ENGLAND AND WALES. 295 



description, is that most commonly practised by British 

 anglers in general. 



For this kind of sport, the waters of England have been 

 held in high estimation in times past; but whether they 

 can now fairly sustain their former celebrity is a matter 

 of considerable doubt. Some particular spots might still 

 be selected in certain districts where fish are numerous, 

 and where good sport may undoubtedly be obtained. 

 The large meres in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire ; 

 the succession of lakes between Yarmouth and Norwich, 

 and other broad waters in the county of Norfolk; the 

 singular pits, or " blow-holes," as they are familiarly 

 called, on the coasts of Lincolnshire, which are said to be 

 unfathomable, and which are filled with fresh water, 

 which rises and falls with the tides of the adjoining 

 ocean, with other waters of a similar description, in dif- 

 ferent parts of the country abound with fish, and afford 

 promise of excellent sport. 



The large rivers, such as the Thames, Severn, Trent, 

 Ouse, etc. at different points, where proper precautions 

 are exercised, and judicious regulations are in force, will 

 yield the angler very respectable sport; and, in fishing 

 these, or indeed any other open waters, he should inva- 

 riably contrive to get a reasonable distance from large 

 towns and populous villages, as the fishing is generally 

 pretty well cut to pieces in such localities. In short, in 

 almost all cases, as the practised angler very well knows, 

 the more retired and secluded the place of his retreat, the 

 better will be his sport, and the more unalloyed his 

 innocent enjoyment. 



The mountain tarns, and other assemblages of fresh 

 waters amongst the Welsh mountains and hills, are full 

 of good fish ; and the pike in some of these waters are 



