466 KOTES ON FISHING WATERS. 



on the borders of Bedfordshire, there is still better fishing for trout and 

 pike, but of course private. At WELWYN, on the river Marian, which joins 

 the Lea at Hertingfordbury, there is good pike-fishing. Indeed, Hert- 

 fordshire abounds with good fishing waters, but they are mostly private. 



THE HAMPSHIRE RIVERS. 



HAMPSHIRE has been long considered the trout county, par excel- 

 lence; and its streams are said to rival those of Derbyshire and 

 Devonshire. Its principal rivers are the AVON, the ANTON, the TEST, the 

 ITCHIN, the WEY (mentioned under Weybridge), and the LODDON ; and 

 of these the Test and the Avon -are the best trout streams. The AVON 

 affords, perhaps, the best angling of any river in England. It passes 

 by Salisbury, Fordingbridge, and Ringwood, and falls into the sea at 

 Christchurch. Below Salisbury to Fordingbridge very fine trout and 

 grayling are often taken. In the neighbourhood of Fordingbridge the 

 river becomes sluggish, and abounds with fine pike ; and about Christ- 

 church salmon are taken with the fly. 



THE TEST rises in the north-west part of Hampshire, and falls into 

 the Southampton water, near which are some pools where salmon are 

 taken in considerable numbers by gentlemen who have formed a club, 

 and protect the fishery. In Sir Henry Fane and Mr. Mills's waters, 

 above the salmon pools, pike abound of a large size, some having been 

 taken from twenty-five to thirty pounds weight, and none are allowed 

 to be taken that do not weigh full six pounds. Upwards of a hundred 

 weight have been taken in a day by one rod. 



WHITCHURCH, on the Test, is 58 miles from London, and the angler 

 may gain permission to fish by taking up his abode at the principal inn. 

 About a mile and a half of the water is tolerably well preserved. Two 

 miles from Whitchurch the Test flows through the grounds of Lord 

 Portsmouth, where there is fine fishing, and a proper application to the 

 Hon. Newton Fellowes \vill seldom fail to procure a day's fly-fishing in 

 this beautiful place. 



Lower down the Test, near STOCKBRIDGE, a society has been formed, 

 called the "Haughton Club," by a party of gentlemen ; in consequence 

 the water is well preserved, and there is excellent fishing. 



When a fly-fisher visits the Test, he must provide himself with 

 Mackintosh boots, as the river is bordered with " water meadows," 

 that is, meadows inundated by means of sluices which admit the water 

 from the Test, for the purpose of irrigation. The clearness of the 

 stream requires fine tackle, and rather small flies. The fishing com- 

 mences in April, but the trout are not in good condition till the end of 

 May, or the beginning of June. 



Grayling were some years since introduced into the Test, and in- 

 creased very rapidly, but have since considerably decreased. 



The ANTON "rises about 12 miles north-east of Andover, from two 

 sources : one of these passes Whitchurch, and, meeting the Test at 

 WHERWELL, proceeds to STOCKBRIDGE, and RUMSEY, where, at the first, 

 it forms several islands. It is joined by various streams from the New 



