81 



THE DAEENTH. 



This pretty little trout stream lias its source at AVester- 

 haui, in a small lake upon ihe " Squerries " estate. T'lence 

 it flows tlirougli Brasted Sundridge, Riverliead, Otford, 

 Slioreliam, Eynsford, Farningliam, and Horton Kirby, 

 eventually discliarging into tlie estuary of the Thames at 

 Dartford. Various tributary springs help to swell the 

 Tolunie of this little river, the principal contributions being 

 derived from Brasted, Riverhead, Bradbom'ne Ponds, and 

 Greatness Farm, in the lower end of Sevenoaks. Having 

 regard to its size, there is no trout river in England so 

 prolific as the Darenth. And it is equally true that in no 

 river, of my acquaintance, are the trout so highly educated ! 

 I have fished this Queen of southern trout streams for fully 

 thirty years, and I love every turn of the happy valle}^ 

 through which it flows. Thirty years is a big span to look 

 back upon, and many men have come and gone in that 

 period whose names and faces were once familiar as anglers 

 on the Darenth. In that period, too, the various lengths 

 of water that once were accessible have one by one been 

 closed against the public and fancy rents are commanded 

 for every scrap of fishing right now obtainable. The only 

 open portions of the river that can now be fished, by day 

 tickets, are at Dunton Green Mill, the " Plough " water, at 

 Eynsford, the " Lion," at JFarningham, and the " Fighting 

 Cocks," at Horton Kirby. Upon the principle that no 

 trout fishing is bad, only some is better than others, I 

 offer no expression of opinion as to the sport which any- 

 one is likely to get for their half-crowns on these day 

 ticket waters. There are some two or three exclusive clubs 

 whose members possess the enviable right to fish certain 

 well-stocked sections of the Darenth, but they would not 

 thank me for q-oing into details. vSuffice it, the Darenth 



