the field. 
beaten by the Stella in the second tie. — I am your obedient 
servant, 
O.ve of the Crew of tiie Wasp, 
Dublin Rowing Club. 
University Rowing Club, 
‘22nd July, 1854. 
Sir, — With reference to a letter which appeared in vour 
columns to-day, 1 am directed by the committee of the \jni- 
versity Rowing Club, to communicate with you for the 
S urpose of removing a misimpression, under which, no 
ouot, the writer of a letter subscribing himself "One of 
the Crew of the Wasp,” laboured when he imputed in- 
justice to the committee of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, 
in the adjudication of a prize contended for on the 19th 
instant. The prize, which had been pulled for on the first 
day of the regatta, not having been won by any boat, merged 
into the regatta fund, but the committee of the R.I.Y. Club 
were good enough to offer f or competition on the following day 
a prize similar in amount, for whioh entries were received until 
two o’clock of the day of the race. Thecrewofthe “ Mystery,” 
who had been late in entering for the prize of the preceding 
day, entered for the race, and the privilege, of whioh they 
availed themselves, was neglected by the crew of the 
“ Wasp,” although it afforded the latter an opportunity of 
substituting a boat for that which had been destroyed on 
the 18th inst. 
Apologising for this trespass on your valuable space, I 
remain, sir, your obedient servant, 
W. C. Hogan, Hon. Sec. 
[We have also received a letter signed “ The Crew of the 
Unda,” the purport of which is substantially the same as 
that signed by the secretary of the University Rowing Club, 
and which it is therefore necessary to publish.] 
PISCATORIAL PROLUSIONS. 
Br the Hampshire Flv-Fisiier. 
HAMPSHIRE RIVERS. — THE TEST. 
Perhaps there is no river in England— I had almost said, 
in the world— that lias greater charms for the Fly- Fisher, 
whether os regards the beauty or quality of its trout, than the 
silvery Test. Certain I am that neither the Dove nor the 
Wandle require greater skill in the angler to lure these capri- 
cious Naiads from their translucent waters. They may not, 
indeed, arrive at the magnitude of tho denizens of the 
Thames, but they are very far beyond the run of ordinary 
rivers. In some parts of these favoured waters it is forbidden 
to take them of less size than two pounds. Fish from three 
to four pounds aro by no means uncommon, and now and 
then they arrive at five and six pouuds weight ; and I have 
heard of— though I never saw— fish of still greater magnitude. 
A valued friend of mine, and an admirable fisherman, told me 
that he once killed at Chllbolton eight brace, weighing forty- 
three pounds, with the Welshman’s Button, during the May- 
fly season ; and the 6till deeps of the King’s Somboume waters 
will yield, on an average, during the same season, from 
thirty-five to forty-five fish, running from two to five or six 
pounds. I think the finest fish I ever saw, for symmetry and 
brilliancy of colour, wri9 one of these four-pounders, ut whoso 
capture, to use a French phrase, I once assisted; and, as for 
the table, they may proudly challenge a superiority ovor the 
Lochleven trout, to which, in colour and shape, they bear a 
strong resemblance, if they do not surpass tho produce of the 
Avon, the Kennett, the Wandle, or even the Thames. 
The river Test, properly so called, rises in the Chalk 
Down above Hurstbourno Tarrant on the borders of Hamp- 
shire and Berkshire, and runs by St. Mary Bourne, Hurst- 
bourne Priors, and Hurstbourne Park, the seat of the Eurl 
of Portsmouth, a little below Whitchurch, where it is joined 
by another important stream springing near to Ash Park 
and then running by Overton, Free Folk, to Whitchurch. 
Of this latter water I know nothing above Whitchurch, except 
having seen it when travelling that way. The greatest part of 
the fishing, however, on this stream above Whitchurch be- 
longs, I believe, to Mr. Melville Portal, one of the Members of 
the Northern Division of the County. Immediately above the 
town of Whitchurch Mr. Rawlings claims some pretty con- 
siderable rights, and below the town Mr. Frere owns u con- 
siderable range. This at present is in the hands of a Club ; 
but in turning over some old notes the oilier day I found the 
records ol a very pleasant and successful duy’s sport, for which 
1 wus indebted to the kindness of that gentleman. The fish 
landed here, though very numerous, are not so large as they 
are further down. Indeed it may be observed, us a general 
rule, that the fish fall off in size the nearer they approach to 
the fountain head. Tho principal owners of the Hurstbourne 
fishery are the Earl of Portsmouth, the representatives of the 
late Co!. Hawker, Mr. Coles, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Tremayne. 
