THE JOLLY ANGLER. 15 



trees and roots living in the water; it is not requisite to 

 throw a long line, as the river is narrow, and you can 

 keep out of sight. I have generally succeeded with the 

 large red or black palmers, but whatever fly you use let 

 it be large. 



THE RIVER WANDLE 



runs through Carshalton, Beddington Park, Hackbridge, 

 Mitcham, Phipp's Bridge, Merton, and a little place called 

 Summer's Town, down to Wandsworth, where it empties 

 itself into the Thames. It abounds with fine Trout and 

 Eels from its source down to Mitcham; the greatest quan- 

 tity of Trout I ever saw were in that part of the river 

 which runs through the Park of the late Mr. Hoare; 

 the average weight of each was a pound, though many 

 were larger ; lower down they get scarcer, and at Phipp's 

 Bridge and Merton there are a few small Jack ; below 

 Merton, at the Copper Mills, you still find a few Trout 

 and some Perch, but the Roach and Dace become nu- 

 merous; some of the Dace here, and in the rrver Colne 

 are larger than in any other place I know of. The Trout in 

 this river do not come in season so early as in most others, 

 particularly in the upper parts; I have taken them at 

 Carshalton the end of May, quite lank and black. As 

 nearly the whole of this river is private property, en- 

 closed, and the owners very tenacious of granting liberty 

 to the angler, I shall simply address myself to the favored 

 few who can get perrr~ion, by saying that they may in 

 some parts of this river enjoy a day's Trout fishing equal 

 to that of any other river in England, with a fine oppor- 

 tunity of practising that pleasantest part of the art 

 " Fly Fishing." May and June are the best months for 

 the Wandle ; it is a singular thing, and worthy of re- 

 mark, that the May-fly, so common on all other rivers, is 

 never seen here. 



THE DARTFORD RIVER 



runs through Bexley and the Three Grays, in Kent ; most 

 of it is private property, and has a good supply of Trout, 

 Perch, Eels, &c. but I have never had permission to angle 

 in any part, so cannot describe it from experience. 



B 2 



