44 ESSEX. 



and produce pike, carp, perch, tench, eels, &c,, but 

 very few salmon or trout. At Sturmer, the pike and 

 tench are remarkably fine. 



But the most noted river of this county is the Lea, 

 which, taking its rise in Leagrave Marsh, Beds, and 

 flowing on to Blackwall and Limehouse, divides Essex 

 from Middlesex. It abounds with pike, jack, carp, 

 perch, chub, dace, bleak, gudgeons, eels, &c., although 

 it cannot boast of an abundance of trout. It has a 

 large number of preserves, or subscription waters, and 

 is regarded as constituting a sort of finishing school 

 for anglers. 



" Oh ! pleasant are the green banks of the Lea, 



And pleasant are its waters, silver sweet; 

 It thirsteth me, on May -day morns, to be 



Clad in an angler's simple garments meet, 

 Treading with gentle Isaac's spirit there, 



By the pike's hollow lair; 

 And near the shallow, where the minnow twinkles 



His little tail, and wrinkles 

 The restless waters, and beside the place 

 Where darts the dace." 



At Bromley, Stratford, and West Ham, fine roach, 

 dace, and flounders are taken in the mill-pools and 

 waters around. The White-House subscription water 

 was once the favourite resort of the old school of 

 anglers, and it is near that spot that Horace Smith 

 introduces us to Isaac Walton, in his admirable novel 

 of " Brambletye House." 



" The cold Lea misseth thee, and seemeth now, 

 To flow with memory's wrinkles on its brow ; 

 The steep of Tottenham feels thine antique loss, 

 And sadness gloometh upon Waltham's cross. 



The pike rush boldly by 



Thou art not nigh! 



