THE THAMKS. 95 



and the other, making the salmon, trout, and pike, their chief 

 source of amusement ; the one class principally confined to the 

 metropolis and its extensive suburbs, and the other located on the 

 banks of the various rivers and estuaries at the more distant parts 

 of the kingdom. These two orders of rod-fishers are very distinct 

 and well denned. They have little or nothing in common, save 

 the rod and line, and the enthusiastic ardour for their respective 

 branches of amusement and recreation. 



The London anglers are a very numerous body ; much more so 

 than most people would imagine. It is only necessary to go to 

 some of the usual places of fishing resort near the city on holiday 

 times, and witness the numerous groups of piscatorians huddled 

 together on perhaps a few acres of ground, young- and old, rich 

 and poor, enjoying their pursuits with real gusto, to be convinced 

 of the very general predilection of the mass of the people for 

 rod-fishing. We have not the slightest doubt but that if the 

 entire number of metropolitan anglers were mustered those, wo 

 mean, whose chief or only aim is to excel in bottom-fishing they 

 would amount to full as many as all the other English anglers in 

 the mere rural districts put together. t Indeed, few people have 

 any just conception of the prevalence of angling habits and ideas in 

 London, unless some degree of attention has been paid to the 

 subject. 



The range of waters to which the London anglers are chiefly 

 confined^ and which suit their ideas and modes of fishing, is but 

 very limited, though, on the whole, abounding with sport, and a 

 great variety of fish. The Thames, and its tributaries, with the 

 various canals and docks, form the staple resources of this numer- 

 ous and enthusiastic class of piscatorians. We shall proceed to 

 enumerate the various localities where the angler may find pleasure 

 in, and scope for the exercise of his art. 



THE THAMES. 



" Glide gently, thus for ever glide, 

 O Thames ! that anglers all may see 

 As lovely visions by thy side, 

 As now, fair river, come to me. 

 Oh, glide, fair stream, for ever so, 

 Thy quiet soul on all bestowing, 

 Till all our minds for ever flow 

 As thy deep waters now are flowing." 



The Thames is a most magnificent river, both for the extent of 

 its range and the immense variety and number of its fish. It 

 springs out of Gloucestershire, and for some distance goes under 

 the name of the Churne, and it has an entire run of upwards of 

 three hundred miles. The angling stations upon it are very 

 numerous, and greatly diversified in their angling capabilities ; anci 



