February 4, 1893] 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FISHING GAZETTE 
87 
and muddy a number of fine salmon were seen making 
their way up stream and jumping the Castle Weir. This 
is late in this part for sahnon to be making up-hill, as 
they are at this time of the year generally going down 
stream again. The Ony, Corve, Clun, and Ledwyche are 
all stained. No fishing done in them this week. 
Teme (Tenbury.) —The Teme in this district has 
been visited with heavy rain and the water rose quickly 
and coloured, but it has now gone down again and is 
clearing, and should the weather keep good, it will be in 
order by the beginning of the week. Angling has been 
at a standstill. The Rea, Kyre, and Ledwyche are all 
coloured.—W orcester. 
Usk (at Usk) .—The river has been a capital height 
for spawning purposes during the close time, and from 
reports of the water bailiffs at Brecon, and below, very 
little poaching has been carried on. The severe frost 
caused the river to be frozen over in many places, which 
is rather an exceptional thing, but a nice thaw, followed 
by some heavy rain, has removed all the ice, and a flow 
is expected. A few floods are now required before the 
trout season commences, in order to remove the vast 
number of kelts seaward, and to rid the river of them 
before the 15th prox. 
Welland. —Angling is very quiet on the Witham and 
on the drains adjacent thereto. Only few visitors have 
come into the district since the change in the weather, 
but the mildness of the present week should tempt a few 
to take advantage of Friday’s cheap weekly train to 
Boston. Boston has all through the summer been the 
best frequented ijlace on the river, and one or two of 
the local portions of the fen drains have yielded the 
most fish. I heard a hint the other day that it may be 
found next year that the best drain will not be as full 
of fish as previously. I have before complained of 
netting in the winter to reduce the attractiveness of 
certain drains about this district, because of the damage 
and nuisance caused by the crowds coming to angle in 
them, bnt I certainly think the people lose their way 
in doing this sort of thing. I would suggest that 
farmers and others who disapprove of the baser sort of 
anglers have a remedy, and might exercise it, viz., make 
a small charge for the privilege of trespassing on their 
land. Though the'drawbacks may be passed over, it is 
questionable whether that confers any right to remain 
and fish from them.—L uce. 
Witham. — Some good sport has been obtained 
amongst the pike, and a Boston angler last week took 
three splendid fish. They weighed altogether 351b., the 
largest turning the scales at 151b.—E. A. S. 
Witham, &c. (Mid Lincoln). —Reports of some 
good pike fishing are coming to hand from different 
points on the Witham, Stixwold, Langrich, Dogdyke, and 
Kirkstead, as well as other stations towards the Boston 
end of the river, which are being visited with success, 
and some good fish are the result. One particularly 
fine capture I may mention, though I cannot vouch for 
the facts. A Boston angler, Mr. P. Hildred, visiting 
Langrich the other day, is said to have banked three 
pike scaling in the aggregate 351b., the best of the lot 
being put at 151b. He is said to have “ reported ” the 
hooking of another beauty, which, after having played 
it for half an hour, and nearly getting it landed, he 
unfortunately lost. As he reports it as “ quite a 30- 
pounder,” I am inclined to receive the news cum cjrano 
salts. Anglers of the district will only hope it was so. 
It is a long time since even a 151b. fish was got from this 
water. Parties of bottom fishers have been on the 
Witham and Fossdyke about Lincoln and Saxilby, but 
I cannot hear that anything like good luck has attended 
their efforts. The water of both is all that could be 
wished for the season.— Luce. 
Tare, Wliarfe, Swale, &c. —All these rivers are 
nnfishable, owing to influx of snow “ broth.” Three 
and four grayling per day have been the average takes 
during the past week, and until a good heavy rain 
comes to clear the rivers, there can be no chance of 
successful grayling or pike fishing.— Francis M. 
Walbran. 
Scotch Heports. 
Loch, and River Tay.— The water has generally 
been in ply, with plenty of fish in the loch, and the 
takes have been fairly satisfactory. _ Perhaps the 
weights are not up to those of the previous week, but 
still they are not far short of 201b. Four fish is the 
greatest number we have heard of being killed in a day 
with one rod. We believe the trout of 351b. killed by 
Mr. Whitton, Cupar Angus, is the record of the season ; 
Mrs. Richmond, of Glasgow, making a good second with 
a fine fish of 331b. She and Mr. Aitken, of Letterallan, 
had each a fish of 321b. Several have been killed over 
301b. There are not a few diseased fish in the river. 
