12 THE JOLLY ANGLER. 



COOKS FERRY, 



a pleasant place enough, where the subscribers meet and 

 enjoy the sport; the water here has the same sort of fish 

 as the last mentioned. 



FORD'S, HUGHES'S, THE LEA BRIDGE, AND 

 WHITE HOUSE WATERS. 



The latter mentioned places differ from those higher up, 

 the fish being neither so numerous or large ; there are 

 fewer Jack, and a Trout is a rarity indeed; the Gudgeons 

 are more plentiful, but here you must exert your utmost 

 skill, the fish being so shy from continual annoyances ; 

 the distance from town rendering it easy of access, the 

 water is thronged with anglers ; some of the best I know 

 use the Lea Bridge water, where occasionally they take 

 a good dish of fish, particularly Gudgeons : at these latter 

 places, the young angler will see that attention paid to 

 tackle, baits, depth, &c. that ought to be impressed on 

 his mind as things of the first importance. I forgot to 

 mention that in this river there are a few very fine Carp, 

 and occasionally a Tench. I do not believe they breed 

 here, but escape during floods from other waters. I never 

 saw a small one caught either with a net or line, nor is 

 there any part of the river in which I could recommend 

 the young angler to attempt the arduous* task of catching 

 them. I freely confess that I have tried several times, 

 and never caught but one in the Lea. I took six or seven 

 Salmon in the White House Water, about ten years since, 

 at Christmas time ; the river was full of them that season, 

 but they were unwholesome, being covered with red spots, 

 and the means by which they were taken not sportsman- 

 like, catching them foul with snatch hooks. A man of 

 the name of Milner speared an immense number. I think 

 they were stopped in their course to the northern rivers 

 by the severity of the weather, or some other cause, as 

 they never were seen here in such quantities before. Below 

 the White House there is nothing worth recording. I shall 

 conclude, by stating, that I consider the Lea one of the 



