SUREEY AND KEKTISII RIVERS. 469 



extreme : a single hair should be used for the foot link, or at least 

 gut as fine as a hair, and small blue and yellow-bodied duns. Above all 

 things, the water must be approached with caution, for if you are seen 

 by the fish, they immediately fly up the stream. Hofland generally 

 approached the bank in a stooping position, and, kneeling upon one 

 knee, cast his fly. The fish, though sometimes of great weight, gene- 

 rally average under a pound. 



Lower down the stream, there is excellent trout-fishing, especially at 

 BEDDINGTON, HACKBRIDGE, MITCHAM, MERTON, and the SNUFF MILLS, 

 where the trout are carefully preserved ; and there are pike, pearch, 

 and large dace; but all these waters are very clear, and therefore 

 seldom afford good sport to any but the expert. At Wandworth the 

 waters become turbid, and the gas-works and traffic have pretty nearly 

 destroyed the fishing. 



THE 11AYENSBOURNE, 



A SMALL shallow slow river that runs from Sydenham through 

 LEWISHAM, and has been nicknamed the four L's ; that is, the long, 

 lazy, lousy Lewisham. It contains roach, dace, chub, gudgeon, and 

 is a capital place for that useful trolliug-bait the minnow. At the 

 mill-streams, large dace and small trout are occasionally taken, and 

 there are everywhere plenty of eels. But there are many better places 

 within the same distance of London. 



THE MOLE, 



So called from its being supposed to run under ground for a part 

 of its course, rises on the borders of Sussex, and flowing through 

 LEATHERHEAD (19 miles from London), COBHAM, ESHER, DORKING, and 

 REIGATE, discharges itself into the Thames at EAST MOULSEY (1 5 miles 

 from London), opposite Hampton Court. It is well stocked with fish 

 throughout its whole course, but is somewhat too sluggish to be a good 

 trout stream. The pike and pearch fishing, however, are excellent, 

 and very heavy barbel, chub, bream and carp have frequently been 

 taken out of it. The lakes on the estate of Mrs. Cooper, of PAYNE'S 

 HILL, COBHAM, are well stored with pike and bream. About LEATHER- 

 HEAD, where the river is shallow and more rapid, there are plenty of 

 small trout and large dace, pike, gudgeons, and an enormous quantit\ r 

 of eels, besides the usual run of fish. The fishing here is excellent, 

 and used to be free, but lately the proprietor of Randall's park has 

 brought actions, and successfully asserted his rights over the waters 

 which at Leatherhead run principally through his grounds. Towards 

 MOULSEY, there are plenty of deep swims and abundance of jack, 

 pearch, chub, roach, dace, bream, pope, eels, &c. A portion of the 

 river from Moulsey to Esher is preserved for angling, at II. Is. per annum, 

 and punts and men may be hired there oil moderate terms. Inn, the 

 Bell (Mr. Pitcher) opposite the church, a clean and comfortable house. 