At Festcoinhe Bridge the Tost is further swollen by the junc- 
tion of the Anton. This river, from which tho town of An- 
dover takes its name (Saxon, Andoufearan, tho ferry or passa -e 
of the river Ande), is formed by the junction of two minor 
streams, one rising near Ainporf, the other by King's Enliam, 
and after flowing by tho town and by the parishes of Good worth 
Clatford and Wherwell joins the Test at Testcombe Bridge, 
and thence flows into the Southampton Water at Redbridge. 
From Andover to Testcombe Bridge the righis- of fishing are 
“ * variet y hands* The principal owners, however, in 
addition to the smaller landholders, are the representatives 
of the late John Ruwlinson, Esq., Mr. John Lywood, The 
Rev. Thomas Best, the Vicar of Goodworth Clatford, Mr. 
aremayne, Col, Stuart, and Sir W. Heathcote. I had omitted 
to state that previous to the junction of the Anton the Test is 
augmented by a fine stream running pretty nearly south- 
east and north-west, and which has its rise near Mitciieldever, 
and flows by Bullingdon and Barton Stacey. The best of the 
M 'rw , , re belongs, I believe, to Mrs. Henniker Wihon and 
l l / 1 ' Vlck n am> From Ashbridge to Testcombe Bridge the freo- 
io era and copyholders of Chilbolion have right of fishing, 
s a general rule, I am extremely averse to the destruction of 
ocomon rights in England. But I confess, however anxious 
be, and I hope I always shall be, to uphold the 
if 1 *. 0 our “brave peasantry,'’ yet I never look at this 
autiful range of water without a sigh for the havoc and 
devastation to which it is subject. Hoop-nets, shoe-neta, 
P night-lines, every 6ort of device that can bo invented 
for the destruction of fi»li,are here in constant And yet 
with all this, there is still a large stock of munificent trout’ 
as well as jack and eels. But the fi-hermau who hopes to 
nobble them oucht to be somewhat of ail amphiblou. 
uature ; he must neither fear bog nor water. Some day l 
•nay recount hu ad venture that befell me in these regions- 
but now I must beg my reader, who wishes to explore the- 
waters, to push on with me by Longstock, Lechford, and Stock - 
bridge, till we come to the famous Houghton water, beloved 
of the Stockbridge Club. Between Houghton uud Klny 
Sombourne another tributary, rising to the north-west, above 
mi’ FUn3 k/ Broughton, and pours itself into tho Test, 
which now, having become a river of considerable magnitude, 
runs by King Sombourne, Mottisfont, Kimbiidgo, Romsey, 
and so on to the 6ea. Below Stockbridge, the principal pro- 
prietors are Mr. Edwards, Sir John Barker Mills, Mr. Cham- 
berlayno, Sir William Heathcote, Lord Palmereton, and Mi-> 
Sturges Bourne. Below Romsoy trout are more scurce, but 
grayling are to be had, and very large dace, which riso well to 
the fly. Jack, too, are generally numerous, but ovory possible 
endeavour is made to dostroy these fresh-water sharks. Tho 
last-mentioned lurly, too, I am told, has been of late years 
most anxious to promote the salmon fishery, which still 
remains— all honour to her for tho endeavour. If the whole- 
some provisions of tho Legislature were put in force moro 
generally, wo might with reason hope that tho rivors ol 
Hampshire might ngam be stocked with the king of fishes 
as they were even in the memory of living man, uud parents 
and guardians ouoe more find it necessary to iusurt a clause 
in indentures of apprenticeship, that the young mou of Win- 
chester shall not bo compelled to eat salmou moro than 
three days a-week. 
For fi-hing quarters, the angler will do well to locate him- 
self either ut Andover, Whitchurch, the Andover-roud Sta- 
tion, Stockbridge, or Romsey, accordingly as these several 
stations may bo more or less convenient. Generally, I would 
not recommend him to trust himself to tho village hostelries. 
Sutton, Wherwell, and Overton will perhaps furnish him with 
tolerable entertainment. But since the days of railroads, we 
must turn to the romances of James, if wo want to enjoy the 
delights of a villngo inn in imagination, and in imagination 
only ; for the reality, with very few exceptions, is no more. 
Curious Fisn. — On the night of Friday last, a curious 
fish, pronounced by our fishermen to be an Albaeore, was 
caught while mackarel fishing, about twelve miles oft’ 
Hastings, by William Evans, owner of the Bee. Tho fish 
weighed 4.5A lbs., and is nearly four feet loug from the tip 
of the snout to the end of the tail. It is not scaly, but more 
like a mackarel as to its outer skin, and has the singular 
peculiarity of being as bard as a deal board to tho touch. 
