ENGLAND AND WALES. 297 



stances in which they are placed, as they are susceptible 

 of yielding. 



The majestic THAMES has many extraneous claims 

 upon our attention, exclusive of its angling capabilities. 

 Its vast commercial importance the scenery on its 

 banks and the historical and literary associations con- 

 nected with it, must always induce the thoughtful angler 

 to exhibit a peculiar veneration for all its fishing haunts 

 and angling localities. 



This noble river contains a vast mass of fish of one 

 sort or another. Salmon are now very rarely caught ; and 

 trout are only to be met with, and then in no great 

 quantity, at some distance from London ; but those which 

 are taken in this stream are generally of excellent 

 quality, and considerable size. The regular bourn trout, 

 has been taken out of the Thames of the great weight of 

 fifteen pounds. 



The river abounds with pike, perch, barbel, tench, 

 chub, eels, lampreys, flounders, roach, dace, bleak, 

 gudgeons, pope or ruffe, minnows, etc. Many of these 

 sorts of fish attain a very large size ; such, for instance, 

 as barbel, which have been caught from eight to ten 

 pounds in weight. 



In the docks below London bridge, and on both sides 

 of the river, good carp, tench, roach, perch, and bream, 

 may be obtained; and many racy stories are told by 

 London anglers, with reference to the sport in these 

 localities. Permission from the respective companies, to 

 which the docks belong, for liberty to angle, may easily 

 be procured, and under favourable circumstances, good 

 sport may be reasonably expected. 



Battersea bridge is a good fishing station ; and a 



