THE THAMES 165 



about the waters in this locality than almost any other 

 on the Thames, and chiefly from this cause : when the 

 season proves a dry one, and the stream becomes 

 shallow, the fish cannot ascend above the lock, and 

 consequently have to take shelter below it. This has 

 rendered Teddington a great favourite with metro- 

 politan sportsmen. Many of them have achieved great 

 things here, killing their forty, fifty, and sixty barbel 

 a day. Gudgeons are likewise taken here in great 

 quantities when the water is in good order. Teddington 

 Lock has likewise the honour of being considered, in 

 the popular creed, as a commencing or starting point in 

 the Thames for real trout-fishing. Whatever are taken 

 of this enviable fish farther down the river are only 

 considered as mere accidents, or exceptions to a general 

 rule. Very large trout have been from time to time 

 taken out of the water below the weir — three or four 

 within the last few years, weighing fourteen and fifteen 

 pounds. In the meadows above the lock, and below 

 the village, there are some stretches of good fishing 

 water, and here jack are occasionally taken of fair size 

 and most excellent quality. The inns are the Eoyal 

 Oak, King's Head, and the George ; and the fishermen, 

 S. Kemp and Son, J. Kemp, and J. Baldwin. 



Kingston is considered by many Thames rod-fishers 

 to be as good a spot as Teddington for barbel, perch, 

 and dace. There is, however, a general notion abroad 

 that the fishing has been impaired since the old bridge 

 was removed. This removal interfered with many 

 choice old spots that yielded shelter for fish, and where 

 they could at all times be found by the rod-fisher. 

 The prime portion of the season for gudgeon-fishing 

 is from June till August. There is a portion of the 

 water preserved here, extending seventy yards eastward 

 and thirty yards westward of the bridge. The inns 

 commonly frequented by angling parties here are the 

 White Hart, the Swan, and the Anglers; and the 

 fishermen are William Bolton, Eobert Brown, and 

 William Clarke. 



Thames Ditton, opposite Hampton Court, is a locality 



