476 NOTES ON FISHING WATERS. 



town. The Tkorrerton Association commences where the Tivertou 

 terminates, and the Exeter Association commences where the Thor- 

 verton ends, and is famous for its pike ; in the Tiverton preserve, a 

 pike has never been seen. (From the Anglers' Almanack.) 



THE AXE, 



A BEAUTIFUL river and full of trout, although in general they are 

 bxit small ; it rises near Beaminster, in Dorsetshire, and passing near 

 Axminster, falls into the Channel on the cast coast of Devonshire. It 

 is fed in its course by many fine streams and pools, and flows over a 

 gravelly bed. Besides trout, it contains abundance of dace, roach, 

 gudgeon, eels, &c. The river is free to anglers, and though it has suf- 

 fered considerably from poaching, this has of late years been checked 

 by an angling association formed at Crewkerne. The season commences 

 on the 1st March, and ends on the 1st of October. CREWKERNE and 

 AXMINSTER are two of the principal fishing-stations. But there is 

 abundance of accommodation in every direction along the banks. 



We cannot better conclude this notice of the Axe than with an 

 extract from the "Anglers' Almanac" for 1854 : 



" From the 1st of March to the 6th of Sept., 1853, I captured, chiefly 

 in the Axe, 523 trout. 



" April 7th. Caught ten brace and a half between Seaborough and 

 Oathill Bridge. 13th. Nine brace and a half at Seaborough and 

 Clapton, one of which weighed a pound, and several three-quarters. 

 14th. Killed eight brace and a half at Seaborough and Clapton. 

 16th. Caught fourteen brace between Clapton Bridge and Winsham. 

 19th. Caught six brace. 20th. Caught three brace. 22d. Caught 

 twelve brace at Maiden Newton, and Toller Dorset, one which weighed 

 one pound seven ounces, and several a pound." 



The fishing-season in 1853 was a capital one, as far as my experience 

 extended, much better than the present season. The spring months, 

 generally the best for angling, were so dry and bright, that it was 

 almost useless to attempt fly-fishing in the Axe. During the month of 

 July there were some good days for sport. On the 1 Oth of that month, 

 I caught between Seaborough and Clapton eleven brace of very nice 

 trout in two hours and a half, during the whole of which time it rained 

 tremendously. J. M'Dowell, 



THE DEE 



RISES in Merionethshire, North Wales, in two springs, which, 

 uniting, form the lake of PIMBLE-MERE ; from thence it passes through 

 the county of Denbigh, by Llangollen and Wrexham, to Chester, and 



