YORKSHIRE RIVERS. 129 



The boy is in the arms of Wharfe, 

 And strangled by a merciless force ; 

 For never mote was young Romilly seen 

 Till he rose a lifeless corse." 



This dangerous point in the river is named the " Strid," 

 which, I suppose, is a corruption of the word stride - 3 and 

 even now may be found persons who are foolhardy enough 

 to attempt the feat, though they must be aware that a single 

 false step means sudden death. Very beautiful, again, it 

 appears in the full glory of midsummer, when the banks of 

 the stream are clothed in thick foliage, and the stately fox- 

 glove rears its head among the tangled masses of bracken 

 and ferns. Then the cool shade of its many glades forms 

 a pleasant resting place for the tired angler, who perchance 

 has been wading up stream all day in the heat of the sun, 

 fishing with the little red worm on drawn gut in the dim- 

 inished streams. Permission to fish in this portion of the 

 river, viz., from Bolton Bridge to Barclen Tower, may be 

 obtained by staying at the " Devonshire Arms." The trout 

 are pretty numerous, but owing to the fact that the river 

 about here is very -hard ^fished, they are very shy, and 

 require the most delicate of casts, and a light hand in 

 throwing it. From Bolton Bridge, down past Addingham 

 to Ilkley, known as being a fashionable resort for Hydro- 

 paths, the river is preserved by the various landed proprie- 

 tors, from whom permission is somewhat difficult to obtain. 

 Below Ilkley Bridge are a succession of fine streams, to fish 

 which tickets may be obtained from Mr. Kendall, landlord 

 of the " Eose and Crown " Hotel, at a charge of 2s. 6d. per 

 day ; here also, as on the Bolton water, the fish are very 

 wary, but at times some capital dishes are brought to bank, 

 chiefly, however, by local experts, many of whom reside in 

 the district. A stretch of preserved water again intervenes 

 between the end of the Ilkley length and the market town 

 of Otley ; here a first-rate angling club exists, secretary and 

 treasurer, Mr. R. M. Pratt, who is most indefatigable in his 



