12(5 ANGLING. 



the lEype, the Wey, the Froome, and the Stour. There is fair fishing 

 with fly in most of them. The Stour is the largest stream, but is 

 navigable for two-thirds of its length, which is sixty-five miles; 

 and this, to our taste, spoils a river for comfortable rod-fishing with 

 the artificial fly. Commercial traffic and rippling and sparkling 

 streams are two incompatible things. Altogether, however, the 

 London angler will find Dorsetshire a most delightful locality for 

 his amusement ; and the beauty of the scenery in the immediate 

 vicinity of its rivers, and the^ antiquarian remains to be found in 

 many directions, are great inducements at all times to an en- 

 . lightened angler. 



The county of Devonshire is calculated to afford the angling 

 tourist considerable sport. It has many first-rate waters, for both 

 salmon and .trout, and is, in many other respects, one of the most 

 interesting localities in England. We have the Tamer, the Plym, 

 the Yealme, the Avon, the Dart, the Ex, the Otter, the Syd, the 

 Teign, the Taw, and the Tarridge. All these waters possess similar 

 angling capabilities. They all abound with rippling and purling 

 streams such streams, in fact, as a rod-fisher feels a pleasure in 

 throwing a line upon. /They all flow through a fine country, with 

 scenery rich and Deautiful, and which fills the mind with gladness 

 and delight. There is a large portion of these waters of Devon- 

 shire free and open, and the preserved localities are only studded 

 here and there in the angler's path. The railway to Plymouth runs 

 through a considerable part of the county; but the rod-fishing 

 traveller will find, it more to his advantage and comfort to depend 

 upon his pedestrian powers, for he then possesses a much greater 

 facility of moving from one river to another, and to fish the finest 

 of their streams, at the lowest cost of time and labour. 



There are many kinds of flies which have a local reputation 

 among anglers in these waters, which are worthy of a stranger's 

 attention. These predilections are often founded upon fanciful 

 notions, and inaccurate observations ; but it is not always advisable 

 to treat them with lightness or indifference. Men who fish par- 

 ticular waters have always a great advantage over one who pays 

 them but an occasional visit. As far as our own observation goes, 

 and from what we have gathered from other frequenters of these 

 Devonshire rivers, we are of opinion, that generally small sized flies 

 are required, and likewise fine tackle. The colour and make of the 

 fly is not so essential as its size. Trolling, in particular states of 

 the waters, is very successfully followed by the brethren of the 

 angle in this part of England. 



Should the angler bend his steps towards the southern noint of 

 the island, and visit the county of Cornwall, he will fall in with 

 fair streams. The chief of these are the Tamer (noticed under 

 Devonshire), the Fowey, the Camel., the Fal, and the Looe. There 

 are good salmon and trout in all these waters. The drake and 

 woodcock wings are very suitable here ; and after May, the palmer- 

 flies. The country and scenery about tin's part 01 England is 



