JANrART 28, 1893] 
of riparian owners, wlio, as a body, have con¬ 
tributed but little of the lar^e sums annually 
spent in watching the idver, prosecuting 
offenders, issuing notices, and buying and placing 
in the water innumerable thousands of the best 
fish—all pro bono publico. It is nothing short of 
an insult, how'ever it might have been meant, to 
treat such men with the open contempt with 
which they have been treated. No wonder that 
the Henley Association should have decided to 
spend no more money in stocking the Thames 
until the matter is settled. I have little doubt 
the other societies will follow this lead. 
When it was announced that Mr. J. Willis- 
Bund had been engaged by the conservators to 
dratt the new fishery b) e-laws, I rejoiced greatly, 
saying. Here is a gentleman of great experience 
as a barrister, who will so word the new code as to 
legally express, beyond the possibility of quibble 
or loophole, the clearly expressed views of those 
who have the good of the Thames at heart; and 
surely (added I) from his long experience as 
chairman of the Severn Board, he will appreciate 
the importance of local expert knowledge.” 
Little did I dream he would prove^a “King 
Log” by simply putting into still better leo-al 
terms the bye-laws of 1883. Would that had 
)een so, for then ro ill would have been done. 
But, a'ack: our friend has proved a veritable 
“ King Stork,” and I should greatly like to know 
the Jove (?) by whom he was instructed to so 
trouble and spoil cur placid if not very produc¬ 
tive waters. 
^**'*’’ to, dispute Mr. 
Wilhs-Bund’s perhaps unhiue and certainly 
masterly acquaintance with the Severn, and the 
best rnethods of developing its important salmon 
fisheries. But my point is that to legislate for 
any particular river one must know that river as 
thoroughly as Mr. Willis-Bund knows the Severn. 
J hat he does not know the Thames, or that 
those who instructed him do not know it (in the 
fc'ense in which I am writing), is curiously evi¬ 
denced on many pages of his draft. Here are a 
lew cases in point, besides the great question of 
unheemsed netting with more destructive engines, 
to which sufficient attention has been drawn; 
(ct) Hie abolition of the licence which the 
conservators can at present grant to persons other 
than owners of private fisheries, to take fish for 
scientific purposes, i.e., fish-culture.” (These are 
the words of the Fishing Gazette article of 
Dec. 31). Nothing can be more important than 
the retention of the old clause in this respect. I 
have myself assisted in saving millions of Thames 
perch ova from destruction, and bringing them 
into active and healthy life; and for a tong time 
I have “ had my eye on ” a scheme by which I 
know, were the modest working capital necessary 
forthcoming, the indigenous Thames trout might 
be vastly increased, at a cheap rate, by the usual 
means of cultivation, instead of nearly all the 
spawn of these noble fish being destroyed, as is 
now unhappily the case, by various natural and 
artificial enemies. 
(6 ) The refusal of the unanimous recommenda¬ 
tion of experts to prohibit the netting (for the 
pot) of flooded meadows, creeks, backwaters, &c. 
Only those, who, like myself, have often helped 
net out and return to the river the thousands of 
nsD leffc oil the land, and in ditches, &c., after a 
Hood, and in the removal of gravid pike—which 
wd? find their way up any shallow creek or 
ditch to spawn (or rather to be “wired out,” if 
not looked after), can tell what this means. 
(c.) The retention of the bad old bye-laws as to 
the use of night-lines, by private owners, during 
the fence seasons. 
(d ) Eel Baskets and Cast' Nets.—Here I en- 
tiieiy agree with George Lumsden, of Hatchet, 
ill tholisha/g Gazette of the 7th inst. But even 
that old hand ** does not refer to one of the 
stiongest proofs of non-acquaintance with the 
subject, 'which is afforded by the entirely un- 
asked omission (so far as anyone has been in¬ 
formed) of the all-important words in the 
present definition of a cast net, viz, “ sack or 
purse not more than six inches in depth.” I 
remember, as though it were yesterday'^, the 
emphasis laid on this point at a conference in 
proparatory to the framin" 
of the 1883 bye-laws, by my veteran friend, Mn 
1 lurnmer, of Monkey Island. He clearly pointed 
out then that the depth of the purse, and not the 
diameter of Ih? “ ' . 
