January 21, 1893] SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
REPORTS FROM RIVERS, LOCHS, &c. 
English and Welsh Reports. 
Lower Thames.— General Remarks. —I -was at 
Sunbnry on Monday, but did not find any of the punts 
out or any one fishing from the banks. The water was 
not at all a bad colour, but the temperature was very 
cold and the snow was falling fast and furious. All 
anglers know nothing disturbs the character of the 
water more than snow, and that snow water improves 
sooner than any other. The first portion of the river to 
evidence any chance of sport was in the neighbourhood 
of Staines, and, as will be seen in the return of John 
Keene, jun., he had plenty of clients ready to make 
another start. This excellent fisherman is well and 
practically supported by members of the New Albion 
Piscatorial Society and the Richmond Piscatorial Society, 
and of anglers who do not keep away when there is the 
slightest possibility of finding the fish. Two of the 
members of the latter society were fishing with him 
last Friday—Mr. Jones and Mr. Herbert; and, whilst 
they were fishing for roach, one of the fish, a roach of 
twelve ounces, took the bait of each angler and was 
securely hooked by both of them, and, I need scarcely 
say, landed. In the question of a competition the fish 
would become a joint property. I remember a similar 
circumstance with a jack of ‘J51b. some years ago with 
the late Mr. H. L. Rolfe and our good old friend Mr. T. 
E. Sachs, and it was designated “ The Union Jack.” I 
do not know the politics of the Richmond anglers, but 
if Conservative, it would not inaptly go in for “The 
Union ”—it would certainly not be “ Home Rule,” as 
the rule in this case would be a removal from their 
natural home. I had a long chat with my old friend 
Mr. Edward Clarke at Sunbury about the proposed new 
bye-laws, and his views were by no means, to some of 
them which we discussed, at all favourable ; indeed, 
everywhere I have been amongst practical anglers 1 
have not heard one favourable opinion expressed. The 
meeting at the Anglers’ Association on Monday evening 
was a most representative one, and ought to carry great 
weight in the minds of the conservators. It was the 
voice of over eighty angling clubs, and represented over 
five thousand anglers!—B. 
UpperTKames.— Thursday.— The prospects, so far 
as I can glean from washed-out correspondents, is that 
all round prospects are very gruesome. The snow-water 
has now found its way into the bed of the river, which, 
from a state of lowness, has popped up suddenly into a 
plethoric gentleman with a dirty-green face. Thames 
fishing is not worth salt, and I am disgusted with it. I 
wonder if before the end of the season Thames-jack men 
will have one look ! —Marlow Buzz. 
Thames (Datchet). —At the time of writing the 
river is bank high, a very good thing to get the snow 
and ice away. Fishing seems a gone game—water wrong 
all the winter; but there are bigger troubles for the 
angler in store. What is it I hear, a London club rent¬ 
ing a certain part of the Thames, not far from here r 
That is indulging riparians. I hope they will never catch 
any fish.—G. Lumsden. 
Thames (Monkey Island). —Nothing doing since 
the 15th. Two anglers, fishing off the island, had a few 
very good roach, also a very nice jack. Water is getting 
a nasty.colonr, and no wonder, considering the rain and 
snow we have had this last week. It looks very gloomy 
for the next three or four days, even if the weather 
kews fine.—R. Plummer, sen. 
Thames (Oxford). —The thaw of this three or four 
days has greatly improved the prospects of fishing. The 
river is now almost clear of ice, but at time of writing 
the water is thick ; but the weir keepers are beginning 
to put the tackle in again, and by the time these lines 
reach your readers, the water here will be again fishable. 
At present no takes are to hand, bu^', providing we get 
no rain, good bags ought to be the result.— C. Herbert. 
Thames (Staines). —John Keene, jun., one day 
with Mr. Edwards, three dozen of roach, the largest 
lilb., and a chub of Sjlb. another day, with Mr. Rogers, 
three dozen of roach, and a chub of 31b.; another day, 
with Mr. Baldwin and friend, four dozen of nice roach ; 
another day, with Mr. Burkett, a similar result; and 
another day, with Messrs. Jones and Herbert, of the 
Richmond Piscatorial Society, six dozen of fine roach. 
Thames (Twickenham). —There is only one report 
from the tidal waters, where, at Twickenham, John 
Spong, in one day, got two dozen of dace. The water is 
again out of condition with the snow and the rain, and 
when it was seen on Wednesday it looked very thick 
and dirty. 
