SKEGGBES AND STRIKES. 211 



caught by the fly at Sunbury. I hope all 

 Thames anglers will immediately return any 

 fish they catch that may be a young salmon 

 or trout. Anyhow, it is very delightful to 

 one's ears to hear even the long extinct 

 word " skeggers " again passing from mouth 

 to mouth on the banks of our noble river. 

 When shall we hear of " strikes," i.e. salmon 

 after they have spawned, being found in the 

 Thames ? * The time was, and this no more 



* The following is a record of the last salmon caught at 

 Windsor. He was caught by one Finmore, an ancient fisher- 

 man of the place. I quote from my ' ' Curiosities of Natural 

 History." 



" Nearly fifty years have passed since the last salmon at 

 Windsor became a victim to the cupidity of man. This poor 

 fish had a favourite hole near Surley Hall, about two miles 

 above Windsor, which was at last found out and his destruction 

 determined upon. Accordingly, one day the hole was sur- 

 rounded with nets on every side, and the fishermen made sure 

 of their prey ; but they were mistaken. The salmon discovered 

 suddenly that there was treachery, and, like a brave and wise 

 fish, he made a jump, not into the net — he was too knowing for 



p 2 



