The Epicure's Almanac or Diary of Good Living
July 1st : SALMON AT LIMERICK AND KILLARNEY
It is the custom of the good people of Limerick to visit, at certain seasons of the year, and early in this month in particular, a large salmon weir, a few miles from the city, on the beautiful banks of the Shannon, and see the fish speared, and borne alive to a caldron of boiling water, into which it is immersed for a few minutes. The salmon is dressed on the spot, for the appointed dinner-hour, conveyed home to be cooked, or put into a tin case, and carefully soldered down, in whịch state it can be sent to any friend residing at a distance.
The sudden death of the fish fixes between its flakes the delicious white curd, and renders the flavour very superior to that of any of the species that have been conveyed alive in a well-boat, or dead in ice, for any length of time,
At Killarney, the dwellers by the margin of the lakes cut freshly caught salmon into slices, and broil these over a fire of arbutus wood, in the ashes of which potatoes are placed, not only for roasting, but that they may receive the fat and juices extracted from the fish whilst undergoing the operation of cooking.