SUPPLEMENT TO THE FISHING GAZETTE 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1893. 
Ipcovinclal IRotes 
FROM BIRMINGHAM AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
A special meeting of the committee of the Birmingham 
Angling Association was held on Thursday evening at 
the headquarters. Mr. T. Coles presided, and Mr. J. A. 
Dance occupied the vice-chair. The president said that 
the meeting had been convened for the purpose of again 
taking into consideration the date of the association’s 
annual dinner, and, after some discussion, it was decided 
to alter the date to Wednesday, Eeb. 22, Messrs. 
Dance and Coles gave in a report of their visit to a new 
society, held at the New Inn, Albion-road, Greet. This 
society was formed at the latter part of last year, and 
now, having got into thorough working order, they 
applied to the association for affiliation. The club 
numbers at present about thirty members, but in all 
probability they will greatly increase their membership 
to double this number before long, as they are situated 
right away from any other affiliated society. The 
report was adopted, and upon the motion of Mr. Willock, 
which was seconded by Mr. Hughes, the club was 
accepted into the association upon the usual payment 
of the entrance fees, &c., which amounts to £4: 43. 
Mr. Coles gave in a report of the Severn Board 
meeting, and urged upon the clubs interested in the 
Eiver Avon to give him their assistance at the forthcom¬ 
ing inquiry. Any information would be gladly received. 
The report was adopted, and the best thanks of the 
committee was accorded to Mr. Coles for his services. 
Mr. C. Holloway gave in a notice of motion to the effect 
that the Birmingham annual subscription should be 
raised twopence per member per annum for the purpose 
of forming a fund for the preserving of specimen fish 
caught by the members. This concluded the business 
of the meeting. 
All our rivers and canals, together with the pools, are 
open for fishing, and all the waters are reported to be in 
first-class condition. The Severn is in grand condition, 
and, during the past few days, anglers have been seen in 
the neighbourhood of Highley and Hampton Lode. The 
perch and chub are biting freely just about here, and 
some very decent baskets have been secured. A few 
decent fish, chiefly chub, have been taken from Lincomb 
Look. Very little has been done on the Avon since the 
late frost, but now that the weather has taken a change, 
many of our anglers will embrace the opportunity of 
getting out. 
When clubs rent water they should be very careful to 
see that the agreement is drawn up properly, and that a 
clause should be inserted that the water should be for 
the use of the club “ for all purposes.” If the Belmont 
Society had thought of this when they took Mose¬ 
ley New Pool, they would have been near upon ^@150 
better off at the present time. During the late frost the 
ool has been frozen over, and skating on the pool has 
een all the rage. The club thought that they would 
have the benefit of this, but the owner of the pool 
stepped in at the eleventh hour and claimed this right. 
A meeting of the committee of the Birmingham Angling 
Association will be held on Thursday evening next at 
the headquarters, when Mr. White’s scheme for obta,in- 
ing a challenge cup for the Birmingham Angling 
Association will be discussed; chair taken at 8.30 
prompt. __ 
FROM FEN DISTRICT (LINCOLNSHIRE). 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
We have had nice angling weather this week, and 
sportsmen have taken every advantage of the change. 
Last Saturday, in a three-mile stretch of the Forty- 
foot, south of Donington Bridge, no less than seven 
gentlemen were at work with the trolling tackle, three 
of whom were visitors to the district. One of the latter, 
a Mr. Taylor, captured the best pike I have recorded 
this season—a twelve-pounder. The fish, which was in 
splendid condition, died most gloriously, taking over 
half-an-hour to land. It measured 27in. long and 
was about 15in. in girth. Another very good one, VJlb., 
was taken by Mr. Kitchin, and Mr. Pearson got one over 
61b. This week more good fish have been secured by 
Mr. Kitchen, who was very successful on Tuesday, 
landing three fish, ranging from 31b. to 61b., with natural 
bait. The Forty-foot is just now in grand condition for 
trolling ; the water has run down to its normal level, and 
there is only one thing (better banks) required to make 
the river the best pike stream in the district. 
