38 



flows in a very winding channel, south-south- 

 east for eight miles, to the junction of the Gale, 

 which comes from the neighbourhood of Win- 

 canton, in Somersetshire. From the junction 

 of the Gale the Stour flows south about three 

 miles to the junction of the Lidden, and thence 

 winds to the east, past the town of Sturminster- 

 Newton, and through a depression in the range 

 of the North Downs, and passes in a south-east 

 course to the town of Blandford-Forum, after 

 which it flows south-east for twenty miles to 

 the village of Carfe-Mullen ; and from thence 

 four miles east to the junction of the Allen, 

 which flows from the north, near Cranbourne. 

 After it receives the Allen, the Stour flows 

 east-south-east six or seven miles into Hamp- 

 shire, after entering which, it receives a con- 

 siderable stream, sixteen or eighteen miles long, 

 from Cranbourne; and about four miles lower 

 it joins the Avon, near Christchurch in Hamp- 

 shire. The whole course of the Stour is nearly 

 sixty-five miles ; for forty of which, viz. up to 

 Sturminster-Newton, it is navigable. 



The trout of the Stour are rich in quality, 

 and very abundant in every part of the stream. 

 Winged flies are the best. 



