14 THE JOLLY ANGLER. 



THE RIVER MOLE. 



This singular river gradually filters away until it loses 

 itself, and runs some distance through the earth, when it 

 again emerges by degrees, and forms a considerable river. 

 About Leatherhead it has plenty of small Trout and large 

 Dace, with a few Chub for the fly fisher, besides Roach, 

 Perch, and Jack for the bottom angler; the river here 

 is wide and shallow, but lower down, as it takes its 

 course toward Moulsey, where it empties itself into the 

 Thames, it has plenty of deep heavy swims, where you 

 may take Roach, Dace, Chub, Bream, Pope, Perch, Jack, 

 Gudgeons, Eels, &c. Leatherhead used to be a favorite 

 spot of mine while the May-fly was on, which are here 

 in great abundance. During this season, if the water is 

 clear, and you get the wind at your back, you may have 

 excellent sport. Though I never caught but one Trout over 

 a pound here, I have made up for it in number; they 

 seldom run above eight or ten ounces in weight. For a 

 mile downwards from the Bridge is the best part for 

 this amusement; there are fish to be caught at Reigate, 

 Cobham, Dorking, &c. but I never tried much above 

 Leatherhead, and there principally with the May-fly*. 



THE RIVER WEY. 



In this crooked little river, which empties itself into 

 the Thames at Weybridge, I have taken some large Jack, 

 with both live and dead bait; here are many fine Eels, 

 as well as large Chub and Perch, but the water is often 

 thick, the soil through which it runs being clay; there 

 are many large Bream, as well as some Roach and Dace 

 in this part, but the latter are not sufficiently numerous 

 to be worth angling expressly for. the Thames being so 

 near; this is the only river in which I have taken any 

 quantity of the fish called Pope. A young angler may 

 here catch Chub with an artificial fly, the river being 

 full of bends, and in parts well shaded with trees and 

 sedges; here are also good harbours for fish, many 



* After Epsom Races, which occur during the May-fly season, I 

 used to go on to Leatherhead for a day or two's angling. 



