YORKSHIRE RIVERS. 129 
The boy is in the arms of Wharfe, 
And strangled by a merciless force ; 
For never mote was young Romilly seen 
Till he rose a, lifeless corse.” 
This dangerous point in the river is named the “ Strid,” 
which, I suppose, is a corruption of the word stride; and 
even now may be found persons who are foolhardy enough 
to attempt the feat, though they must be aware that a single 
false step means sudden death. Very beautiful, again, it 
appears in the full glory of midsummer, when the banks of 
the stream are clothed in thick foliage, and the stately fox- 
glove rears its head among the tangled masses of bracken 
and ferns. Then the cool shade of its many glades forms 
a pleasant resting place for the tired angler, who perchance 
has been wading up stream all day in the heat of the sun, 
fishing with the little red worm on drawn gut in the dim- 
inished streams. Permission to fish in this portion of the 
river, viz., from Bolton Bridge to Barden Tower, may be 
obtained by staying at the “ Devonshire Arms.” The trout 
are pretty numerous, but owing to the fact that the river 
about here is very hard fished, they are very shy, and 
require the most delicate of casts, and a light hand in 
throwing it. From Bolton Bridge, down past Addingham 
to Ilkley, known as being a fashionable resort for Hydro- 
paths, the river is preserved by the various landed proprie- 
tors, from whom permission is somewhat difficult to obtain. 
Below Ilkley Bridge are a succession of fine streams, to fish 
which tickets may be obtained from Mr. Kendall, landlord 
of the “‘ Rose and Crown” Hotel, at a charge of 2s. 6d. per 
day ; here also, as on the Bolton water, the fish are very 
wary, but at times some capital dishes are brought to bank, 
chiefly, however, by local experts, many of whom reside in 
the district. A stretch of preserved water again intervenes 
between the end of the Ilkley length and the market town 
of Otley ; here a first-rate angling club exists, secretary and 
treasurer, Mr. R. M. Pratt, who is most indefatigable in his 
