OR WALTONIAN CHRONICLE. 85 



eating, of the fresh water tribe : the game they evince, 

 on being hooked, afford great sport to the Angler, 

 especially to the fly-fisher. To take Trout with an 

 artificial fly by whipping, is considered the extreme 

 point of excellence in the Angling art, especially if 

 you can dress a fly yourself. 



The reader, if he be a fisher, need uot be told that 

 they are very scarce in the neighbourhood of London, 

 their excellence contributing to make them so. Within 

 thirty miles of town there are many fine Trout streams, 

 but they are all enclosed, or private property, with 

 very few exceptions. 



The Wandle, in Surry, the Mole, the Cray, the 

 Darenth, the Colne, the Hog Mill River, &c. contain 

 many fish ; the Lea, the Gade, the Rib, the Bourne, 

 &c. but to attempt to wet a line, without permission 

 from the proprietor, is abomination. 



Trout, contrary to all other fresh- water fish, spawn 

 in the cold months some in October, and others in 

 November and December ; this is owing to the dif- 

 ference of the waters they inhabit, subject to the in- 

 fluence of the seasons, the same fish, in the same 

 streams, not always spawning at the same time, it 

 being regulated accordingly as the season may be 

 mild or otherwise ; generally speaking, they may be 

 fished for in April, but are better in season as the 

 summer advances. 



The fish in the Ravensborne are generally in season 

 early in May, while those in the Colne are often as 

 black as your hat ; they take worms, minnows, gen- 

 tles, and flies, natural and artificial, but worms are 



