96 ANGLING. 



we shall now proceed to point out some of tlie chief of them, as 

 fully as our limits will permit. 



BATTERSEA BRIDGE used a few years ago to be a somewhat 

 favourite locality for the perch, barbel, chub, eel, lamprey, roach, 

 dace, blank, and ruff; but now chiefly, perhaps, from the increased 

 steamboat traffic, the fishing is not considered so good. Both 

 salmon and trout have been taken here with the rod, and of 

 great weight and delicious flavour; but these captures are but 

 very rare. The fishing becomes a little improved between this 

 spot and PUTNEY BRIDGE, where the assistance of boats can be 

 procured at a shilling an hour, and sixpence for each succeeding 

 hour. Large quantities of bottom fish are often taken here with 

 the rod ; but the state of the weather, and the condition of the 

 river ana its tidal movements, exercise a great influence over the 

 feeding of numerous kinds of fish in these ranges of water. We 

 nave known an angler, in the space of an hour, take perch to the 

 weight of sixty pounds, while, at another^ time, he has fished two 

 entire days consecutively, and not seen a single fish of any kind. 



At BRENTFORD there is often fair sport to be obtained off a place 

 called the AITS. There have been trout occasionally taken here 

 with the minnow, but they are scarce. Perch, barbel, dace, and 

 gudgeons, are tolerably plentiful. 



RICHMOND is a good and favourite locality for the rod-fisher, and 

 there are many expert piscatorians in this district, who know 

 every inch of the water and every hour of the day when it is 

 probable that certain fish can be obtained. There is a favourite 

 stretch of water of considerable depth above the bridge, extending 

 for about two hundred yards, where barbel are sometimes taken 

 of great weight and numbers. August and October are the chief 

 months for complete success in this locality. At the wier, dace are 

 taken in great < quantities, and so likewise are gudgeons. It is 

 requisite to notice here that the preserved waters extend six hun- 

 dred and eighty-three yards froin the wier eastward, to the east 

 end pile of the breakwater. The inns at Richmond are numerous ; 

 but the chief resort of anglers is at the King's Head, near the 

 bridge; the Pigeons, near the Duke of Buccieuch's; the White 

 Cross, the Greyhound, the Roebuck. The fishermen, who will give 

 all manner of assistance to the angler, are George Platt, John 

 Platt, Brown, Howard, Barter, and Styles. 



If the angler who visits Richmond wishes to employ his time to 

 the best advantage, he must pay great attention to the state of the 

 waters. Some sections of them are very good in clear water that 

 are of no use when flooded, and pice versa ; and the state of the 

 tide has likewise a very marked influence on the movements and 

 feeding hours of the fish. The neap tide should be chosen. Ibr 

 example, when it is high \yater at London Bridge, say at six 

 o'clock in the morning, it will then be high water at Richmond 

 between eight and nine, and witli but a faint flow of water. The 

 angler may, under these circumstances, commence at nine, and he 