From the Witham satisfactory reports continue to be 
received. In the reaches about Langrick and Stixwould 
Mr. Martin and Mr. T. Bengough have been enjoying 
excellent sport since the disappearance of the frost. 
Lower down the river towards Lincoln, Mr. Haseldine 
caught ten fish in four days, weighing altogether just 
over 501b. Mr. Swan has also done well near Dogdyke. 
On the smaller drains, including Vernatts and Hob- 
hole, local sportsmen have met with good fish. Mr. 
Hall’s best last week weighed over 61b., and he took 
another on Tuesday nearly as heavy. Mr. Green also 
got a brace of pike last Saturday, weighing over 131b. 
the pair. 
Owing to the large quantity of ice on the Welland, 
anglers were notable to resume operations until towards 
the end of last week. About Stamford the reports are to 
the effect that good bags have been made, but I have no 
information as to the recent doing of sportsmen on the 
Market Deeping side. 
With a continuance of the open weather there will be 
a good deal of pike fishing in the fens during the next 
six weeks. 
FROM GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Only a few more weeks and we shall be once more 
thrashing the Cain. Poor old Coin I last year he had a 
hard time of it, and -plenty of abuse during the early 
weeks of the trout fishing season, for the weather was 
bad, and there was but little sport. Later on, however, 
those who happened on the right time had some excel¬ 
lent sport, more especially during the May-fly, when 
three days, specially prognosticated by your river 
reporter (Piscator), produced from the Coin upwards of 
IJowt. of fine trout. Sport that I should think was 
unsurpassed on any public stream in England. Since 
that time the Coin has hawi a thorough good rest, for last 
season, there being no season tickets issued, we had 
scarcely half-a dozen rods on during the months of July, 
August, and September. There appeared to be then a 
nice lot of young trout left for stock, and from what I 
have already seen of them on the spawn beds, I think 
the Coin will keep up its reputation amongst thorough 
fly-fishers. It is certainly not much use for duffers 
to come and expect to kill the trout anyhow ; it 
wants skill and craft of the highest order for the 
generally glassy water of this stream. Seen from 
the town oridge, the rising fish have even now 
been quite a sight in the warm noon-tide sun. I 
recently counted upwards of twenty brace from this 
spot: taking a small brown dun, a little lower down, 
I saw on the graval (that a sheet might have covered) 
four brace that must have averaged nearly IJlb. ; one of 
them was, without exception, the finest trout I have ever 
seen in or out of the Coin ; he was quite half a yard 
long, and, I should think, upwards of 3ib. in weight. I 
know his lay at present, and if he remains in the same 
spot until April 1, when the season commen ces here, I 
hope to have the first shot at him. He will take some 
holding on the light Multum, and probably a small 
Olive Dun or March Brown. I am sure it will take (hard 
up as I am) a bit of gold to tempt me reveal his where¬ 
abouts, except it is to some of our very best men. In 
Shy Hole and Meg there appears to be a fair show of 
fish, and also in the Callis. The stream has hem 
greatly improved in places by the lopping and clearing 
away of some willows that overhung the stream, and non- 
waders now have an almost uninterrupted throw from 
start to finish. Although the discontinuance of season- 
tickets has caused some friction amongst purely local 
men, and must have been some pounds out of the lessees’ 
pockets, I cannot bat think that it has been very bene¬ 
ficial to the stream, and hope that the Coin this coming 
season, with its pleasant rural surroundings, may be as 
productive of sport, health, and good fellowship as in 
years past.— Spliced Joint. 
FROM LANCASHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Several interesting events during the past week have 
kept us from dwelling too much on our position of idle¬ 
ness in angling matters. The great meeting of anglers 
at the Zoological Gardens, Manchester, was a success, 
some 2.50 sat down to the dinner previous to the meeting, 
rather too many some think ; and, by the clear appear¬ 
ance of the osteological parts of the joints, it would 
seem that the guests were well on the feed. The Eev. 
