THE NORTH OF ENGLAND 187 



miles, all of which is open water for the angler, with 

 the exception of three or four small sections of it ; and 

 these, even, are not very rigidly preserved. This 

 freedom from constraint of every kind is a pleasurahle 

 element in piscatory recreations. The salmon fishery 

 at the mouth of the river belongs to the Duke of 

 Northumberland, and is let for a considerable yearly 

 rent; but we have never known any angler called to 

 account for capturing the salmon with the rod and 

 line, wherever he might be perambulating on the 

 Coquet. There are no artificial or natural obstructions 

 for the free passage of the fish from the sea to its 

 highest waters, so that this noble fish can always be 

 found, in more or less abundance, in every section of 

 its waters. 



The river Coquet is a remarkably clear one, and 

 often requires fine tackle. Its trout are likewise very 

 capricious and uncertain; some days you can get 

 nothing, and on another twelve or fifteen dozen may 

 fall to your share. The trout here run small, and 

 they are likewise of very indifferent quality. But for 

 real sport, the river, take it all in all, has few to equal 

 it in England. 



The Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Berwick Eailway crosses 

 it near "Warkworth, and the angler has then thirty 

 miles of fine angling streams before him ; this is a great 

 facility. All kinds of flies are used on the Coquet, 

 but care should be taken as to the size of the hook. 

 This, however, depends much upon the state of the 

 waters, and the season of the year. Trolling has be- 

 come quite the rage of late years on this water, and 

 unquestionably the finest and largest trout are taken 

 by this means. 



The North Tyne is a first-rate water; it joins the 

 South Tyne a little west of the town of Hexham. 

 This southern branch is nearly denuded of trout, from 

 the effects of the lead mines situated on its higher 

 waters. There are none of these establishments on 

 North Tyne. The river is preserved in some few 

 spots, but there are large stretches of fine water open 



