i66 ANGLING 



enjoying a high, reputation among anglers for almost all 

 kinds of fish with which the river abounds. The rod- 

 fisher's movements are considerably hampered here, from 

 a large section of the water being very strictly preserved. 

 The range of deep water opposite Lord St. Leonards' 

 house, to the extent of five hundred and twelve yards, 

 is in this predicament ; and likewise the deep, reaching 

 two hundred and fifty yards, from Keene's Wharf. The 

 inns are the Swan, and the Crown and Anchor; and 

 the fishermen, William Tagg and W. Eogerson. 



Hampto:^ Court contains a fine reach of angling 

 water, under preservation, and extends, according to 

 official authority, two hundred and seventy yards from 

 Weir Moulsey Lock to Lower Head Pile. This range 

 of water can be fished either from the banks, or in a 

 punt. It contains a number of fine perch and barbel, 

 and some trout of considerable size have been taken out 

 of it of late years. The inns are the Castle, and the 

 Mitre ; and the fishermen, William Rockingham and 

 Thomas Davis. 



Hampton is about a mile from the last station, and is 

 a very interesting village. There is good fishing water 

 here, and barbel and roach are plentiful ; there is a fair 

 sprinkling of gudgeons, and some odd trout. According 

 to authority, the preserved waters extend nine hundred 

 and sixty yards from the west end of Garrick's Lawn to 

 the Tumbling Bay. This village used formerly to be a 

 very favourite locality for anglers. It was here that we 

 have upon record a remarkable instance of piscatory 

 enthusiasm and patience. Sir John Hawkins, who was 

 himself a great angler, and edited a fine edition of 

 Walton's works, relates an anecdote of a gentleman who 

 came to reside here for the facility of enjoying his fish- 

 ing sports. Sir John says : " Living some years ago in a 

 village on the banks of the Thames, I was used in the 

 summer months to be mvTch out in a boat on the river. 

 It chanced that at Hampton, where I had been for a few 

 days, I frequently passed an elderly gentleman in his 

 boat, who appeared to be fishing at different stations for 

 barbel, After a few salutations had passed between us, 



