A SURREY RIVER. 101 



and about the banks, and in the meadows through 

 which it passes. Only those who have roamed with 

 rod and gun, by crossways and paths unknown to, 

 and unheard of by, the general public, can tell the 

 beauties of the woodland Mole, as it winds its way past 

 mills and farm homesteads, through meadows and park 

 lands now and again opening out in broad reaches, 

 then lost to sight for a time in thicket and tangle. 



In years past I had permission to wander along its 

 banks, and to fish there in places which were closed 

 to the general public. The river is now still more 

 strictly closed, 1 with the exception of the public paths 

 and the highroads which run over and along it. More 

 is the pity : all things change, however, and with 

 fresh owners fresh regulations are made. After all, 

 the ground is their own, and they have perfect right 

 to do what they please with it. 



One spot, beautiful both to artist and angler, I 



1 There has recently been litigation concerning the right of the pub- 

 lic to fish and row in the lower reaches of the river Mole between Cob- 

 ham and Esher, but that does not affect the part of which our paper 

 treats. A gentleman who owned adjacent land got the benefit of a 

 grant from the Crown of the bed of the river itself, and barred the pas- 

 sage with a chain. This a proprietor of boats for hire broke down as 

 often as it was set across. 



