PROVINCIAL RIVERS 179 



and enters the Thames at Wandsworth. It is preserved 

 in many sections of its waters, but trout of twelve 

 pounds have occasionally been captured in this stream. 

 The Cray enters the Thames between "Woolwich and 

 Dartford, and is of little importance. The Mole contains 

 but a small number of trout, but a good sprinkling of 

 pike, and some of very large size. A few years ago one 

 was taken near Bletchworth Castle which weighed 

 twenty-five pounds. 



The county of Kent has but few streams worthy of 

 general notice ; neither would we advise a fly-fisher to 

 undertake a journey with the rod into either Essex or 

 Sussex. There is plenty of bottom-fishing, but nothing 

 that could satisfy a man who knows anything about 

 fly-fishing, and who relishes the sport. 



The Eastern Counties Eailway extends now over a 

 wide range of country, but there is not much fine fishing 

 water within its reach. In the several counties of 

 Sufiolk, Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and 

 Northamptonshire, we can scarcely find any waters but 

 such as suit the bottom-fisher. There are some excellent 

 localities for his kind of sport. 



The best tour we should recommend, within a reason- 

 able distance of London, is the Derbyshire district. 

 Here we get in among the mountains, which impart 

 such a peculiar feature to all excursions, and produce 

 those clear, rapid, and sparkling waters in which trout 

 delight to swim. This toui would prove a great treat 

 to all who have not hitherto been made familiar with 

 the rugged and bold features of nature; and now the 

 expense of time and money to accomplish it is very 

 trifling to what it used to be a few years since. The 

 river Trent flows through a portion of Derbyshire, but 

 of it we do not purpose to say anything at present : we 

 shall deal with the smaller streams. The Erewash is a 

 pleasant water. It rises near to the town of Mansfield, 

 and divides the counties of Derby and Nottingham. 

 Fly-fishing in its upper waters is very good, but the 

 fish are somewhat small, and are proverbially fickle in 

 their hours of feeding. We have known many anglers 



