104 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



I have seen the river so covered with gas-tar (the 

 varying tints of which were somewhat admired as they 

 passed) that no real water-surface could be seen. But 

 we heard of the offence given by this tar to the once 

 famous Warrington salmon, and to the sparlings which 

 used to be brought thence. These fish became 

 scarce, as the use of the new light caused increasing 

 defilement, and ultimately they disappeared. The 

 demand for gas-tar was not equal to the supply, and, 

 therefore, a larger quantity of gas-refuse was put in the 

 river— gas-tar, gas-lime, ammonia water and all, went in. 



About 1824-6, gas-tar ceased to be an unsaleable 

 article, the river was less polluted, and the fish began to 

 show (especially above town). We school-boys spent 

 part of our holiday times in going up the river from 

 Pendleton, and trying various favourite spots with 

 carefully prepared bait ; and generally we were so far 

 successful as to bring home from six to twenty fish for 

 two of us. We usually went in pairs, furnished with 

 maggots by Robert Ackerly, of Hope Tower, Salford, 

 and with lines and hooks by Peter Sharratt, Postmaster, 

 Windsor Bridge. One favourite spot was half way 

 between Douglas Mill and Agecroft Bridge, where the 

 water from certain works came into the river from the 

 Bolton canal. Here we generally caught one or two 

 " shoalers." 



These shoalers I believe to be the " graining." They 

 are a fine fish of good flavour, like a herring in size, 

 form, and colour, and not so broad as a dace, nor so 

 thick as a chub. They are described in Webster's 