O. P. Roberts presided over the after meeting, which 
proved a most interesting one. The Royal toast was 
proposed from the ckair and received musical honours. 
The next, that of success to angling, was entrusted^ to 
Mr. E. Burn, who, in a speech marked by its interesting 
character, dealt with the various local enterprises in 
acquiring and stocking waters. The following gentle¬ 
men replied ; Mr. Johnson, Manchester ; Mr. Hawkes, 
Salford ; Mr. Bedford, Bolton ; Mr. Stratter, Oldham ; 
Mr. Drummond, Stockport; Mr. Greenongh, Howe- 
bridge ; Mr. Bradshaw, Warrington ; Councillor Wilson, 
Longsight; and Mr. J. Butterworth, Blackley. The 
next toast, that of the chairman, was proposed by Mr. 
W. F. Constable, and received musical honours in a 
moat demonstrative manner. Mr. Roberts in reply, 
thanked the meeting for the hearty manner in which his 
health had been drunk, and wished success to all in the 
coming year. The Smoking concert which followed, was 
presided over by Mr. W. Ashworth, and terminated the 
proceedings. The Moss Side Socials have just elected 
their officers, &c., as follows : President, F. Tunnacliffe ; 
vice-president, T. Taylor; treasurer, J. Chadwick,- 
secretary, E. Tate, 29, Trafford-street, Hulme; com¬ 
mittee, H. Colbeck, W. Clippe, J. Routledge, A. Rout- 
ledge, and — Fulton. The King’s Head Hotel Angling 
Society has just concluded arrangements for fishing in a 
well known water for the use of the members. This 
club is rapidly advancing in efficiency, and promises well 
for the future. With Mr. Lattimer at the helm, this is 
only to be expected. The general council of the Northern 
Anglers’ Association met previous to the dinner already 
referred to. There was a good attendance as usual of the 
Lancashire members of the council. Correspond¬ 
ence of a very interesting nature, and referring to 
railway concessions, was read by Mr. R. Burn, but at 
present it would not bo wise to make the nature of the 
same public. Mr. T. F. Walwork, of Bolton, was unani¬ 
mously elected treasurer in the room of the late Mr. 
Geo. Sykes. The Rev. C. P. Roberts, president of the 
association, was present and occupied the chair. The 
Manchester centre have succeeded in obtaining an 
angler’s fare to Bugsworth on the Midland Railway 
Company. This will be a great convenience to Man¬ 
chester anglers who wish to visit the Whaley Bridge 
Reservoir. _ . .... 
The Duke of Cambridge Angling Society, at their 
recent general meeting, elected their officers and com¬ 
mittee as follows : president, Mr. C. Jackson ; treasurer. 
Mr. E. Kenny; Secretary, Mr. H. Berry; Committee, 
Messrs. W. Smith, A. Latchford, and T. Cartwright. 
Reports to hand prove that during the past few days 
some fishing has actually taken place, but the baskets 
obtained are of a very poor description. 