THE PISHING GAZETTE 
()1 
or falling to take good-sized fish, or cast net 
poaching, and it was through our efforts that 
these words were inserted. Now, forsooth, the 
safeguard is to be abrogated “ without rhyme 
or reason ! ” 
(e.) Thank goodness “trailing” is to be pro¬ 
hibited, for which relief much thanks; but why 
in the name of common sense are the still worse 
practices of live and dead gorge fishing (quite as 
earnestly protested against by true anglers) not 
included in the condemnation P 
(/.) AVorming for Trout.—This “most damn¬ 
able trick is apparently still to be allowed, in 
spite of the earnest appeal of the Reading confer¬ 
ence ; and here I must enter my strongest protest. 
Surely the lordly and even yet none too plentiful 
Thames trout deserves at any rate better pro¬ 
tection than to be left to the tender mercies of 
the “worming” rascal. It makes one’s “flesh 
creep.” Good anglers again ignored without any 
reason. 
ig.) Fence Seasons.—Opinions differ on this 
question, and space will not permit me to enlaro-e 
upon it. But why has the latter end of the trout 
season been curtailed ten days, no oue having 
ever suggested it ? Certainly Thames trout are 
always then in perfect condition. 
(h.) Sizes of Fish.—Here, once more, the 
sought-for advice is ignored, except as to barbel. 
I am very glad to see that the Richmond and the 
Oxford societies are at last “going in” for a 9in. 
perch a point I have strenuously advocated 
with the members of the Reading Association for 
rnany years. By no other means can a good head 
of these grand fish once more be restored to the 
ihames. By the way, speaking of sizes, no one 
favours all due protection of trout more than I 
do, but I think 16in. (the present size, and prac¬ 
tically representing a 21 b. fish) sufficient. 
(i.) Chub for Bait!—Surely Mr. AVillis-Bund 
can have no idea whatever of the number of 
anglers who look upon the chub as a fish to be 
preserved when he includes them (again unasked !) 
among the bait fish. I can speak with the more 
freedom on this point as, personally, I have 
rather a poor opinion of “ Mr. Loggerhead ” as a 
sport-giving fish, and could “a tale unfold” of 
his marvellously destructive capacity among the 
spawn and brood of infinitely more valuable 
denizens of our noble stream. But this is as 
strong an instance as one could have of the reck- 
less disregard of public opinion. In the matter 
of chub preservation I cheerfully bow to the 
views of the majority. Is it too much to ask 
that the conservators should meet those views in 
the same spirit ? 
(b.) I heartily concur in all that has been said 
ol the grievous wrong done the Thames fisheries, 
by the reckless navigation of steam launches, 
during tu 6 fence season, and the early summer. 
Once more is all practical advice ignored! 
Action, prompt and decisive, is needed. 
Should the Thames Conservators prove not to be 
amenable to reason, I shall be prepared to suggest 
that the oversight of the Thames Fisheries should 
be removed from the board, leaving that excellent 
body full control of the navigation, and the 
management of the fisheries vested in a totally 
distinct board. This letter, I feel, has already run 
to an morumate length, though I have tried to be 
as concise as possible. Possibly, with the editor’s 
permission, I may return to the subject last men¬ 
tioned on another occasion. 
^ One thing is clear: If the views of those who 
have the true interests of Thames anglers at 
heart, and who have so long and ably proved their 
zeal in the good cause, are to be over-ridden 
they will at last “throw up the sponge ” in disgust! 
and then—woe to the Thames as an angling resort 
for ever.—Yours obediently, 
Arthuk 0. Butler, 
Vice President Reading and District 
Angling Association. 
A BIG STURGEON. 
Sir,—I t may interest you to know that a large 
sturgeon was on view here a few days ago. Its 
given as 350 kilogrammes — sayq 
('701b. It was alive and kept in a wooden tank, 
the water being constantly bailed out and returned 
to the tank to keep it fresh. 
