72 



FISHES AND FISHING. 



Chertsey ; a light fly-rod and line, a small artificial 

 black, or dun gnat, with a gentle on the point of the 

 hook, ensured good sport ; they did not exceed six 

 inches in length, and would take a small red worm. 

 The last I have seen, and that was considered a great 

 curiosity, was one I took with the last-mentioned 

 bait, when angling from a punt for gudgeons, in 

 August, 1 825 ; and about that time salmon ceased to 

 be known in the Thames. 



In the *' Times" of 15th July, 1854, it is stated, 

 from the " Glasgow Mail,*' that this month a visit 

 was made to the ponds, canals, and breeding boxes 

 for salmon, on the river Tay, carrying on under the 

 superintendence of Mr. Robert Buist, and they were 

 found swarming with young salmon ; they are from 

 two to three inches long, will leap at flies, are fed 

 on liver dust, have all the marks of parr, and if found 

 in the river, would be so denominated. 



In the " Supplement to Bell's Life in London," 

 23rd of July, 1854, there is a long article by ** Ephe- 

 mera,'** bearing very much on the subject of parr, 

 whether they are, or are not a distinct species of 

 fish, or the young fry of salmon. I have not the 

 same opportunity of ascertaining this fact as the 



* «' Bell's Life in London," Nov. 22nd, 1857, p. 8, records 

 the death of Edward Fitzgibbon, Esq., known as Ephemera, 

 with an account of his life. 



