THE NORTH OF ENGLAND 185 



work, when tlie waters are in full trim, in this neigh- 

 bourhood. The same kinds of flies that answer for the 

 Wharfe will do here. 



There are only two rivers in the county of Durham 

 of any great fishing repute, the Tees and the Wear. 

 The first enters the sea at Stockton, and the latter at 

 Sunderland. They each have a range of fly-fishing 

 water of full forty miles. The Tees, in its higher 

 sections, flows through a moorish and wild district 

 called Teesdale ; a portion of the county which is now 

 more accessible than it was a few years ago, and is 

 becoming daily better known and more frequently 

 visited by angling tourists. It ia a free and open 

 country, delightfully suited to the unfettered move- 

 ments of the pedestrian rod-fisher. The trout are good, 

 but not large ; and when in the taking mood, anything 

 in the shape of a fly will suit their taste. Ten or 

 twelve dozen of flsh may be taken in the course of a 

 few hours ; but the salmon and sahnon-trout are very 

 scarce. Like most rivers that have a hilly origin, the 

 farther we descend the stream towards the sea, the 

 larger and better fed are the fish. This is the case 

 with the Tees. A few miles above Stockton, fine trout 

 of four or five pounds weight are sometimes taken, both 

 with fly and minnow. But for fly-fishing, the higher 

 up the river the better. After heavy rains, when the 

 water has turned to a sort of ale colour, and considerably 

 subsided, flies of a lightish hue are found more killing 

 here than any other. Palmers are also favourites. 



The Wear rises out of a range of high mountains in 

 Cumberland, and flows for some miles after it leaves its 

 parent springs, through a singularly wild and interesting 

 locality. An angler coming direct from the level and 

 richly cultivated counties of the south of England, to 

 the waters of Wear Dale, will experience a singular 

 class of sensations. Nothing can be more impressive 

 than a range along their banks for full twenty or five- 

 and-twenty miles. The town of Bishop-Auckland is an 

 excellent spot to go to, and from this to fish the water 

 upwards. The sportsman will find the main river 



