The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-20
TROUTING FROM A CORACIE.
That Queer Irish HIde-Roat On "A
Lonely Tough.

hohel! LouSh.
From the London Globe.
The Acknowledgment, bluest-eyed of
Irish gillies was holding my boat head
when 1 went down TO a lonely loughside
to try my luck among abe big trout for
the first time this season. And such a
boat 1t was! 1 had often heard of the
Irish coracle. but had never yet actually
tried one in practice. If you can imagine
an overgrown washing basket, sewn over
with hide and fitted with a couple of
strangely narrow seats you have a rea-
sonably good idea of the vessel Patrick
had provided for me, and now extoled
as we stood together by Il with all the
barney his nimbe tongue was capable
of. There was the glorious expanse of
water lying under the early morning sun
like sheet of Furnished metal amid the
setting of the purple hills; IFS surface
frosted here and there with a charming
little breeze, and all along its margins
the bristling spears of last years reeds
telling of water so shallow that fishing
from the shore would be an impossibility
There was nothing for Ii but to go afioat
So. at Pats earnest invitation, I put
cautious foot upon the rearward thwart
and instantly the little ship flung her
head into the air as though an elepha Mt
at least had boarded her. That obviously
would not do so ! tried forward, and I'M
der the natives guidance essayed to kneel
into her as ii were, with the immediate
result that the coquettish vessel slipped
away like a FESTIVE horse when you try
10 put foot into stirr:g, and the icy-cold
waters of the Tough filed my neither boot.
Again l tried, this time by strategy and
the incest balancing, finding myself safe
ly kneeling on a bunch of hay amidship,
partly supported by the scanty seat be-
hind and my face over a Prov alarming
depressed by my weight. Then Pat got
in with the ease Of an old stager, his
presence serving to redress the little YES
sel's balance; and confidence came TO me
after few moments of experience. The
rods were got ready, the fishing basket
Skinned. and at touch of the paddle In
the hands of the man behind we shot out
into the limpid expanse like thistle-down
riding on the ripples.
To me Il was a novel and captivating
experience. but Patrick had come out for
trout. and when he had got us into a
likely place he put couple Of mahogany
colored flies on my tapering gut trace
before handing the rod cautiously TO me.
Let the air play wild her, sir" he said
with a mellow accent 1 may not attempt
10 initiate; "let her trip there where the
foam lies along the water bents." and
acting on his instruction, ] ''let her trip"
There was an irregular ribbon of spume
about twenty yards from shore mixed
with all the light debris of the lake. and
no doubt. all the spent flies that had been
blown In from the water beyond. II was
mis- NV henchman spoke OF, the very
erst try showing how well he knew his
business. lifted the rod point until The
delicate line stood out almost at right
angles on the pleasant summer wind then
lowered II unti the flies came down light
es 9ossamer on the foam ten yards away
and answering to every CULVER OF the
,anerinQ gut behind. capered there for all
the world like frolicsome gnats toying
mon the surface. 1t was more than finny
aesb and blood could stand. My flies had
not been tripping" it gaily among the
floating twigs more than half minute
when a watery ridge shot out from the
shadows OF the nearest reed clump,
grent bulge occurred directly under the
"dropner" ny, and the next instant the
line that had been so playful was taut
az steel wire between me and that Wis
ltor from the depth. All" said my man,
.natchina In the paddle and putting the