FISHES 
Beaumont of Astwick ; and the stock has been frequently replenished 
by fry artificially hatched. Mr. Pope of Biggleswade formed an 
association for stocking the Ivel with trout about twenty years or more 
ago, which hatched out several thousands of fry annually. It was found 
that the fish thrived well and grew to a good size—he himself took 
one spinning of 82 lb.—but owing to the fact that they would not rise 
to the fly, having so much other natural food, the enterprise was 
abandoned about fourteen years ago. A trout was taken at Stopford 
Mill, weighing exactly 8 lb., in 1899. Preserved by J. H. Wright of 
Clifton. 
22 April, 1899. A man caught a trout in my meadows this day just 2 feet 
long ; he had taken two previously, one 2 lb., the other 34 lb. The former we 
guessed at 5 lb. 
Jostan Kino of Langford. 
A trout of 34 lb. was taken in the eel trap at Cardington Mill, 
February 18, 1880. 
The Bedford Angling Club also attempted the introduction of 
trout into the Ouse in the year 1875, when 3,000 young fry were 
placed in the river at Biddenham, and again in 1881-2, when 600 
yearling trout (Sa/mo fario), varying from 4 to 7 inches in length, were 
turned in at Kempston and Renhold ; but, probably owing to the 
abundance of pike, the attempt was not attended with much success. 
Two trout were taken in the eel trap at Milton Mill in April, 
1896, weighing between 2 and 3 lb. each. One of 5 lb., length 224 
inches, is in the possession of Mr. George of Tempsford, taken 
August 22, 1892, below Roxton Sluice. Trout were common in the 
stream flowing from Luton Hoo, where they were strictly preserved, 
as well as in the river Lea more or less generally. 
Barbel have also been introduced into the Ouse by the Bedford 
Angling Club. In the year 1876 thirty-one fish, weighing from 1 Ib. 
to 5 lb. each, from the Thames, presented by the Maidenhead Associa- 
tion, were put in at Kempston ; and again in 1888 thirty-eight barbel 
from the Trent, varying in weight from 3 lb. to 10 lb., were put in at 
Clapham and Renhold. These fish appear to have bred and distributed 
themselves both above and below Bedford. One was taken at Sharn- 
‘brook in 1898 weighing 12 lb. Others have been taken as far below 
Bedford as St. Neots; and on October 4, 1go01, a barbel of 6§ Ib., 
captured by an otter, was found on the bank of the Ouse at St. Neots. 
A barbel weighing 6 lb. was taken at Sharnbrook, May, 1881. 
A few tench of the golden variety were presented to the Bedford 
Angling Club by the Duke of Bedford in 1874, and were placed in a 
pond at Clapham Park by permission of the late James Howard, Esgq., 
M.P., in the hope that they would breed; in 1876 they were found 
in their original number and put into the Ouse, but there was no 
appearance of any young fry. 
Carp from ponds in the county have also been put into the Ouse, 
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