Windsor District. —The snowfall, which was gene¬ 
ral throughout the Thames Valley on the 17th inst., has 
not, up to the time of writing, seriously affected the 
state of the water, which has but a slight colour rather 
in favour of jack fishing, though I would not care to 
waste time in fishing whilst snow is in the water. Since 
my last, I have been out a short time opposite here, 
and had a couple of brace of chub, but largest only 
lib. lOoz. What they will be in a few years if the mon¬ 
strous bye-law allowing them to be used for bait is 
passed, is not very difficult to imagine, and, in my 
opinion, they ought not to be taken out under at least 
12in., and those who use them as bait ought to be 
thrown in with them.—B. E. Bambridge. 
Later. —River coming down this morning, very bad 
colour. Will be some days before in condition, allowing 
no more rain or snow.— B. R. Bambridge. 
Dxe and Canal (Exeter).— This has been another 
week of idleness for the “noble army of martyrs” 
(known in days past as anglers). This makes the fourth 
week of our “lock-out,” and, although somewhat milder 
than its three predecessors, I think, by its general dis¬ 
agreeable character, it is entitled to honourable mention 
in this “ Rough on Anglers ” seiies. The following are 
some of the “ingredients” of this week’s mixture: A 
little frost, a little snow, a little rain, and a small hurri¬ 
cane or two to top up with—a sufficiently lumseons dose 
for the “hardiest” Waltonian without a doubt. Of 
course, the river has been a compound of snow 
broth and ice water, more or less, throughout the week, 
and piscatorial pursuits have been quite as effectually 
stopped, as when Jack Frost held sway. Although the 
ice has disappeared from all running water, it is still in 
evidence on the ponds and backwaters’; in fact,’up to the 
last day or two, skating was still in full swing. I do not 
suppose the present happy state of affairs can last much 
longer^ as it is, the trout season will be here before 
many of us have fairly started piking. A good old 
rollicking flood would be the most welcome visitor just 
now, and, as rain is gently falling whilst I write, let us 
hope that will be the next event on the cards. AVe 
certainly deserve some compensation after a month of 
torture.— Red Palmer. 
Idle (North Notts). —A return of open weather 
will soon set sportsmen to work again. This week is a 
great improvement on last, and to-day (Wednesday) 
has been a very fine and spring-like day, notwith¬ 
standing the somewhat heavy fall of snow on the pre¬ 
vious day. We seem to have almost missed t*’e storm 
of Saturday and Sunday experienced in the South of 
England ; but the keen frost has gone a long way into 
the ground, and the waters, though opening out, must 
he yet very cold, and full of what anglers call “ snow 
broth.” Should the mild weather continue as long, a 
good many anglers will by the end of the week be at 
work again. The frost and snow seem like passing 
away without flood, and not much delay need be feared 
on this account. Angling gossip is very scanty just 
now; but it may be mentioned that some negotiations 
were in progress a short time ago for facilities for fishing 
in this district for visitors from Sheffield and other 
towns a distance away. They have already a good deal 
of water in the lower district and about Keadby ; but 
what is wanted now is better accommodation about 
Retford.—L. 
Lea and Short. —I went up to Enfield Lock and 
AA'^altham Abbey on Thursday, but have not heard of 
much sport having been had at either place. A few 
perch were taken at Enfield Lock on the 15th. On that 
day a good many anglers were out, the results, as far as 
I can gather, being a few roach, perch, and some small 
jack. Mr. Harry Avis, of the King’s Arms, AValtham 
Abbey, proposes to have an open angling competition on 
Feb. 5th, on the usual conditions, viz., entrance t!d. each, 
all entrance money given in prizes, pro rata, in addition 
to which Mr. Avis will give a prize or two, consisting of 
articles useful to anglers. The local club, the Waltham 
Brother.s, have altered their meeting night from Monday 
to Friday. The flood on Tuesday night, or early on 
Wednesday morning, came down so suddenly as to burst 
open a bait box which was lying in the old river at the 
back of the King’s Arms, thereby causing the loss of a 
couple of dozen good pike baits, which, just now, are 
very difficult to get in that neighbourhood. Therefoie, 
I should advise intending pike fishermen to provide 
themselves before leaving town.— Spliced Joint. 
