THE HERTFORDSHIRE STREAMS 75 



stream has deteriorated. Years ago it yielded 

 some good trout, weighing from one to three 

 pounds, but now there are only a few smaller ones 

 to be taken. Below Murdock's mill to the junction 

 with the Lea, the water is carefully preserved and 

 stocked by Mr. Fowell Buxton. The May-fly 

 season is the best time for taking trout in the Ash, 

 but the artificials recommended for the Rib or 

 Ouin hold sood for this stream also. The Ash 

 flows through a nice country — " pleasant Hertford- 

 shire," as Charles Lamb called it. There are no 

 angling clubs on the stream, but the water is let by 

 the property owners on both banks. The trout 

 fisherman will perhaps find the best quarters at 

 Ware ; though, for the matter of that, there should 

 be room for him at Widford, a village which 

 rejoices in five public houses divided among a 

 population of 453 all told! 



The Ivel. Very little of this stream actually be- 

 longs to Hertfordshire. The stream rises near 

 Baldock, in the extreme north of the ^, ^ , 



1 • • .t ^ u . -J The Ivel 



county, and joms the Ouse about midway 



between Bedfordshire and St. Neots. It runs 

 through a flat and not very interesting country, 

 save for a few miles about Shefford, where there 

 are some pretty hills and woods. Ivel trout are 

 particularly fine, owing to some extent, no doubt, 

 to the abundance of fresh water shrimp which 

 the stream produces. They are grey spotted with 

 greyish brown, and they cut very pink. Cen- 

 turies ago the Ivel was stocked by means of spawn 

 brought from the now extinct fish ponds of St. 

 Albans Abbey, which ponds, in their turn, were 

 supplied with trout brought from the Abbey water 

 f>f a place in Normandy. At present the trout are 



