BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ANGLING. 267 



proceeds to say that the Mersey is among the chief 

 rivers in England which yield this excellent fish. What 

 follows will, I fear, appear so fabulous, that I must in self- 

 defence quote the words of the 1799 edition : — 



The Mersey greatly abounds with Sahnon, which in the Spring strive to 

 get up that Arm of the Sea, and with difficulty evade the Nets which the 

 Fishermen spread to catch them before they get to Warrington Bridge, at 

 which Place the River becoming more narrow, and the Landowners having 

 an exclusive right, each Proprietor by his Agents catches Salmon, which in 

 the Whole amounts to above one thousand pounds a year ; by which means 

 the Towns of Warrington, Manchester, and Stockport, are well supplied, and 

 the Overplus sent to London by the Stage-coaches, or carried on horseback 

 to Birmingham and other inland Towns. In the Month of October they go 

 up to the smaller rivers as far as they can, to spawn. At that season of the 

 year many Salmon get high up the river Mersey, where some few are caught 

 by angling. 



Just fancy that, Manchester Anglers ! you who go to 

 Norway or Canada in pursuit of your favourite sport ! 

 But to continue — 



By far the greatest Part of them is destroyed by Poaching fellows with 

 Spears, though the fish are at that Time of little or no Value. Thus most 

 Harm is done to the Breed of Salmon ; and it were to be wished that the 

 Justices of the Peace would a little more exert themselves, and imprison 

 these idle Poachers. 



Again we find that — 



Near Flixon in Lancashire, they fish for Salmon in the night-time, by 

 the light of Torches or Kindled Straw. The Fish mistake the light for the 

 Day-light, make towards it, and are struck with the Spear or taken with the 



Net. 



We are further told that bull trouts, salmon trouts, 

 salmon peale, or scurf (all which appear to be names 

 denoting one species) "have been caught near Warringtonj 

 which have weighed near twenty pounds each." 



