254 COARSE FISH.. 



more. Below Walton bridge is the Sale, a weedy back- 

 water, which should contain tench ; the perch there are 

 y^ . numerous once more, for the weeds and roots 



were festooned with spawn this year (1897). 

 Walton Deeps were once famous for bream, but little 

 has been done there of late years ; the steam-launch 

 traffic may possibly account for this. The water certainly 

 looks like containing pike, and I think a livebait, floated 

 deep, in the winter, should find a good fish or two. 

 There is a small overflow between ^Valton and Sunbury, 

 which often holds a good trout early in the season. To 

 fish it properly, a punt must be used. There is a great 

 deal of bank-fishing done between Walton and Sunbury, 

 but I have not seen any very favourable results. Sunbury 

 Weir is an excellent one for bream and barbel, for barbel 

 particularly in the early season ; fine fish are usually 

 caught there on the opening day. The weir also holds 

 trout, but is difficult to fish owing to the boulders and 

 other obstructions ; it is no easy task to land fish from 

 the weir platform, as they have to be taken to either end. 

 The fishermen are Stroud and Clarke. There is good 

 barbel-water between the lock and the waterworks, 



which should be fished from a punt. Hampton 

 ton Deeps are a short distance above the church, 



and splendid catches of bream have been made 

 in these deeps ; a punt is necessary to get over the deep 

 water. The water between Hampton and Molesey 

 Weirs contains perch and pike, and there are good roach- 

 swims at Tagg's Island (where a small charge is made for 

 fishing) the long roach-rods being of service. The upper 

 weir often holds trout, and there are barbel just above and 

 below the lower weir ; the angler should fish on the left 

 side of the river, looking downstream, out of the way of 

 the traffic. Sailing, as well as sculling, boats cause much 

 disturbance in all the Hampton water. The big weir holds 

 some of the finest fish in the Thames, particularly trout ; 

 but it is difficult to fish, owing to stumps and other obstruc- 

 tions, and is perhaps more fished than any other weir on 

 the Thames. Very large barbel and chub frequently 

 take the livebait in this weir during the trout season, and 

 it requires some " nerve " to return them. Milbourne 

 and Jack Smith are the fishermen. As Hampton Court 

 station is so near the river, the weir is a favourite one 