Leicester. —Angling prospects have brightened con¬ 
siderably this week. The frost held sway up to Tuesday, 
on which day a rapid thaw set in, and quickly stopped 
the sport on the ice. With the exception of a slight 
frost at night, the change in the atmosphere has con¬ 
tinued, and should the favourable circumstances remain 
with us, good fishing may be available by the end of 
this week. The ice boat was at work along the canal on 
Thursday. This will greatly assist in clearing away the 
accumulations. A few anglers had a try on Thursday, 
but they were doomed to disappointment. On the pond 
the ice still remains thickly. Probably Leiccester 
anglers will be interested to read of the doings of four 
well-known wielders of the rod and line, who, not very 
long since, left that town to seek fortune in America. 
The sportsmen referred to are Harry Moore, Harry 
Starkey, A. Butler, and J. Butler, who are now located 
at Brockton, Mass., where they have established a club, 
which is in a flourishing condition. Fishing out there 
appears to be up to high-water mark, as, according to 
report, abundant spoil is always obtained. The Leicester 
representatives were among the prizes, Moore taking a 
trophy for red perch, Starkey for eels, A. Butler for 
black bass, and J. Butler for white perch. 
Lugg, Arrow, and Finsley (Kingsland).— Most 
of the snow has disappeared from this neighbourhood, 
but a lot remains on the Radnorshire hills—which is 
being fast dissolved by the milder weather—and has 
caused these rivers to rise, as they continue to do 
rapidly to-day (Wednesday). Every indication of a 
heavy fresh, if not flood, which will completely stop 
fishing for next eight or ten days.—R. T. Williams. 
Nene (Peterborough).— The icebound river has 
afforded excellent sport for skaters and anglers alike, 
for while the exhilarating pastime of skating has been 
indulged in, the disciples of Izaak Walton have lost no 
opportunity of pursuing their favourite vocation. 
Standing upon the frozen surface and fishing in holes 
broken through the ice, capital sport has been secured 
near the town bridge, many hooking fish as fast as they 
could throw in their lines. Roach and perch are on the 
feed as though they had just recovered from a fast, and 
are taking the bait eagerly. Some good bags have been 
obtained.—G. Samwell. 
Plymouth.— Sea Fishing.— There has not been 
much doing at sea during the last week. The weather 
has been very cold and unsettled, some days blowing 
half a gale, and other days flat calm. A very few 
trawlers ventured out, but their catches was small, 
some as low as 508,, and this divided amongst seven is 
not much for a week’s work. The lobster pots have 
yielded about 2 cwt. of fish, and they realised good 
prices. Herrings and pilchards have been scarce, and 
the usual rod fishing has been prevented by the intense 
cold. lam glad to see the fishermen are stirring them¬ 
selves in the matter of the protection of the fisheries, 
and I trust they will come up in numbers and give evi¬ 
dence at the Board of Trade inquiry, for some of the 
laws, if passed, will take away the living of scores of 
men without doing the slightest possible good ; I mean 
the laws that have been framed by the Devon Sea 
Fisheries Committee.— William Hearder. 
Severn (Shrewsbury).— There was a rapid rise in 
the river on Tuesday consequent upon the thaw, and the 
swollen stream quickly cleared away the ice which had 
so long covered the river, the effect caused by the 
floating masses of ice being exceedingly curious. Some 
of the blocks were many feet in length and circum¬ 
ference. The water is very much discolourecl, but as 
soon as it clears good sport should be obtainable among 
the pike and rough fish.— Pi.scatoe. 
Severn, "Vyrnwy, Tanat, and Cain (Llanymy- 
nech). —The weather at the end of last week was an 
exact repetition of that of the previous week. A cold 
thaw was followed by a heavy fall of snow and a very 
sharp frost. This was succeeded by a very cold thaw, 
and now all our rivers are full of snow water, which 
renders angling an impossibility, and as the wind stiU 
continues from west to north-east, a change for the 
better is not yet assured.— Vyrnwy. 
Stour (Bures). —The river was in flood on Thursday 
owing to the_ thaw, and it is doubtful if it will he in 
condition again for some days to come. On Wednesday 
Mr. AV. Bainbridge, a local angler, took 121b. of nice 
roach, and another Bures fisherman has had 81b. A 
pike of 6 jlb. has been bagged.— Goosequill. 
