Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Pococke's Tour in Ireland in 1752 (Author: Richard Pococke)

entry 16

On the 10th I went to the Causeway, had many more stones raised in the morning and in the afternoon put aboard a sloop I freighted for Dublin, to be filled with coals at Ballycastle; came off very late called at Mr. Duncan after ten and lay there. Having viewed and examined this wonderful work of nature, the Giant's Causeway, with as much exactness as I could, and made on it some observations: which I sent to the Royal Society and they did me the honour to print them in the Philosophical Transactions of the year 1753.34

On the 10th I returned to Ballimagarry and set out for Coleraine, and observed the pillars of stone at Cross Reagh within 2 miles of Coleraine: I came to that town which is pleasantly situated on a rising ground to the east of the river Bann, which here divides the County of Antrim from the County of Londonderry. This town has large liberties being an Estate with other lands especially Derry that was forfeited by the rebellion of the O'Kanes in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and was granted by King James the First to the twelve Companies of London, who divided most of the lands between 'em, but some are in common and particularly the salmon fishery. Out of each of twelve Companies two persons are chose, which make what they call in London the Irish Society, for the management of these estates; and most of them are lett at a low rent, and purchased according to the improved value: There is a little town on the other side, which is the parish of Killowen. There is a handsome town house in Coleraine built by the Society; and they have a great market every Saturday for Linnen and yarn which is the chief support of the place. I rode a mile below Coleraine to see the salmon fishery which is very great; they catch 'em with what I think is called a seine-net, that goes across the river, and

p.39

so they draw in the net. They have caught sometimes, tho' very rarely 2500 in a day; sell 'em here for a penny a pound fresh, but most of 'em are salted. The fish go up in June and July, spawn in August, and those fish are called fry at first; they come down into the sea about March and April, and return from between 5 and ten pounds in weight, and then they are call'd Grants, and are of a lighter colour than what they call salmon, and rather better for present use, not so strong as salmon, but do very well for salting; afterwards they are call'd salmon and sometimes grow to fifty pounds weight, and that as it is imagined in 3 or 4 years: The white salmon trout besides the colour, differs from them in having a double row of teeth. I returned to Coleraine and went a mile up the river to see the salmon-leap, the river falls down about ten feet in two or three falls, divided by the rocks: They leap up, and very handsome apartments are made for them above with grates to let the water in, and so they can go no further, and are taken up by a hand net; this diversion I saw.

Over this is a pleasant situation, the house of Mr. Richardson a member of Parliament, who married Sir John Eyles daughter and purchased of the Society that Estate, opposite to it is a pretty Mount call'd Mount Sandal, which seemed to be monumental.