Hie fish was caught by means of nets in the 
Danube in Hungary, and transported by rail to 
Vienna. 
I had no means of verifying the weight, but I 
toox the length, which was 10ft. 5iu. from snout 
to tail.—I am, &c. ■yy 
“ THE ROSSES,” DONEGAL. 
Dear Sir, —In answer to the query of 
“ G. E. S.,” in your issue of Jan. 6 , as to best flies 
tor sea trout for the above district, I may say that 
Teal and Black, Orange Grouse, Green Grouse 
Mallard and Black, Mallard and Claret, Mallard 
and Blue, are fairly standard flies. All should be 
tied small, as large flies are no good. Mr. 
Haynes, tackle-maker, of Cork, makes a speciality 
01 niea for these lakes. I have not personally e;oc 
any from him. 
Fine tackle is, in my opinion, indispensable, as 
the sea fish are very fickle risers.—Yours faith- 
H. A. Paley. 
Lancaster. - 
AVANTED, FISHY LANTERN-SLIDES. 
Sir,— Can any reader of the Fishing Gazette tell 
me where I could hire first-class slides for lime¬ 
light lantern. Subjects, freshwater fishes ; also 
humourous and other angling scenes.— Yours 
> C. S. B. ’ 
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION OF AMERI¬ 
CAN PACIFIC COAST SALMON INTO 
ENGLISH AVATERS.—A WARNING. 
We are glad to see that the River Dee 
(England) I ishery Board of Conservators are 
purchasing about 70,000 salmon eggs from the 
Rhine, Tweed, &c., including 4000 from the 
I razer River, America. Some ten or twelve 
years ago. Sir Rose Price, Bart., who knows the 
salmon of the Pacific Coast of America well, 
made a vigorous protest in our columns against 
the inti’oduction of the Pacific Coast salmon, or 
balnio guinnat; he said it W'as in no respect so 
good as our Salmo salar, and was very much 
subject to a frightful disease, apparently a very 
bad form of saprolegnia ferax. If he sees this 
note, we hope he will give his opinion on this 
proposed introduction of salmon from British 
Columbia. 
Tue Deeside hatchery is again in full workiim 
order, and the full complement of ova deposited 
on the grills. It was reported that the Deeside 
I ishery Board had resolved to restock the Durris 
hatchery, which they leased for experimental 
purposes last year. This is not the case. Their 
own new hatchery at Drum is quite sufficient, 
and hp accommodation for a million ova. The 
plant in the Durris hatchery was bought by Mr. 
Geo. Duncan, Fishery Inspector, for an old song. 
Hence the grounds for the rumour. 
cast net, controlled the taking 
SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF 
READING OF PAPERS. 
Sir, —I should be much obliged if you would 
^low me to state, through the medium of the 
Fishing Gazette, that my address is now 92, Avon- 
dale-square. Old Kent-road, where all communi¬ 
cations relating to the Society for Promoting the 
Reading of Papers at Angling Clubs should be 
addressed.—Yours very faithfully, 
Arthur R. Matthews, Hon. Sec. 
A Good Pedestrian.— 'One morning, in Glen- 
orchy. Prof. AA^ilson (‘Christopher North’) 
started out early to fish in Loch Toila. Its 
nearest point was 13 miles from his lodging. On 
reaching it, and unscrewing the butt-end of his 
fishing-rod to get the top, he found he had for- 
ptten It. Nothing daunted, he walked back, 
breakfasted, made his rod complete, and walked 
again to Loch loila. All the long summer day 
he fished, a;D.d after suuset started for home with 
a full basket. Feeling somewhat fatigued, and 
passing a familiar farmhouse, he stopped to ask 
for food. It was near midnight, and he roused 
the family from bed. The mistress brought him 
a full bottle of whiskey and a can of milk. He 
poured half the whiskey into half the milk, and 
drank it off at a draught. While his hostess was 
still staring in amazement, he poured thereraain- 
ing milk and whiskey together, and finished the 
mixture. He then proceeded homeward, haviu" 
performed a journey of over fifty-two miles.’’— 
Barnsley Chronicle. 
