Pity the Mullingar Goose
I cannot well omit acquainting you with one manner used for diversion on this lough. They take into their boat a goose, and about her body, under her wings, they tie one end of their fishing line, the hook being covered with some bait or other. Thus they throw the fishing-goose into the water, who sports and preens herself with seeming pleasure enough, until some unmannerly fish seizes the bait hook and interrupts her diversion by giving her a tug which douces her almost under water, this commonly frightens her so as to put her to wing, but if the fish be heavy she is forced to float upon the water, and though in romance the knight generally slays the giant, yet if the pike be of the larger sort Mrs Goose without the assistance of the spectators is sometimes like to go down to the pike instead of the pike coming up to her.
Extract from a letter by JOHN DONTON, travelling in Ireland circa 1690.
Bad News for Geese
Huxing pike is also done by fixing an armed hook baited, at such a length as to swim about mid-water. to the leg of a goose or duck, and then driving the birds into the water. It was thus formerly practised in the Loch of Montieth in Scotland, which abounds with very large Perch and Pike.
'Upon the Islands a number of geese were collected by the farmers, who occupied the surrounding banks of the loch, after baited lines of two or three feet long had been tied to the legs of their geese, they were driven into the water;steering naturally homewards, in different directions, the baits were soon swallowed; a violent and often tedious struggle ensued, in which, however, the geese at length prevailed, though they were frequently much exhausted before they reached the shore.'
This method has not been so long relinquished, but there are old persons on the spot, who were active promoters of the amusement.
The Reverend William Daniel, Rural Sports 1802