Some of the takes since our last are as follows :—The 
River Tay ; on Catholes and Burnmouth stretch, Messrs. 
David and William Fenton, four, of 161b., 181b., 221b., 
and 231b. Stanley water, Mrs. Drummond’s boatman, 
two, of 171b. and 201b.; and Mr. Scott Brechin, one, of 171b. 
Delvine stretch, Murthly, Mr. W. P. Kay, one, of 171b. 
Birnam Hotel water, Mr. W. P. Dunlop, Sydney, two of 
161b., and two of 201b. each; Mr. Cesari, two, of 161b. and 
181b.; Dalgarse water, Mr. John Roy, keeper, one of 161b.; 
Logierait Hotel water : Mr. G. McGregor, Kirkaldy, 
four trout of 51b.; Rev. W. B. Campbell and Mr. Thom¬ 
son, one of 171b. and a pike. Findynate water : Mr. 
McPherson, jun., one of 181b. On Lyon, Mr. Dewar, 
keeper, one of 171b., and on Chesthill stretch, Mr. W. S. 
Menzies, of Chesthill, one of 221b. Loch Tay, Lochay 
Hotel water: Colonel and Mr. Purdie, each one of 
201b. ; Mr. Steel, Glasgow, one of 191b.; Dr. Allum, 
Stirling, one of 191b.; Mr. J. B. Stirling, two of 221b. 
and 261b. Lochay Hotel water : Mr. Ure, Bonnybridge, 
one of 2ilb.; Mr. Pullar, Bridge of Allan, one of 201b. 
Ardeonaig Hotel water: Mr. Stewart, Edinburgh, a 
trout of 91b. and salmon of 201b.; Mr. Thompson, Man¬ 
chester, a newly run fish of 131b.—IjiSQAiR. 
Locli Leven (Argyllshire).— Mr. Guthrie Lornie, 
of Birnam, has purchased privately the salmon fishings 
of Loch Leven, Argyllshire, which extend to about twelve 
miles, from Lord Abinger, who lately acquired Loch 
Treig and Inverlair. Mr. Guthrie Lornie intends to let 
both the net and rod fishings for the present season, and 
there are good prospects of fair sport. 
Tay (Dunkeld). —On Friday, 27th ult., Mr. N. P. 
Dunlop, of Sydney, caught three salmon, two 19Jlb., 
and one 15Jlb. On Saturday, 28th ult., Mr. N. P. 
Dunlop had two splendid salmon, one 18Jlb. and one 19Jlb. 
Tay (Perth). —The river has been rather unsettled 
for some days, and sport has not been so good as it might 
have been had it kept steady. On the Stobhall water on 
Thursday Mr. Fenton had two fish, and on Saturday he 
killed four, 22jrD., 201b., 181b., and 161b. ; Mr. McLean 
killed three on the Redgorton water; Mr. McDonald 
killed one on Luncarty water, 181b., and the boatman, on 
Stanley water, one of 201b. ; Mr. McPherson, jun., killed 
one of 181b. on Findaynote water. On Friday, Mr. 
Dunlop killed two on the Birnam Hotel water, 181b. 
and 171b.; and on Saturday, one of 161b. On Benhill 
water Mr. Ainsworth killed one of 16jlb. on Friday, and 
the boatman on Meikleour, two, weighing 401b. ; Col. 
Legh had one of 171b. on the Stobhall water on Saturday, 
and on Monday he had two, 201b. and 181b. ; Mr. Thomas 
had one of 231b. on the Burnmouth water; Mr. W. 
Binla.y killed one of 221b. on Benchill water, and Col. 
Sanderson one of 161b. on the Stanley water. On Mon¬ 
day, Capt. Greig had one of 141b. on Bertha water; and 
on Tuesday, Mr. Ainsworth killed one of 181b. on the 
Meikleour water. Yesterday Mr. Hunter killed one of 
241b. on the Burnmouth water. 
Irish Reports. 
Ballinderry. —The river is falling still, and, unless 
rain comes shortly, late spawning salmon will be 
exposed in the shallow tributaries to poachers. The 
fisheries of Lough Neagh having opened, however, -will 
give more time to the bailiffs to watch the river. Few 
heavy salmon are or were observable this season, the 
majority running from 121b. to 131b., but if wanting in 
individual weight they made it up in numbers. The 
heaviest salmon in the past five years in this river was 
one which weighed close on 401b. It lay for some time 
below Cough village, where an attempt was made to net 
it by some of the cunning hands. The “ baste ” broke 
through three nets and got up as far as Clog Carry, 
where it fell a victim to half a dozen pitchforks in a 
shallow. So an old fisher told me the o'ther day. 
