134 SOUTH COUNTRY TROUT STREAMS 



tributaries, especially in the Somersetshire ones, 

 which are considered in the chapter on that 

 county. Among the best places for trout are 

 Malmesbury, where there is an angling club, 

 Chippenham, Trowbridge, and, a friend tells me, 

 Limpley Stoke. At Lowerford the water is 

 actually preserved for trout, and last season some 

 heavy fish were killed there with the May-fl}'. 

 About Semington, too, the (Bristol) Avon is said 

 to contain good trout. The nearest railway 

 station to this place is Melksham, three miles off. 



The Box Brook flows through the north- 

 eastern corner of Wiltshire, joining the (Bristol) 

 r^^^ Avon, as does St. Catherine's Brook, 

 Box another trout stream, at Bathampton. 

 Broo jj^^ -g^^ Brook, which is about eight 



miles in length, is an admirable trout stream, rising 

 by West Kington in Wiltshire. The best stretches 

 are at Castle Coombe and Ford, where the water is 

 carefully preserved. The trout taken in this 

 stream scarcely average more than J lb., but they 

 are plentiful. A i lb. fish is a decidedly good one. 

 A hunting friend reminds me that it was in 

 Slaughterford wood, by the Box Brook, that the 

 late Mr. Collier had his celebrated run. Everybody 

 believed he was running a fox, but the hounds 

 killed a big dog otter of 25 lbs. just before it reached 

 the Box Brook. Castle Coombe may be made 

 headquarters for this water. Wet fly and dry fly 

 can both be used. 



