112 ANGLING. 



Teesdale ; a portion of the country which is now more accessible 

 than it was a few years ago, and is becoming daily better known 

 and more frequently visited by angling tourists. It is a free and 

 open country, delightfully suited to the unfettered movements of 

 the pedestrian rod-fisher. The trout are good, but not large and 

 when in the taking mood, anything in the shape of a fly will suit 

 their taste. Ten or twelve dozen of fish may be taken in the 

 course of a few hours ; but the salmon and salmon-trout are verj 

 scarce. Like most rivers that have a hilly origin, the further we 

 descend the stream towards the sea, the larger and better fed are 

 the fish. This is the case with the Tees. A few miles above 

 Stockton, fine trout of four or five pounds weight are sometimes 

 taken, both with fly and minnow. But for fly-fishing, the higher 

 up the river the better. After heavy rains, when the water has 

 turned to a sort of "ale colour, and considerably subsided, flies of a 

 lightish hue are found more killing here than any other. Palmers 

 are also favourites. 



The Wear rises out of a range of high mountains in Cumberland, 

 and flows for some miles after it leaves its parent springs, 

 through a singularly wild and interesting locality. An angler 

 coming direct from the level and richly cultivated counties of the 

 South of England, to the waters of Wear Dale, will experience a 

 singular class of sensations. Nothing can be more impressive 

 than a range along their banks for full twenty or five-and-twenty 

 miles. The town of Bishop-Auckland is an excellent spot to go 

 to, and from this to fish the water upwards. The sportsman will 

 find the main river increased by several small tributaries or 

 feeders, namely, Lyn Burn, Red Burn, Wascrop Burn, the Shittlehope, 

 the Stanhope, Horsley Burn, the Westhope, the Swinhope, the Middle- 

 hope, and the Bookhope. There is good angling with the worm in 

 all these waters, but the fish run small. ^ The main river is 

 always to be preferred, except the angler enjoys a ramble up the 

 smaller waters for the sake of their wild and romantic scenery. 

 All kinds of flies are used here, and with success. The minnow, 

 after rain, does great execution, particularly in the summer season. 

 Though the country is wild, and a good part of it entirely moor- 

 land, yet the tourist finds plenty of places for refreshments and 

 lodging. The habits of the people in this part are simple and 

 hospitable, and most cheerfully do all they can to administer to the 

 comforts of their guests. 



The Tees and the Wear are of ready access from London, or, 

 indeed, from any section of the kingdom, by railway conveyance. 

 An angler leaving the metropolis in the morning, can be upon the 

 banks of either of the rivers in the evening. There are other 

 smaller rivulets and streams in the county of Durham, but they 

 are not worth any formal enumeration. 



Two or three streams in Northumberland are of first-rate 

 angling note. The Coquet, the North Tyne, the Aln, and the Till, 

 are places much frequented by rod-fishing tourists at particular 



