470 NOTES ON FISHING WATEES. 



KENTISH RIVERS. 



THE CRAY rises near St. Mary's Cray, in Kent, and falls into the 

 Thames between Woolwich and Dartford. 



The principal stations for fishing are not more than 12 or 13 miles 

 from London. 



ST. MARY'S CRAY has some mills, where there are fine trout, pearch, 

 eels, &c. ; but there is no public water. At FOOT'S CRAY, the landlord 

 of the Seven Stars rents a portion of the water, and gives visitors 

 permission to angle. There used to be very fine sport here ; but of 

 late the fishing has been injured by the water being drawn off to 

 repair the mills, and in consequence the fish were destroyed ; but as 

 the Cray is an excellent breeding river, Foot's Cray may soon recover 

 its good name. 



Lower down the stream is BEXLEY, where there is excellent fishing, 

 both above and below the village. The trout are numerous, and the 

 average weight from three-quarters to a pound-and-a-half ; but they 

 have sometimes been caught of three pounds' weight ; and when in 

 season, are very fine in colour and flavour. 



Below Bexley is HALL PLACE, a boarding-school for young gentlemen, 

 conducted by I. J. Barton, Esq., who occasionally grants permission for 

 a day's sport. 



At CRAYFORD there is a small space of public water, in which any 

 one may fish without interruption, and the inn is very comfortable. 

 Good fish are sometimes caught there, and it is a convenient place for 

 head-quarters. Lower down the stream are calico-printing mills ; and 

 still nearer the Thames, and where the tide flows, there are saw-mills, 

 where trout may be taken. 



The Cray is not so clear as the "YVandle, consequently less difficult 

 to fish, and a greater variety of flies are found on it. 



THE MEDWAY, which is the principal of the Kentish rivers, rises in 

 Sussex, and flows through PENSHURST, past MAIDSTONE to ROCHESTER 

 and CHATHAM, falls into the mouth of the Thames at Sheppy. It is 

 well stored with flounders, pike, eels, pearch, and a few salmon and 

 other fish. 



THE STOUR rises in the Weald of Kent, runs past ASHFORD, round 

 CANTERBURY, passes MINSTER, near Margate (where there is excellent 

 fishing), from thence to Hackington and Fordwich, and continues its 

 course to Sandwich, where it falls into the sea. This river abounds with 

 pike, pearch, roach, dace, eels, &c., and at Canterbury there used to be 

 plenty of trout, but the pike have increased at their expense. The 

 Forditch, or large white-flesh trout, is met with in this river. 



THE DARENT, another Kentish river passes through Otford and Dart- 

 ford, and falls into the Thames at Long-reach, two miles below Erith.. 

 DARTFORD is 14 miles from London, and the river is well stored with 

 trout up to FARNINGHAM and OTFORD, near Sevenoaks. 



At FARNINGHAM, 17 miles from London, there is an excellent inn, 

 the proprietor of which has the right of fishing for a considerable 

 distance down the stream, and where the visitor may find good sport 





