TRIBUTARY STREAMS OF THE THAMES. 101 



direction, which are calculated to awaken in the mind of all imbued 

 with a love and reverence of what is great and interesting, the 

 most thrilling and lively associations. We can scarcely imagine a 

 person fond of the gentle art, and who prosecutes it with a fair 

 share of ardour, who could pass through such interesting localities 

 connected with some of the most stirring incidents of our 

 national history as a people and not feel his bosom glow with 

 delight at what every way surrounds him. We believe that fisher- 

 men have a large store of this love of excellence ; and sure we are 

 that nothing can so vitally augment the simple pleasures of their 

 craft, as to cherish and cultivate it with assiduity and care. 



OF THE TRIBUTARY STREAMS OP THE THAMES, NEAR THE 

 METROPOLIS. 



There are several tributary waters which flow into the Thames, in 

 the neighbourhood of London, where the city anglers can procure 

 a day's pleasant sport, at a very small cost of time and money. 

 The rivers Colne and Lea are in the county of Middlesex. The 

 first springs out of Hertfordshire, and has many fisliing stations on 

 its banks, some of which are, however, very rigidly preserved. The 

 mills and chemical works situated on its banks, have greatly 

 marred the angling. Pike of good size are to be met with, but 

 trout are somewhat scarce. Denham is considered the best trout- 

 ing spot upon it. 



The Ijea rises out of the county of Bedford, and is the most fre- 

 quented stream by anglers in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 London. It contains a great variety of fish, and some of them of 

 great weight. It flows through a flat district, and it runs slug- 

 gishly ; these circumstances are against its ranking among the first- 

 rate trout streams. There are many fishing stations on its banks, 

 some of which we shall enumerate. 



The first from the Thames is TEMPLE MILLS. This is free 

 water, and many large barbel, roach, and chub, are caught here 

 through the season. Gudgeons are likewise in immense numbers. 

 Trout are scarce. 



The WHITE HOUSE, Hackney Marsh, is a locality much frequent eel . 

 The liberty of fishing here is let out, either by the year, or by the 

 day. f The subscription for the season is ten shillings and sixpence ; 

 this includes the right of trolling for trout or jack. One shilling is 

 the charge for a day's sport, including fly-fishing and bottom- 

 fishing, but not trolling. There are great numbers of fish here ; 

 and some capital sport is occasionally obtained. 



The HORSE AND GROOM, at Lea Bridge, is a very old angling 

 station, having been used as such for upwards of a century. The 

 angler has here the liberty of two miles of water on each side of 

 the house and the terms are precisely the same as at the "White 

 House. The fish are commonly more numerous here than on my 



