(52 
THE PISHING GAZETTE 
[January 2S, 1893 
NOTES FOR CLUB JSNGLERS. 
The “Society with the long name” met after the 
Christmas holidays on Friday night, at the Citizen, 
Houndsditch, when Mr. H. J. Tibbatts presided, and 
was supported by a good attendance of the committee. 
The following are the latest papers to be read under the 
society’s auspices : Tuesday, Jan. 31, “ An Angling Tour 
through the United Kingdom,” Mr. E. S. Shrnbsole, 
the Eagle Angling Club, Chesnut-road, Tottenham; 
Feb. 7, “ Angling Scenes and Places,” Mr. J. F. Bursill, 
Blackfriars Angling Society, Winchester Arms, South- 
wark-street; and Feb. 21, “ Trout and Trout Fishing,” 
Mr. Hoyle, Silver Trout Club, Bedford Head, Maiden- 
lane, Strand. Mr. McDermott has been asked, and has 
consented, to lecture on “Roach and Roach Fishing” 
before the members of the Tonbridge Angling Society, 
and it is expected that he will be accompanied by several 
other members of his own society. 
Three more new members were elected at the meeting 
on Friday night of the society with the long name. 
Long may they remain as such. 
“ A JACK in the swim 1 ” is a cry one very often hears 
on the river bank, but it is seldom that a real live 
piorker takes to the water and smms up to one’s float. 
Such an incident, however, happened the other day at 
Bures. Suddenly a terrible babel of squeals and 
grunts arose, and before an alarmed angler, who was 
calmly roach fishing and smoking the pipe of peace, 
could turn round, a pig dashed right in, and swam 
towards him. It was a case of a pig in the swim this 
time, and no roach for an hour afterwards. I should 
add that piggie safely reached the opposite bank without 
encountering a fresh-water shark (sharks dearly love 
pork), and in a series of grunts expressed thanks for 
his deliverance. _ 
The following are a few phrases used by anglers : A 
good shop, a pea soup colour, in a dirty condition, 
tonker, boncer, whopper, pilumper, broke up, smashed 
up, hung up, felt him, got him, had him, caught him, 
nipped him, bite, touch, nibble, knock. 
I AM glad to see that the hint I threw out in this 
column a fortnight ago as to why there should not bo 
one Anglers’ Association for London instead of two, 
has not escaped attention. Mr. Chambers, of the 
Gresham Angling Society, hopes that I shall a"ain 
refer to the subject, and press it upon those who indulge 
in fishing, and I have had many talks with anglers 
regarding this much to be desired amalgamation. 
Needless to state, they have all favoured such a con¬ 
dition of affairs, and some say it cannot fail to soon 
become an accomplished fact. Just so ; the members 
of the two associations have shown that they can work 
together harmoniously enough, and I believe that the 
happy event “ the formation of one powerful, united, 
and grand body of London anglers—will, before long, 
be mutually agreed upon. I am assured, on the best 
authority, that for some time now there has been a 
tendency to lean in that direction, but that neither of 
the associations up to the present have cared to take 
the initial step officially. Sooner or later they will 
take each other by the hand, and then, indeed, will the 
London anglers have reason to be proud of their 
organisation and power—a power which, if it existed 
to-day, could make itself felt, even when confronted by 
the Riparian General and all his hosts. Let ns not 
lose sight of the fact that even in angling that unity is 
strength. 
A PIKE of 2Gin. has recently been picked up in the 
Thames, near Surly Hall, with a barbel of 18in. sticking 
in its throat. 
The club-room of the Anchor and Hope Angling 
Society was crowded on Wednesday night, when Mr. 
J. P. Wheeldon lectured on the “ Science of Angling.” 
The well-known angler was supported by Mr. A. Jardino, 
of pike fame, and who made a most interesting speech 
in seconding a vote of thanks to the reader. Mr. 
Jardino also promised to read a paper at the club 
shortly. As for Mr. Wheeldon’s paper, it was really 
grand ; and embraced, in poetical language, scenes and 
incidents which the angler loves to hear talked about 
and to meet by the river side. The paper was the same as 
Mr. Wheeldon read before the Mayor of Brighton, and 
the Sussex Piscatorial Society. I should add that 
Mr. R. Turnham presided over the proceedings bn 
AVednesday night. _ 
A JACK of 111b., very much injured, has been caught 
in the Lea this week by a boy, at Waltham Abbey. 