Blackwater (co. Tyrone). — The lower reaches 
of the Tyrone Avonmore are literally swarming with 
pike. While snipe shooting along the Tyrone shores of 
the river one day last week I counted over forty brutes 
in a short stretch, the water being clear and the 
sun shining at the time. A judicious netting of the 
river would be of great service to it. The last spawning 
salmon are up, and, as usual, the fishers have netted a 
fa.'r share.—J. A. B. 
Bnndrowes. —River angling for salmon on this river 
opened as usual with the new year, but owing to the 
severe frost, which continued well into the month, but 
little fishing was attempted until the past week, when 
two or three local anglers had a try ; but although a fair 
number of clean-run fish were seen, nothing was done 
except the landing of a few kelt, which were immediately 
returned. The water at present is bank high, and will 
wa it a few days fine weather to get it into fishing order, 
ConnaughL —Nice mild weather now prevails, 
almost all the snow being melted on the hills and 
lower mountains, which has caused a rise in the 
streams, and this in a great measure has limited 
the operations of the poaching gangs which swarm 
over the five counties of the West of Ireland. As 
yet none of the streams, except the Sligo, are open 
to anglers, but a good many open next month, the 
principal of which are the Corrib, Eriff, Clare, Robe, 
Cushea, Ballynahinch, and the Inver, in Galway ; the 
Owenduff, Owenmore, Bunishole, and the Achill Island 
streams, in Mayo ; the Moy, Easkey, Drumcliffe, 
Ballisodare, and Glencar Lake, in Sligo. The Garvogue, 
or Sligo river, opens on New Year’s Day, but compara¬ 
tively little is done on those early opening rivers, and 
it is well advanced in the early season before 
good all-round angling is obtainable, as the cutting 
northerly winds and sharp frosts are against sport. 
The spawning season on the above streams was a fairly 
good one, and the number of salmon, white and brown 
trout on the redds were equal to those of former years. 
Ballisodare was well haunted by salmon, and a good 
season is expected on it. This river is formed by the 
conjunction of the Arrow, which flows through Lough 
Arrow (a nice sheet of water five miles in length and 
one in breadth) with the Owell and two other small 
streams, the river falling into a southern arm of Sligo 
Bay. Thirty years ago the Ballisodare hardly hold a 
salmon, owing to a series of obstructions in the stream 
which prevented the fish from ascending. The Fishery 
Board set to work and made a ladder where the river 
falls over a rock 22ft. in height near the sea. A second 
ladder was made at the “ pot hole,” a rook 12 ft. high 
which barred the stream, and further up athird ladder was 
made at Coloney Falls, where the river dashes over a rock 
more than [twenty feet high. The three ladders cost some 
.£7000, and subsequently the river produces over 15,000 
salmon annually. A hatchery was also formed, in which 
provision is made for the vivifying of about 100,000 ova. 
The main stream, with the exception of some seven or eight 
miles, has no spawning beds, but the tributaries hold good 
redds. The sea-coast fishing of the past four months was 
indifferent enough, but extensive preparations are being 
made for the spring fishing in the deep sea. New boats 
of superior model and improved construction are being 
built, and, judging from observations only known to the 
initiated, the fishers anticipate a good time among the 
mackerel. Everywhere the approach of the season is 
being eagerly looked forward to.—J. A. Barlowe. 
Lagan. —The trout in the upper sections of the Lagan 
are reported to be fast decreasing, and probably, ere long, 
they will enact the part of the “ Nine Little Niggers,” 
but I am pleased to say that the prospects of coarse 
fishing on the stream are highly favourable. Last 
Saturda.Y, under the superintendence of the enthusiastic 
Mr. F. j. Kennedy, president North-East Ulster Angling 
Club, and hon. sec. Belfast Angling Association, 2149 
perch were turned into the Lagan towards its re-stock¬ 
ing, and next Saturday another 20il0will be placed in it. 
Only one perch kicked out while en route from its 
original home, and another was promptly “ nabbed” by 
a huge pike, almost before it was settled in the water. 
The re-stocking has been done by the N.E.U.A.C. 
Lougk Currane CWaterville, co. Kerry).— 
The lake is now rising again, and the probability is that 
it will be in first-class order for the opening day on the 
1st prox. Salmon are coming up now in average numbers. 