FROM MONTGOMERYSHIRE, 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The meeting of the Severn Fishery Board took place 
at Birmingham, on Thursday, Jan. 19, but very few of 
our local conservators attended it, and the motion to 
increase the price of trout licences from Is. to 2s. was 
not carried, the question being adjourned to the next 
meeting, and this is the best course that could be pur¬ 
sued under the circumstances, as, before it is carried, a 
very clear understanding should be arrived at that the 
money obtained should bo exclusively devoted to the 
better protection of the upper waters, and to the im¬ 
provement of the stock of fish in these rivers. If this 
proposition had been included in the motion it would 
have had the support of all the upper conservacors, who 
would not vote for the motion as it stood, as the board 
already derive from these licences a much larger sum 
than they expend in this neighbourhood, and the resi¬ 
dents here do not see why they should contribute 
towards the preservation of the only fish they seldom 
or ever see up here, and which they think it at present 
scarcely worth the trouble to take out a licence to 
angle for, or for a net to capture them with; and it is 
notorious that salmon in our upper waters are now 
very few and far between during the season. During 
the close time they are seen up here in shoals, not¬ 
withstanding all the obstacles in their path, and 
why they do not reach the upper waters at other 
times is easily explained by the fact that the fisher¬ 
men in the lower Severn are now so numerous and 
alert, that very few salmon indeed are allowed to find 
their way up here. It is, therefore, a very small matter 
for wonder, that, so far as salmon fishing is concerned, 
little interest is taken in it in this locality, which should 
be, for that purpose, one of the best in the country, as 
we have all the best natural advantages in favcur of It; 
but which are thrown away in consequence of the 
dearth of salmon, which are too well taken care of at 
the mouth cf the Severn. Various suggestions are 
being made to improve the present very unsatisfactory 
state of affairs, but all fall far short of their intended 
purpose, for the very simple cause above mentioned. 
According to the report read at the last meeting of the 
board, it appears that during the past season the num¬ 
ber of salmon taken was 25,000, and their value d216,250 
and of this total it is far above the mark to say that 
the value of salmon taken above Shrewsbury reached 
.£250. What makes it the more disheartening for those 
interested in the fishing in this neighbourhood is that at 
the present time there is not the slightest prospect of 
any change for the better, as the Severn Fishery Board 
is now constituted so as to have a sufficient majority of 
conservators interested in the town waters to effectually 
swamp any motion to rectify the present state of affairs. 
What is wanted first.of all is to see that all qualified to 
act as conservators for the upper waters should at once 
be elected; and, ciuld they also be induced to attend the 
meetings of the board, to support all resolutions in 
favour of removing some of the obstacles which now 
interfere with the progress of the salmon to this neigh¬ 
bourhood, the chief of which obstacles being the 
numerous engines for their capture near the mouth of the 
Severn. We have had two gen'lemen recently appointed 
as conservators who are greatly interested in this 
matter—Mr. H. C. F. Somerset, ’Trederwin, Wansant- 
ffraid, and Dr. K. Humphreys, Llanfair Caerinion. 
FROM NORFOLK. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
We are having lovely weather just now, and snow and 
ice are fast disappearing from off the broads and other 
still waters. 
The rivers are clear of ice but are full of snow water, 
but if the present mild spring-like weather keeps on we 
shall soon be able to be out after the pike, which should 
feed well after their imprisonment. 
The Norwich Angling Club hold a meeting next 
Tuesday at the Walnut Tree Shades, when members and 
triends will have an evening devoted to “ Angling 
Tales.” Any angling visitor will be most heartily 
welcomed by the members of the N.A C.—A. J. Rudd. 
FROM NOTTINGHAM. 
To the Eiitor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Anglers are thankful that the weather, of late, has 
become much more genial, and when my notes were 
despatched on Wednesday night, the Trent, in our dis¬ 
trict, was running into condition for chub and pike¬ 
fishing. A very heavy volume of water passed through 
the valley of the river in the closing days of last week, 
and the thaw generally has proved a protracted one. 
On Monday, in the present week, coarse fish anglers 
were busy at such favourite places as Wilford, CLfton 
Grove, Radcliffe Bend, Burton Joyce, and Holme Pierre- 
pont. A strong wind raged from the north-west, but 
it did not prevent roach from taking the cockspur worm. 
Some of the fish, killed in the Clifton and Wilford 
reaches, weighed over lib. each, and not very long 
ago a Nottingham working man bagged one of 
lib. lOjoz. Large roach are known to be plentiful 
in Clifton deeps, and this month and February are 
the best for securing them. The water also contains 
scores of whopping bream, although these are not often 
caught in a feeding humour. Mr. J. Taylor showed 
