NOTES 255 



with many anglers. The great pool below the bridge, 

 where the Mole joins the Thames, nearly always holds 

 big trout till the boating traffic drives them upstream. 

 The Water Gallery, near the Palace, is also good for 

 trout. I have seen chub taken in the winter between 

 Hampton Court and Thames Ditton by bank-anglers 

 running the float downstream and following it, throwing in 

 a little groundbait now and again. The Thames Ditton 

 and Kingston waters give best sport in the winter, there 

 is too much traffic in the summer months ; the roach- 

 and bream-fishing is good, the deep water admirably 

 suiting bream. The bream-fishing is best in the very early 

 morning, before the mist has left the water, and before 

 the boat traffic begins. There are several fishermen at 

 Kingston ; I can recommend Knight. Dace- jjjng.._ 

 fishing is good along the Esplanade at Surbiton, ^^^ 

 but bank-angling is not allowed from the 

 Esplanade. Many years ago, when the sewer joined the 

 Thames below the railway-bridge at Kingston, the bank- 

 anglers made great catches of roach in the thickened 

 water. There are many bank-swims worth trying be- 

 tween Kingston and Teddington, and fine carp „ , 

 are sometimes taken in the Teddington water, jington 

 Dace and roach are caught in thousands in the 

 tidal water below the weir ; and, in mild seasons, good 

 catches of bream are made in February when the tide 

 suits. Dace-fishing in the shallows, when the tide is low, 

 may be practised with much success, though I cannot 

 say whether the new weir at Richmond has made any 

 alteration in the fishing. It is best to wade when dace- 

 fishing, and I seldom use more than one fly in the 

 Richmond waters ; care must also be taken not jjjj.j,_ 

 to get into the deep ballast-holes. A fly, mond 

 tipped with a gentle, often kills plenty of roach 

 just when the flood tide begins. There are many good 

 fishermen at Richmond, and they may be found at the 

 bridge by any one who wants a few hours' fishing, but it 

 is advisable to arrange terms before you start. The 

 punts at Richmond are very large, with high sides to 

 stand the wash from the steamers. The supply of roach 

 and dace seems inexhaustible; but, as a rule, they do 

 not run very large. 



I have given only rough outlines of the fishing in the 



