LETTER FROM JERSEY - 1st February 1965
Dear Mr. Lysaght,
I have read with the greatest interest
- and no little nostalgia! - your "Short History" of the Abbeymen.
Of special interest to me is the reproduction of the photo figure 11 as this portrays my eldest brother Capt. E. B. Place (peal fishing probably) on the "tail of Garrafh" (excuse
phonetic spelling!) being paddled by one Patsy McMahon of Parteen, in a brocaun which was very much beamier than those normally used by the Shannon Fishing Co. - as it was then called - snap net men. The normal ones they
used were much wider and more stable than those of the Abbey men.
This particular brocaun was specially built - probably by the late Mickey Farrell - for one of the Fishery "Star" net men on my fathers instructions as the net man mentioned (Frank Connors)
was about 15 stone or possibly more and so generously proportioned that even a Corbally brocaun was deemed inadequate and unsafe to accomodate him !!
The photo and also figure 10 were I think taken by someone directly - or indirectly connected with
my old home, Corbally House and appear to be reproductions of original photos.
I would be more than grateful if you could let me know who now owns them and whether it would be possible for me to acquire them as I think that during our time there, they
were possibly framed and on one of the walls inside Corbally House.
Thanking you, I remain, Yours Sincerely, Hugh L.P. Place.
P.S. How is my old fishing acquaintance Arthur Lysaght? Please give him my kindest regards.