AIb. R. Mudd holds the silver cup up to the present 
in the competition promoted by the New Albion Pisca- 
torials. At yesterday’s outing, at Christchurch, ho had 
the three best roach. Air. J. Read being second, and Mr. 
AV. F. Grimmet third. The visitor’s prize was won by 
Mr. Brown, of the Brompton Angling Society. Air. J. 
Read, with a roach of llbfljoz., took the specimen prize. 
The party weighed-in IGSlb. lO.joz. of fish. 
Goosequill. 
If you are Interested In Books 
Bend 2b. 6d. In Btamps for a copy post free every week for 
3 months of “ The Publishers’ Circular and Booksellers’ 
Record,” St. Duustan’i House, Fetter Lane, Fleet-street, 
London. 
FRIENDLY ANGLERS’ SOCIETY. 
The fifty-first annual dinner of this society took place 
in the Crown Room at the Freemason’s Tavern, Great 
Queen-street, on Wednesday evening last, presided over 
by Air. C. H. AVoodall, supported in the vice-chair by 
Air. H. O’Callaghan. The members who officiated as 
stewards were Air. F. Berry, M. AV. Bloxham, Air. H. 
Calcutt, and Air. H. G. Young, the general arrange¬ 
ments being effectually carried out by the energetic 
secretary, Mr. AV. Aleakin, and amongst the large 
attendance of members and friends, about eighty in all, 
there wore, in addition to those already mentioned, 
Alessrs. G. Newson, AV. Aleakin (secretary), F. W. 
Howard (treasurer), Dougworth, Hawkins, W. Griffin, 
C. J. Hill, George Palmer, AV. H. Brougham, E. S. Shrub- 
solo, F. Alitchell, AV. Hodgkinson, S. Peat, Brownsword, 
AV. H. Brewer, J. AV. Nicholson, H. E. Blackley, F. 
Smith, F. G. Shoiiherd. Packe, &c. A very excellent 
dinner was placed on the table, and well served up. 
After the loyal toast had been drunk with great 
cordiality, the chairman gave the toast of the evening, 
“ The Friendly Anglers,” and, in doing so, remarked that 
last year was the jubilee of the society, and they were 
now getting into maturity. They had to regret the loss 
of some of their members, but that loss was fully made 
up by the initiation of new ones, and he could heartily 
congratulate them on the Friendly Anglers occupying a 
good position in the angling world. He then proceeded 
to read over the list of prize-winners of the past year, 
and, in doing so, made some plea.sant remarks in con¬ 
nection with each. Air. Craggs was the greatest prize¬ 
winner, having taken prizes amounting to ,£8 18s. 6d., in¬ 
cluding a silver cup; Air. R. L. Pugh, .£G Gs. ; Mr. 
Shepherd, .iSG Is., including a silver cup ; Air. Dongworth 
and Air. Prank Griffin, .£4 I ts. Gd. each ; Mr. Palmer and 
Air. Holland, .£3 3s. each ; Mr. G. Newson and Air. Cal- 
cutt, each .£212s. Gd.; Mr. Howard, ^62 ‘2s.; Air. Hart and 
Mr. O’Calloghan, ^6111s. Gd. each; Mr. Aleaking, Air. Gif¬ 
ford, Mr. H. Calcutt and Air. Henderson, £1 Is. each : and 
Air. F. Berry the consolation prize for making the greatest 
number of shows without taking a prize. Amongst the 
perch shown by Air. R.L. Pugh, whoso absence, on account 
of family affliction, was deeply regretted, was one of 
31b. Goz., and another of 31b. 12oz. In referring to the 
quantity of fish weighed-in last year, the chairman 
observed it was very little different to the previous 
year, which was 12201b., compared with 12371b., but 
there was a great falling off in barbel and bream. In 
1801 2021b. of barbel were brought up, and in 1802 only 
GOlb. In 1891 3081b. of bream had been shown, and in 
1892 only G91b., the same as barbel. He considered one 
of the causes of this declension was the excessive speed 
of steam launches. He then called upon them to drink 
success to the society, “ I’oot and branch,” which was 
enthusiastically responded to.—Air. S. Callaghan, the 
vice-chairman, gave the double toast of “ The Thames 
Angling Preservation Society,” coupled with the name 
of Mr. AV. H. Brougham, and “ The Press,” coupled with 
the name of Air. E. S. Shrnbsole, and in doing so 
referred especially to the work done by the Preservation 
Society, for which he wished great prosperity.—Mr. 
