so SOUTH COUNTRY TROUT STREAMS 



the Nallbourne overflow at Eltham and Lyminge, 

 directing their course north-eastward, and then, by 

 Bareham Downs northwards, descend into the head 

 of the Bourne and blend their waters with it." The 

 Little Stour is, like the Stour, an excellent chalk 

 stream, and contains plenty of trout, which may 

 average about three-quarters of a pound, though a 

 good many run over the pound. Beaksbourne, on 

 the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, is a 

 good centre for this pretty stream. The following 

 flies are recommended : — yellow dun (good), pale 

 evening dun, olive and red quills, alder, and Wick- 

 ham. There is no May-fly season on the Little 

 Stour. Ten brace of sizeable trout is not regarded 

 as an exceptionally big bag. 



The Darenth, or Darent as it was formerly called, 

 The is the most troutful stream in the country. 

 Darenth Spenser alluded to it thus : — 



" the still Darent, in whose waters clear 



Ten thousand fishes play and deck his pleasant stream." 



It is, too, one of the most charming of our lesser 

 chalk streams in regard to scenery. The land 

 through which it flows has been written of as the 

 most beautiful of the Kentish vales ; and those who 

 have wandered among the hop gardens and cherry 

 orchards of Eynsford and noted the beauties of 

 Darenth Wood will scarcely be disposed to cavil at 

 this description. On its banks are many delightful 

 seats, old manor houses, bits of an Elizabethan 

 world like Franks near Farningham, and stately 

 English houses like Lullingstone Castle. The 

 Darenth, which was once famous for its salmon, 

 rises near Westerham, and in its course of about 

 thirty-three miles passes Sevenoaks, where Lord 