File dorsal fin, which is large, when not in use fits closely 
into a deep grove (as is very much the case in the mackerel), 
so that at first sight one would conclude that it had no such 
fin. The smaller fins near the tail, above and beneath, are 
also hard and thick. The body is large, and tapers sud- 
denly towards the tail. The capture of these fish in “these 
parts" is said to be of very rare occurrence ; indeed, it is 
asserted that the oldest fishermen in Hastings do not recol- 
lect one having been previously caught here. Tho fish was 
bought by Messrs. Breach and Son, of the Fish-market, 
around whose window numbers have congregated to inspect 
so strange-looking and unusual a visitor. From this 
account we are disposed to believe this fish to he a bonito. 
A description given in Yarrell’s “British Fishes” of a 
specimen obtained by Mr. Crouch on tho Cornish coast 
closely tallies with that above rendered. There is also a 
similarity in the time and circumstances of the capture, the 
fish mentioned by Yarrell being “taken in a drift net in 
July, at which time the roe was abundant.” Yarrell adds 
that “ it rarely takes a bait, and is too wary to be often 
taken in a net,” a statement which may acoount for our 
oldest fishermen never reoolleoting having seen one here 
before — Hastings Chronicle. 
Weymouth. — O n Saturday last an enormous fish was 
capturod above the bridge by u lad named Maunders. It was 
of a rare species, and is known by tho name of the “Monk " 
fish. 
The Prince op “ Whalbs.” — A s a party of ladies wero 
boaiing in Broderick Bay, a fow days ago, a large whale sud- 
denly rose within a lew yurda of the bout, and after regarding 
tho boat with some curiosity, sunk gently. 
?os 
The Life and Adventures of Dick Diminy. By C. 
Collins. Collins and Ponsford, London. 
We have belbro hud occusion to mention this truthful em- 
bodiment of turf life during its monthly issue, and in ita 
completed form again rooiftninond it to the notice of all lovers 
of the racecourse, who would wish to be initiated into the 
merits and demerits of tho principal actors, both before and 
behind the scones. 
Tilbury Nogo ; or, Passages in the Life of an Unsuccessful 
Man. By the Author of “ Digby Grand.” Chapman and 
Hall, London. 
An admirably written sporting novel, which carries you 
from the first page to the last with unflagging spirit. It 
lias the true blood in it, and shows that the author has a 
thorough knowledge of his subject. There is life and reality 
in every scene and every Incident. 
The Australian Emigrant. By G. II. Haydon. Hall, 
Virtue, and Co., London. 
This is an unvarnished tale of that auriferous land, to which 
so many thousands are yet wending their way in search of a 
better lot than home can g've them. God speed them, say 
we. The dedication of this work, “ To my Father and 
Mother,” at odco won our respect for the author, and dis- 
armed criticism, even if inclined to be severe, wbleh we arc 
" , 1 ; 1 " illustration, too, with its significant “ From 
i.tigland, 10. OilO miles,” shows what Saxon energy can mid will 
to by Persovcrunce and industry. We consider this rumbling 
> ory of bush hie, of fact and Action, espedully intormthw to 
I I who imere-t themselves directly nr indlroctlv hi tha 
success nf tins far-off colony, where pasture-fields are us pro . 
“ ud truly th ° subiui “ u ° f 
The Ton Courts of the Crystal Palace. Routlodgo and Co., 
London. 
A well-compiled guide, and it* cheapness will no doubt 
terracVV * ar ®° *r“ n’ T, '° sovor * 1 Court#, fouutaius, 
terraces, Ac., arc carefully described. 
Rosa; or, the Black Tulip. By Alexandre Dumas. 
, , „ , Hodgson, London. 
Tins oddly-titled hook is founded o U the tulip mania that 
raged in Holland during the time of William of Orange, and 
ho onvy ami hatred engendered by a rival florist form tho 
basis ol tho stirring interest and scenes so masterly ovolved 
by tho greatest of French novelists. 
British Game Birds and WUd Fowl. (Parts V. and VIA 
By Beverley R. Morris. Gioombridgo uud Son* 
London. ' 
Tltis is un admirable work, and must, by its boauHfully 
coloured illustrations and woll wrlttcu oxpluuatory matter 
command success. ' 
Prqfitabla Poultry. By W. B. Tkoetmeier. Dartonond 
Co., London. 
A new anil enlarged edition of ouo of tho most undorstmd- 
u do and useful lltllo books that has yet apnoured upon this 
all engrossing subject. 1 
Farm Implements, their Construction and Use. By John 
J. Thomas. Sampson Low and Co., London. 
We quite agree with tho writer of Downing’s Rural Essays, 
that no individual, connected with farming, should be with- 
out this simplo .'ami practical work on the scloncn nf agricul- 
lu r °. The present Is a rovisod edition of “ Agricultural Dy- 
namics, first printod in the Trim-actions of tho Now York 
Agricultural Society for 1850, with nearly twico tho umount 
of valuublo mutter and Illustrations. When wo rend this in- 
telligent and intelligiblo book, and think of the slow pro- 
gress of improvement in many of tho most fertile pin ts of 
England, wo Icel that iguoranco and obstinacy Imvo a Inrgor 
sway in these realms than is consistent with the nation’s 
needed prosperity in this particular. 