Sussex Rivers and Chichester Canal.— Frosts, 
snow, and thaw has been the record of the week. 
Skating and duckings have been had on Chichester 
canal and in many other waters. At Pulborough and 
Amberley the river is open, but I have no sport to- 
chronicle from that quarter. The Rother is in fair order, 
but the loose ice and snow water is against sport. A 
few enthusiasts have tried the Adur among the roach,, 
with but indifferent success. The lower portion of the 
Ouse is probable, and from Chichester canal, on the 
upper water, a few roach and bream and a small pike are 
reported. The Corporation of Chichester are somewhat 
exercised as to what to do with the water now they have 
it on their own hands. The clearing and deepening,will 
incur a heavy liability, and in the present state of rail¬ 
way charges a tramway is mooted as the least expensive 
method of transporting goods from Chichester Harbour 
to the city. This would run in the bed of the canal. A 
proposition to rent the three and a-half miles of water 
on lease would be entertained, and would, in my estima¬ 
tion, prove a paying venture, as the canal is heavily 
stocked and considered one of the best angling resorts in- 
the south.— George F. Salter. 
Trent (Newark). —The Trent has risen consider¬ 
ably during the past twenty-four hours, the water below 
Newark being highly charged with colour, the result of 
a big influx from the Devon, and angling is again sus¬ 
pended. Up to Tuesday, signs of improvement were 
manifest, a few roach, dace, and chub having been taken 
with worms from the tributary mentioned, and members 
of the Newark Piscatorial Association were busy in 
various parts of the Trent, in hopes of securing a speci¬ 
men fish for the half-yearly club, which closed on 
AVednesday evening with the following result, for the 
six classes open for competition. Roach: 1st, Mr. AV. 
Atkinson, lib. lOoz.; 2nd, Mr. T. Lee, 11b. fijoz.; 3rd,Mr. 
H. Pratt, lib. 4Joz.; 4th, Mr. AV. T. Openshaw, lib. ^o?. 
Dace : 1st. Air. D. Slater, 8 joz.; 2nd, Mr. J. Smith', 8 oz.; 
3rd, Mr. AV. Mountney, 7joz. ; 4th, Mr. F. C. Lees, 7oz. 
Bream : 1st, Mr. F. Cox, 21b. 13joz.; 2nd, Mr. J. AVear, 
21b. 9oz.; 3rd, Mr. AV. Bagaley, 11b. 4joz.; 4th, Mr. E. 
Upton, 11b. 24oz. Chub : 1st, Mr. A. Lee, 31b. 2joz.; 2nd, 
Air. C. Brownlow, 21b. C^oz. ; 3rd, Mr. R. Kirton, 
21b. 6 oz. ; 4th, Mr. A. H. Elliss, 21b. 3oz. Barbel: 1st, Air, 
AV. AI. Ball, 71b. I 25 OZ. ; 2nd, Air. J Hickson, 41b. lOoz.;. 
3rd, Air. R. Chatterton, 31b. 9oz. Bleak : Mr. R. Croom, 
Ijoz. 8 shots ; 2nd, Air. J. Halliday, I 3 OZ. 4 shots ; 3rd, 
Air. E. Hall, l^oz. 7 shots ; 4th, Mr. J. J. Killingley, 
loz. 5 shots. 'The premier prize taken in the roach, 
barbel, and chub maintain the average of previous 
seasons. Other classes not up to usual standard.— 
Trentsidbr. 
Yore and Wharfe. —AATholly out of order for any 
kind of fishing, as the thaw is universal, and the rivers 
full of melted snow and ice.—F. M. Walbran. 
Scotch Reports. 
Carron (Baster Ross), has been frozen over for 
several weeks with ice thick enough to bear a horse 
and cart. Not for many years has the frost been so 
severe or,of such duration. 
Deveron (Banffshire). —The spawning season in 
the river Deveron, which is now pretty well forward, 
has been one of the best for many years past. Until 
lately there was little to interfere with the spawn-beds. 
Since the close of the rod-fishing there has been a fair 
run of water, but a little dark in colour for closely ob¬ 
serving spawning observations. Notwithstanding, fish 
were early on the upper spawning-beds, and were oft 
before the severe frost set in. For about a month the 
frost has been very severe, and the ice formed on several 
parts of the river has been over 6 in. in tnickness. As an 
instance we may mention that a shooting-party passed 
