45 



ing here without leave. Perhaps the "best part of the 

 Wandle for fly-fishing is that which runs through 

 Sir John Lubbock's grounds; near Mitcham, where 

 the water, it is almost needless to say, is preserved, 

 and leave to angle only granted to the friends of the 

 owner. In the lower part of the stream, where the 

 liberty of Angling is less restrained, trout almost 

 wholly disappear, while dace and roach "become more 

 abundant. 



THE LEA, 



The River Lea is, within twenty miles of London, 

 more frequently flogged, or rather whipped, "by 

 "Brother Bobs" than any other stream of similar 

 extent in the kingdom. From year to year the fish 

 have no rest; in spring, summer, autumn, and win- 

 ter, you will always meet with some one fishing in 

 the Lea, except when it is frozen over. Nor have 

 the fish even the benefit of a Sunday's rest ; but on 

 that day, between June and October, are more espe- 

 cially annoyed by the drifts of self-styled "hanglers," 

 who come from London to enjoy a Sunday's fishing. 

 Here may be seen Jews, Gentiles, and Quakers, all 

 sects are tolerated on the Lea, provided the sub- 

 scription be paid, in friendly neighbourhood, enjoy- 

 ing their favorite sport, and forgetting, at least for 

 one day in the week, their religious differences. 

 The epithet broad-brim scarcely can be applied with 