Weather mild and showery.— Thus. J. Denneht. 
Lower and Upper Bann.— There is a good flow of 
water in the lower river just now, bnt the upper stream 
is getting below winter level, which, of course, offers 
more facilities to poachers. There seems to be a fair 
stock of 8. fario in the lower water for the opening day 
—19th proximo. Salmon fishing practically does not 
commence till the middle of June. At the Garvagh Petty 
Sessions, the 26th ult., a fellow named Young was fined 
in £4 for having a gaff in his possession on the banks of 
the Rushbrook tributary, or, in default, a month’s im¬ 
prisonment. He will probably refrain from carrying 
gaffs for the month, I hear. 
Maine (Co. Antrim). —The water keeps at the 
nsual winter line. I am sorry to record that salmon and 
trout—though plentiful, comparatively speaking, this 
season—are not increasing, but the direct contrary. In 
a recent issue of the Fishing Gazette, I referred to the 
poaching carried on over this river. A project is now 
on foot for the organising of an angling club to better 
preserve the river, and to advance angling. A corres¬ 
pondent writes : “ The Coleraine Board is.either unable 
or unwilling (or perhaps both) to make any serious effort 
to cope with the poaching that is everywhere rife. The 
B.A.A. has been the means of calling two other clubs 
into existence, and I believe similar help would be 
granted to a club established, say, at Ballymena.” I 
trust this will be taken up. 
Mourue and Str-ule.— Illegal takers of fish have 
had a rather hard time of it on the Stride the past week. 
Thanks to the energetic Mr. Thomas McDermott, who 
last Monday, at the Omagh Petty Sessions, prosecuted 
Michael McDevitte, with having an illegal device in a 
mill-race for taking fish. Fined in £1 and costs ; and for 
a like offence, William Judge was fined in £2. Mary 
McDevitte was fined in 10s. for having in her possession 
a salmon ; and Robert Mills had to pay 20s. and costs 
for using unlawful means to take salmon in a mill-race ; 
while James McDevitte, for aiding and abetting Judge, 
was fined in £2. This should damp their poaching 
ardour for some time. The promoters of the extension 
petition intend to push the matter hard. Barring the 
little bits of poaching indulged in, the spawning season 
has been a good one on these rivers.—I. A. B. 
Moy and Lakes (Ballina).— Angling for salmon 
and trout opened here on the 1 st inst., but owing to 
recent rains the river was out of order for salmon 
fishing, being high and dirty. Trout anglers did pretty 
well on the opening day on the Bunree river and Lower 
Moy, getting nice baskets of sea trout, ranging from 
ten to eighteen fish, averaging over Jib. On the opening 
day at the weirs ( 1 st inst.) they took some very nice 
bright clean fish, averaging about 121b. apiece. The 
weather has been very mild for nearly the whole month 
of January, and it is a well known fact that many clean 
fish come in from sea in that month, when the weather 
is favourable, so that I expect that a good many springers 
have gone past here to the higher waters into the 
lakes. Should the weather hold on as mild as it is 
now (and with no nets on in tidal waters till March 16) I 
anticipate fairly good sport with big spring fish this 
month of February. The spawning season in this dis¬ 
trict has been a very favourable one : every bit of suit¬ 
able ground was occupied by fish. Very little poaching 
has been done during the winter : indeed, it is not easy 
for poachers to get a chance of taking fish off the redds, 
the watchers are so thickly posted all over the spawning 
grounds. The efficient manager of the Moy fishery, Mr. 
George Shannon, who has got to appoint and post the 
watchers over nearly forty miles of spawning ground, 
had some hard and dangerous work to do last winter, 
but got through it most successfully.— Frank Hearns. 
Shannon and Lough Derg (Killaloe). —The 
angling season for salmon and trout opened on the 
Shannon and its tributaries on Wednesday. Owing to 
the recent heavy rains, the river is somewhat too high 
for fishing, for which reason none of the local fishermen 
have ventured out after the salmon. Fishing for trout 
on the free river above the bridge this forenoon. Jack 
Johnson killed, with a No. 8 Jock Scot, a springer—the 
first of the new season. There are numbers of new fish 
rising all over the river, and unless the elements inter¬ 
fere, all hands here look forward to good sport during 
the spring. The water is only about six inches too high, 
but as the sluice-gates are nearly all raised, it will not 
be long running down. I am very confident that the 
spring fishing will be very much better than it was last 
year.—S. J. Hurley. 