AV. H. Brougham, in his reply, referred to the proposed 
new bye-laws, which, at the present time, were fully 
occupying the attention of the anglers, and whilst 
remarking he had not heard one favourable opinion, 
he felt sure, from his experience of the conservators, 
the Board would endeavour to meet their wishes. He 
was glad to say his society was at the present time in a 
satisfactory position, and hoped to be spared a little 
longer to work for the benefit of all classes of anglers.— 
Air. B. S. bhrubsole replied for “ The Press.”—Mr. George 
Newson proposed “ The Visitors,” who he was always 
glad to see on these occasions, as they not only 
contributed to the success of the dinner, but 
some of them afterwards became members. Their 
number was limited to sixty members, but they 
were always _ pleased to have others ready to fill 
up any vacancies. Air. Pallant, whose name was coupled 
with the toast, said he was always delighted to come 
amongst them as a visitor, and wished the club every 
prosperity. Ho was not a professional fisherman, but he 
did a little as an amateur. Ho referred to one day he 
had last year in the Upper Thames, when a party of 
them went up in a house-boat. He was the only one who 
caught a fish, and that was one of the smallest he had 
ever seen, and, considering the solids and fluids they had 
indulged in, that fish must have cost them £16. In the 
name of the visitors he thanked them for the toast. 
Air. F. Berry, in giving the toast of “ The Chairman.” 
humorously referred to his first acquaintance with Air. 
AA’oodhall, and, in those early days, he remembered 
bringing up a few splendid dace from the Colne, which 
were the admiration of all present, when later on the 
chairman came in with a basket or bag containing two 
salmon of IGlb. each, and one of Sib., which put him 
quite in the shade. Since then, however, tliey had been 
the best of friends, and there was no brighter name in 
the records of the Friendly Anglers than that of their 
chairman, whose health he asked them cordially to 
drink, which w'as most heartily responded to. Air. C. H. 
AA’oodhall expressed his thanks for their cordial reception 
of his name, and his desire was to do the best he could 
for the interests of the club. It was a great proof the 
members were not talkers but doers in a referenee to 
their prize list. Air. Nicholson gave the “ Vice-Chair,” 
which was responded to. and the only other toasts were 
“The Officers” and “The Stewards.” There was an 
excellent selection of music interspersing the toasts, 
under the direction of Air. James Kift. The singing of 
Air. T. King gave much satisfaction, as also that of 
Air. J. Budd, Air. Sidney Anning, Air. Brownsword, 
Air. Knowles, and Air. Kift. Air. Creswick, for his 
banjo solo, received great applause. 
Stray Casts from the North.— The “ Eleventh ” 
of February is regarded among anglers with much the 
same interest as the “Twelfth” of August among the 
devotees to the festival of “ King Grouse,” and for 
weeks before the opening day the prospects of sport are 
keenly discussed. Many a visit is made to the riverside 
amongst the slush and snow, and the lower pools are 
narrowly watched to catch the first glimpse of a spring 
beauty. The water bailiffs at the Brig o’ Cults perform 
a double duty. They are on the look out for the “ Salmo 
salar ” and the “Salmo poacher,” who would not bo 
slow to make “ hay while the sun shines ” and get a haul 
for the opening day when his gains are worth running 
some risks for. Few fish have as yet passed this coign 
of vantage, but that is not to be wondered at as the 
temperature of the river has been anything but favour¬ 
able for fish running. The sight of ascending fish with 
the first floods of the year is sometimes truly marvellous. 
AVhen the shallow fords get deep enough with the 
rising flood they make a dash over it in their thousands, 
lashing the water into a foam with their tails, and 
creating a noise like a stampede of cavalry. The first 
floods of January usually witness those sights when a 
head of fish are in the tide way waiting for the moving 
of the waters. It is on these shallows that the greatest 
mortality takes place by salmon being struck with the 
thousands of cakes of floating ice, and lots of fine fish 
fall victims to their own imi)etuosity every spring. 
Last year and the previous one, fish were got on the 
opening day on the Glentana and Ballater reaches. 
