THE NORTH-WESTERN COUNTIES. 121 



which there are constantly anglers to be met with ; fishing both 

 for the trout, as well as for the vast number of bottom-fish which 

 are to be found in their streams. 



The Trent takes its rise from the north-west part of the county of 

 Staffordshire, about ten miles north of Newcastle-under-Line. At 

 first it takes a circular turn towards the south-east, bending to the 

 south as far as within ten miles of Tamworth, where it receives the 

 Tame, flowing through that town. Afterwards the Trent runs 

 north-east, towards Burton-upon-Trent, a little beyond which it is 

 enlarged by the waters of the Dove, which flow from a north-west 

 direction. After this the Trent receives the Derwent, which 

 descends from the mountainous parts of Derbyshire ; and the whole 

 of these waters collectively flow towards the north by Nottingham 

 and Newark, to the Humber. The Trent has an entire course of 

 two hundred and fifty miles. It is navigable for one hundred and 

 seventy miles from the Humber ; and by^ means of canals, has a 

 communication with many of the most important rivers of the 

 kingdom. 



In many sections of this long river, there is good angling ; we do 

 not mean first-rate fly-fishing ; but trout are taken in it with the 

 fly, and a still greater number by trolling. This species of fish 

 likewise attain a good size in the Trent, and are of rich flavour. 

 There is a fair proportion of pike, perch, roach, dace, bream, eels, 

 &c. ; and we would say that a great mass of the angling on its 

 extended waters, is purely of a bottom-fishing kind, in which there 

 is considerable skill displayed by numerous zealous anglers who 

 reside in towns lying ^ near its route throughout the heart of 

 England. The Trent is certainly not a river we should think 

 of recommending to a first-rate angler ; but still there is a good 

 deal of angling on its waters, though of a mixed and subordinate 

 cast. 



A.nd the Severn is a river of nearly the same nature, both in its 

 navigable character and angling capabilities. It has long been 

 celebrated for the number and variety of its fish.^ Michael Drayton, 

 nearly two centuries and a half ago, sung its praises in this respect 

 Hear what he says : 



" I throw my crystal arms along the flowery valleys, 

 Which, lying sleek and smooth as any garden alleys, 

 Do give me leave to play, whilst they do court my stream, 

 And crown my winding banks with many an anadem ; 

 My silver-scaled sculls about my streams do sweep, 

 Now in the shallow fords, now in the falling deep : 

 So that of every kind, the new spawned numerous fry 

 Seem in me as the sands that on my shore do lie.^ 

 The barbel, than which fish a braver doth not swim, 

 Nor greater for the ford within my spacious brim, 

 Nor (newly taken) more the curious taste doth please 

 The grayling, whose great spawn is big as any pease ; 



