THE DORSETSHIRE STREAMS 117 



Piddle or Trent, which is the third largest of the 

 rivers of this county. 



The Frome rises in two branches, one coming from 

 St. John's Spring, near Evershot, while the other, 

 which is sometimes called the Hooke, or The 

 Owke, comes from Hooke ; the two Frome 

 branches unite at Maiden Newton. Near Bradford- 

 Peverell, the stream divides itself into several 

 branches, like the Colne in Middlesex and Buck- 

 inghamshire, " making an island of many fair and 

 fruitful meadows." These branches unite at Dor- 

 chester, which is nine miles down from Maiden 

 Newton. After leaving Dorchester, the Frome 

 again divides itself, and runs in several branches to 

 Moreton. Wool and Wareham are passed, and 

 two miles below the latter town the Frome empties 

 itself into Poole Harbour. Its course as a whole 

 is rather by bold down and wild heath than 

 through a richly wooded country. It is a clear 

 stream, and not a very rapid one. The best 

 trouting on the Frome is at or near Dorchester. 

 The Dorchester Fishing Club is limited to twenty- 

 four members, and to six privileged rods, who pay 

 a small yearly subscription ; and the latter are 

 residents of the town. Members are not allowed 

 to introduce friends to the water during the May-fly 

 season — May 22nd to June 17th — but, as a matter 

 of fact, the May-fly is no longer of much account 

 here, having greatly decreased of late years. The 

 club permit two 7s. 6d. tickets to be issued every 

 day to officers stationed at Dorchester, Weymouth, 

 and Portland, and occupiers of land abutting upon 

 the stream have the right to issue six-day tickets 

 during the season, the May-fly season excepted. 

 The trout limit is eleven inches, the artificial fly 