January was an open month almost all through, and fine 
running waters prevailed. This year has been a season 
of frost, bringing the spawning seas.n in its later stages 
to an abortive close, and as yet very few favourable 
conditions for an early head of fish being found far 
inland on the Dee have presented themselves. The 
fresh of Tuesday was short lived. Yet the river cleared 
itself considerably with the rise whicli took place, and a 
minor flood at this time is much more preferable than a 
raging torrent. Although the prospects may not bo 
bright as yet, still, they cannot at this early date bo 
ehalked down as gloomy. It must be remembered that 
the past two seasons were exceptionally mild ones, and 
that the present is not worse than a normal season un¬ 
less the next few weeks be as stormy as tlie preceding 
few have been.—The commonty water has been let by 
Dr. Farquharson, AI.P., till the middle of Alay.—The 
young laird of Invercauld was married in London on 
Alonday. Ho owns a longer stretch of the Deo than any 
other laird, and draws a rental from his shootings and 
fishings of over .£4900. The Invercauld Ballater fish¬ 
ings attached to the hotel have been the most productive 
of sport of any hotel fishery in the north of Scotland for 
some years back, while the Invercauld private fishings 
have yielded excellent sport in early summer and 
autumn. The fish in autumn are mostly red with an 
occasional silvery bay, but they are not autumn fish in 
the true sense, yet. last season autumn fish wore got 
near by there some sixty miles from the sea.— Dod. 
Dumfries Cairn Anglers.— 'Ihe annual meeting of 
anglers who take an interest in the promotion of legiti¬ 
mate angling in the Cairn, and the protection of it.s 
waters from poachers, met in Greyfriars Hall on Friday 
night. The vice-president. Air. Irving Edgar, presided 
in the unavoidable absence of the president. The 
annual report, which was submitted to the meeting, 
stated that the season unfortunately resembled its four 
predecessors in being cold, with long continued east 
winds. To this was attributed the somewliat decreased 
membership and a falling off in the good sport. It was 
hoped that this year a considerable accession of member¬ 
ship would bo the means of extinguishing a deficit in the 
accounts. Reports from the different stretches of the 
Cairn agreed that the river contained a grand stock of 
trout, and with favourable weather during the present 
season, good sport was anticipated. The river had been 
thoroughly staked, and the watching was very 
efficiently done. Thanks to the proprietors were jiassod 
for entrusting their waters to the management. Mr. 
Johnston and Dr. Alatthias moved the adoption of the 
report. The Rev. Air. AIcKinnon and Air. Edgar were 
re-appointed presidents. Air. S. Brown secretary, and 
Air. James Herries treasurer. It was agreed to open 
the season on Alarch 1, and close on September 30, the 
same as last year.— AVm. AVright. 
The Drainage of the River Nene.— At a meeting 
of the Northamptonshire County Council last week. Air. 
Dnlley, of AVellingborough, according to motion, brought 
forward his motion calling the attention of the Council 
to the state of the Isene, which is alike detrimental to 
the interests of anglers and navigation. He moved, 
^ ’That this Council is of opinion that the general con¬ 
dition of the river Nene is un.satisfactory both for drain¬ 
age and navigatioii purposes, and that a committee of 
five members of this Council be appointed to confer with 
other local authorities who had expressed their willing¬ 
ness to take steps in the matter.” The subject did not 
come before the Council until late in the day, when 
many of the members had left, so that Air. Dulley said 
ho would postpone his proposition, and this was agreed 
to by the Council. This seems a step in the right 
direction, and we are glad to see it, and can only hope the 
matter will be thoroughly discussed.— J. C. AVootton. 
“Imperial” Silver Cup Competition.— Result 
up to date : Air. R. H. Alorris (Battersea Friendly), 
Jan. 15, 12 ; Jan, 22, 12 ; total number of points, 24.. 
Air. J. ^V. Biggs (Funny Folks), Jan. 15, 11; Jan. 22] 
13—24. Air. G. Lang (St. George’s), .Ian. 15, 11; Jan. 
22, 13—24. Air. A. Richards (Burton Piscatorials), Jan. 
15, 14; Jan. 22, 5 19. Air. .1. AVheelhouso (Black- 
friars), Jan. 15, 3-3. Air. J. AA'igloy (Rodney), Jan. 
22, 2 —2. Air. G. AA''. Alarsh (Dalston), Jan. ‘22, 2—2.— 
John Smith, hon. sec. 