Shetchos and Anecdotes of Animal Life. By tho Rev. J. G. 
Woon. Itoutledge und Co., London. 
Illustrated by that master of his art, Harrison Wolf, and 
written by a rovorend M.A. fully competent to tho lark, wo 
have here u most plou-ant book for young uud old. Ono 
that you will be loath to lay down und ploased to tako up. 
The Poetical Worhs of Gray, Parnell, Collins, Green, and 
War ton. Edited by the Rev. IIouert Aris WlLLMOTT. 
Routlcdge and Co., London. 
This is the choicest work tlint has as yet issued from 
the voluminous establishment of Messrs. ’ Koutledgo uud 
Co. A kindred spirit seems to breathe through the In- 
spired verses of tlicsu hero associated pools, and wo Who in 
happier mood from the perusal of tboir work. Woll lies the 
editor porformed Ids (Jun e of this volume. Tho blogruphicnl 
notices toem with tho soul of wit, yet clear, and Clio loot-notos 
ure scholarly and to tho purpose. 
The Baths of France, Central Germany, and Switzerland. 
By Edwin Leu. Churchill, Loudon. 
A most apropos publication Bt this health-seeking season of 
tho yeur, very Impartially written. The number of watering 
pluces resorted to by tho English far exceed either our Idea 
or our wish, wlion wo remombor tho many beautiful spots of 
tho liko kind in our own unapproachable island, which now 
must give way to those of fashion’s foreign tusto. .Surely sul- 
phur’s sulphur In Harrogate and Leamington, without u Hickly 
journey to the Pyrcnooos, und wo Imvo Eaux Chaudos ut Buth 
and Cheltenham. Tho wuteis of Roman Vichy, liowover, 
wo know to be excellent in their effect, though we doubt, If 
home was not too homely to this foreign rlrldon nation, who- 
ther as good results might not bo altuiuod without tho risk of 
malade de mer. 
Master's Ready Reckoner. Edited by John IIeaton. 
Routlodgo and Co., London. 
A perfect utility to every ono paying or receiving monoy. 
The Electric Telegraph of Fun. By Alpred Crowquill 
Routlodgo and Co,, London. 
Carrying out Its title to the full, and illustratod as only tho 
illustrious A. C. can illustrate. 
The Cruise of the Steam-yacht North Star. By the Rev. 
John O. Cbodles, D.D., author of “ The History of Mis- 
sions,” See, London ; J nines Blackwood, 
Dr. Chotiles Is already known in America ns having recently 
published a narrative untitled “ Young Americans Abroad, or 
Vacation in Europe.” IIo was onabled, through tho kindness 
of Mr. Vundorbelt, the New York merchant, who visited En- 
gland in hU Nteum-yacht In 1853, topiy another flying visit to 
the Old World, and now pohllshos ids Impressions of whut 
must have been a very delightful cruise. The North Star left 
Now York on the 10th of May, in lust year, und urrived In 
Southampton Water in ahout ten days. Tho merchant 
prince und a puny of friends, to the number of five or slx-und- 
twenty, who accompanied him, visited tho metropolis, tho 
manufacturing towns, and principal placos of interest. They 
wero entertained by the Lord Mayor, at tho Egyptian Hall, 
and, subsequently, at a dinner given by the inhabitant# of 
Southampton. Alter spending a fortnight in England, the 
party rc-ussemblnd, and the North Star steamed away to the 
Baltic, and in a fow days anchored under the dreaded fortrosa 
of Cronstadt. Having examined all that was to bo scan of 
interest in St. Petersburg, the North Star again put to sea, 
and visited, in succession, France, Spain, Italy, Malta, Turkey, 
Madeira, kc. Tho excursion extended over four months, 
and on the 23rd of September the yacht made tho light at 
Sandy Hook, having steamed in 58 days 15,024 miles, ut an 
average speed of 259 miles per diem. Dr. Choulea gives a 
graphic description of tho placos he visited, and tho people 
lie met. 
Good News fob We# t Kent Sport*) <*n. — We have 
much pleasure in acquainting our sporting irisnds In West 
Kent, that tho past season appear# to have been a genial one 
for the vulpine race. Vixeos und their cubs huve done well, 
and it is anticipated tha forthcoming hunting season will be 
productive of much sport, there being no luck of foxes. 
