taken out, were not fished for the last three days ; 
none were large, the river being too low for good fish to ascend. They 
were chiefly about five pounds weight ; the largest did not exceed nine 
pounds. They were lifted out with large landing nets, occasionally five 
at a time, and deposited in the boxes to die ; they very soon died with- 
out any violence being offered. Their chief months of ascending here 
are June and July; their spawning time, November. In frost, it is 
said, not one ascends. The manager, Ml, Skelly, who has held the office 
for twenty years, and whose office was fined by his father before him, is 
my informant in all these matters. During the whole year the fish are 
in season, and in the very highest condition. Mr. Skelly knows them 
to ascend the river, and has occasionally taken them in the sea, with 
the spawn just ready for exclusion, and, to use his own words, oozing 
out of them like “ linseed oil.” The allusion is perhaps to the colour. 
Dubourdieu’s Down. Edit. 1802, p. 309. 
