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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



the current opinion of the hearing of fishes, by 

 giving a compensating size and consequent power 

 to an internal organ. He says, " In the higher 

 animals the mechanical apparatus of hearing con- 

 sists of an external and an internal portion; in 

 fishes the internal portion alone exists, and is 

 hardly in perfection of form and structure to that 

 of creatures placed higher in the animal scale." — 

 Again, " There exists, however, this important 

 difference between the organ of hearing of terres- 

 trial animals and fishes, namely, that the ear in 

 the former is organised for the reception of the 

 more delicate vibration of the atmosphere, while 

 in the latter it is adapted to the rude oscillations 

 of a denser element." And after giving an illus- 

 tration of the effect of sound by the ticking of a 

 watch in different positions, he proceeds to sum 

 up by saying, " Fishes must, therefore, hear with 

 tolerable acuteness, particularly such sounds as 

 occasion a vibration of the element in which they 

 reside, for example, an approaching footstep ; 

 while the sounds which proceed from musical in- 

 struments, being less easily conveyed, are probably 

 unknown to them] certainly this is the case with 

 regard to tone.'' 1 Now this brings me back to my 

 first boyish conceptions, for I used to remark that 

 however much I whistled to " keep my courage 

 up," or the warmth from oozing out at my fingers' 

 ends, so long as I refrained from kicking my heels, 

 shaking myself, or indulging in any other boyish 

 noise, it did not interfere with my sport, which, by 

 the way, was of no mediocre description, of its 

 kind, seeing that I had imbibed no inconsider- 

 able share of paternal education in the gentle art, 

 paternal love of it, paternal tackle, &c, &c. In 

 Professor Wilson's ably written chapter, as quoted, 

 I do not think there is anything to refute the 

 opinion I have ventured, but rather to confirm it — 

 that concussion, received indirectly instead of 

 directly, is the cause of the sudden impulses fish 

 so obviously exhibit. 



Our closing extract refers to the angler's 

 favorite place of resort, — 



THE RIVER LEA. 



This river has its rise in Bedfordshire, falls into 

 the Thames near Blackwall, and is held in the 

 opinion of London anglers, as second only to 

 that noble river. It is navigable from Hertford 

 to Limehouse, aud flows through a beautiful 

 pastoral country, adorned with villages and 

 noble mansions, through parks and meadows, con- 

 taining countless herds of cattle and flocks of 

 sheep, which are bordered by the sloping hills 

 and woods of Epping Forest for some miles. In 

 spring, the angler may try his art in the Lea, 

 when he is forbidden, by the fence-months of 

 March, April, and May, to wet a line in the 

 Thames, except he is fishing for trout. 



The shortness of the distance from London 

 is another inducement for brothers of the angle 

 to congregate on the Lea; the first subscription 

 water, the White House, Homerton, being little 

 more than three miles from London. 



This water is rented and preserved by Mr. 

 Beresford, and the subscription for a year's 

 angling is half-a-guinea, or a ticket for the day 

 may be had for a shilling. White House water 

 lies between Stratford and Lea Bridge, and is 

 near Homerton. It abounds with jack and pike, 



carp, barbel, chub, perch, roach, dace, eels, 

 gudgeon, and bleak. The Horse and Groom, Lea 

 Bridge:— this favorite resort of London fishermen 

 is about a mile above White House, and is most 

 delightfully situated, the gardens belonging to it 

 being almost surrounded by water. The sub- 

 scribers to this water are very numerous, they pay 

 half-a-guinea annually, and casual visitors a 

 shilling for a day ticket ; the house is kept by 

 Messrs. Beresford and Son, and on most days, 

 during the season, the angler will find an ordinary 

 at two o'clock. 



The fish to be met with in this water are the 

 same as those already mentioned in the White 

 House water. It is said the Lea is an excellent 

 school for anglers, and with great justice, as the 

 fish are so well fed naturally, and the water is so 

 clear and often low, that nothing but fine fishing 

 can succeed. Above Lea Bridge a considerable 

 space of the river is free to anglers, but at Totten- 

 ham mills, five miles from London, you come to 

 Tyler's subscription water, and six miles thence 

 is Ford's water; the house is called the Blue 

 House. The annual subscr'rtion is half-a-guinea 

 for bottom-fishing only, or one guinea including 

 trolling. The next subscription water is Bleak 

 Hall. This house belongs to Mr. Wicks, and is 

 near to Edmonton ; it is pleasantly situated close 

 to the water, which is well stored with fish. 

 Upwards of two miles of water are here preserved, 

 by uniting the water of Bleak Hall and that 

 of Chingford, formerly Shurey's water; and 

 this part of the Lea is well stored with jack and 

 pike. The subscription for both waters is two 

 guineas. Waltham Abbey : — this place is twelve 

 miles from London. The water here, for the 

 space of at least two miles, belongs to the Govern- 

 ment, and is well preserved. 



There are several wiers or tumbling bays here, 

 where large trout are sometimes taken, and the 

 whole of the Government water is well stored 

 with perch, pike, and large chub. I speak of 

 these, as most abundant, but there is no want of 

 other fish, as roach, dace, gudgeons, &c. There is 

 an excellent inn, and the charges are very mode- 

 rate : the best months for fishing at Waltham 

 Abbey are September and October. Part of the 

 water belonging to Government is, I believe, 

 rented by a party of gentlemen, and preserved for 

 trolling. Broxbourne, the Crown, kept by Mr. T. 

 Want,* is close to the river, and has the rural 

 appearance of a farm-house. It is an inn remark- 

 able for comfort, cleanliness, civility, and attention, 

 with every moderate charges. The contemplative 

 angler, who seeks repose from the bustle and 

 cares of the metropolis, will be delighted with 

 this snug retreat, which, at the same, time offers 

 the retirement he desires, and the amusement he 

 enjoys. The water is well stored with fish, and 

 visitors at the house have permission to angle, 

 and have live-baits found them, without subscrip- 

 tion or day ticket. A friend of mine, says Mr. 

 Hofland, informed me, that in October of last 

 year, one gentleman caught five brace of jack and 

 pike in one day, in the water belonging to the 

 Crown. Page's Water : — the fishing here is 

 better than the accommodation, and the best 



* Since transferred to J. Benningfield, in whose 

 hands it has been wonderfully improved. 



