SURREY, MIDDLESEX, AND SUSSEX STREAMS 67 



frequent the polluted points of streams are a dis- 

 grace to their species. 



The Rother might, small doubt, be greatly 

 improved as a trout stream above Bodiam, where 

 it is naturally a clear and clean stream The 

 and fairly rapid in pace ; but at present it Mother 

 contains too many coarse fish to allow of its 

 being a really good trout water. It has, however, 

 several tributaries, such as the Tillingham and 

 the Brede, which contain plenty of small trout. 

 The Rother itself is preserved by the Rother 

 Fishing Association. The trout fishing season 

 commences on April 1st and ends on September ist, 

 and no trout of under half a pound can be taken. 

 Trout of over I lb are not often killed, though fish 

 have been taken up to 2h lbs and 3^- lbs. The 

 May-fly and the olive duns are the chief flies, but 

 as a matter of fact fly fishing is rarely attempted. 

 The Rother flows by Ticehurst, Etchingham, and 

 Robertsbridge, and enters the sea at Rye. Its 

 tributaries, the Brede and Tillingham, are private. 

 It contains some heavy pike, and abundance of 

 bream, chub, and dace. In the moat at Bodiam 

 Castle, a fine place well worthy of a visit, there are 

 said to be some heavy perch. Below Bodiam trout 

 fishing is out of the question. The Rother Fishery 

 District includes all streams between Fairlight and 

 Dungeness. 



F 2 



