150 ANGLING IN THE THAMES. [CHAP. iv. 



is likely to have some sport with this fish. But the speciality 

 of the Thames, so far at least as most anglers are concerned, 

 is the quantity of fish of the carp kind which it contains, as 

 also perch. This latter fish may be taken with great certainty 

 about Maidenhead, Cookham, Pangbourne, Walton, Labham, 

 and Wallingford Koad ; and a kindred fish, the pope, in great 

 plenty, may be sought for in the same localities. Then the 

 bearded barbel is found in greater plenty in the Thames than 

 anywhere else, and, as it is a fish of some size and of much 

 courage, it affords great sport to the angler. The best way to 

 take the barbel is with the " Ledger," and the best places for 

 this kind of fishing are the deeps at Kingston Bridge, Suribury 

 Lock, Halliford, Chertsey Weir, and in the deeps at Bray, 

 where many a time and oft have good hauls of barbel 

 been taken. The best times for the capture of this fish are 

 late in the afternoon or very early in the morning. Chub are 

 also plentiful in the Thames ; and Mr. Arthur Smith, who 

 wrote a guide to Thames anglers, specially recommended the 

 island above Goring for chub, also Marlowand the large island 

 below Henley Bridge. This fish can be taken with the fly, 

 and gives tolerable sport. The roach is a fish that abounds in 

 all parts of the Thames, especially between Windsor and Eich- 

 mond ; and in the proper season September and October it 

 will be found in Teddington Weir, Sunbury, Blackwater, 

 Walton Bridge, Shepperton Lock, the Stank Pitch at Chertsey, 

 and near Maidenhead, Mario w, and Henley Bridges. At 

 Teddington I may state that the dace is abundant, and there 

 is plenty of little fish of various kinds that can be had as bait 

 at most of the places we have named. In fact, in the Thames 

 there is a superabundance of sport of its kind, and plenty of 

 accommodation for anglers, with wise fishermen to teach them 

 the art ; and although the best sport that can be enjoyed on 

 this lovely stream is greatly different from the trout-fishing of 

 Wales or Scotland, it is good in its degree, and tends to health 



