January 21, 1893] 
THE EISHING GAZETTE 
45 
lP>covincial Botes 
FROM BIRMINGHAM AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
In my last week’s Notes I promised to give to the 
readers of the Fishing Gazette an outline of a scheme for 
the providing of a challenge cup, to be fished for by the 
members of the Birmingham Angling Association at 
their future angling contests. The idea was first formed 
by me some six years ago, but, owing to certain diffi¬ 
culties that cropped up at that time, I gave up the idea 
until a better opportunity presented itself. I kept the 
matter fresh in my memory, and at the last distribution 
of the prizes won in the annual Birmingham contest I 
promised to bring forward a scheme to obtain a suitable 
cup, without encroaching upon the general funds of the 
association. On Thursday evening, the 5th inst., I 
introduced the matter before the Birmingham com¬ 
mittee for their consideration, the digest of which was 
as follows : For some six years past the members of the 
Birmingham Association have, through the grants made 
annually from the funds, been enabled to fish for 
valuable prizes. The grant year by year voted for the 
purchasing of prizes has always been in advance of its 
predecessor, and at all times a goodly number of prizes 
have been placed before the members to be competed 
for. Great interest has upon every occasion been mani¬ 
fested in the result of the competition, and one and all 
of the contestants have tried to become the possessor of 
the chief prize, which at all times has been an article of 
considerable value, which becomes the property of 
the member who may be fortunate enough to catch 
the heaviest weight of fish. Every contest in the 
past has been a decided success, but still, to my mind, 
there is something more required to bring about a keener 
rivalry between the members of the individual clubs, 
and to cause them to strive, not only to become the 
possessors of the first prize, but that the club should 
also share the honour which the first prize winner has 
obtained. With this in view, with the sanction of the 
committee, I beg to ask the clubs and their members, 
together with certain gentlemen who are interested in 
the welfare of the association, to give mo their assist¬ 
ance in obtaining a suflicient sum for the purchase of a 
challenge cup for the next annual contest. The amount 
for the purchasing of the cup I wish to obtain without 
encroaching upon the funds of the association, which 
each year are drained very low through the expenses of 
the annual contest, and the grant made for prizes. With 
this grant I do not intend to interfere in the least, 
for, on the contrary, I hope that each year the prizes 
will be more valuable and numerous in the future, 
although everything that could be done has been done, 
in order to make all the prizes worthy of the attention 
of the members; but still there has been something more 
required to make the prizes more attractive. Other 
small associations have their challenge cups, and I may 
mention that the Bolton Association, with its GOO mem¬ 
bers, have a cup which is fished for annually, the cost of 
which was .£50. Now here is an example for the 
Birmingham anglers, who number 3350 members, to 
imitate. If a small association can have such a valu¬ 
able trophy as this, why not Birmingham see what 
they can do. The motto of the Birmingham angler 
has been “ Forward,” and I hope to see them still 
maintain the honour of their motto. My scheme for 
obtaining the necessary funds is as follows : That each 
club, with a membership of thirty-six members and under, 
pay the sum of 5s.; over thirty-six members, and up to 
fifty members, 7s. 6d.; over fifty members, and under 
sixty-five members, lOs.; over sixty-five members and 
under 80 members, 12s. Gd. ; over 80 members and 
up to 100 members, 15s. : over lOO members, and up to 
115 members, d£l ; over 115 men b ;rs, and up to 130 mem¬ 
bers, £l 5s. ; over 130 members, and up to 145 members, 
.£1 78. Gd. ; over 145 members, and up to any strength, 
ill lOs. By this means, and the approval of the clubs, 
I should bo able to raise the sum of d£33 12s. 6d. This 
is according to the strength of the association last 
December. The host of club-houses, brewers, tackle- 
makers, individual members, and others, would be 
approached with the object of obtaining a donation 
towards the purchasing of the cup. The rules for the 
Wding of the cup, and how many times to be won 
before becoming the actual property of the club, to be 
decided by the association committee. I have great con¬ 
fidence in bringing out this scheme to a successful issue. 
The committee were, with one or two exceptions, 
greatly in favour of the idea, and the whole of the clubs 
will, I am sure, take up the matter, and before many 
months have elapsed I hope to see my hopes realised, as 
it is needless to say that if the scheme is carried out it 
will bring the Birmingham association more before the 
imblic and the railway companies, and it will also bo the 
means of augmenting the funds of the association to a 
great extent. 
A meeting of the Birmingham Angling Benevolent 
Society was held on Friday evening, Jan. 13, at the 
Birmingham Arms Hotel, Smithfield, Mr. T Coles, 
presided, and Mr. C. White occupied the vice-chair. 
The secretary read a list of the clubs which were not 
connected with the society, and gave those who had only 
a few members connected with the society, when it was 
decided to visit the societies in question, and induce as 
many members as possible to join. The clubs would be 
visited as early as possible, and reports given in at the 
next meeting of the committee. A report of a visit to 
the Aston Mayor Society was given by Mr. J. Hughes. 
The report went to show that the gentleman had induced 
about a dozen of the members to join the society. A 
report was sent from the Spring Hill Society to the 
effect that one of their memhers, who is also a member 
of the Benevolent Society, died on Wednesday last. 
The vice-president brought before the meeting the 
advisability of holding a Sunday evening meeting, when 
readings, songs, and instrumental music will be given, 
after which a collection will be made on behalf of the 
funds of the society. The idea was approved of, and 
the date fixed for Feb. 12, the concert to take place at 
the Birmingham Arms Hotel, chair taken at 6.30. 
FROM DERBYSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
This week, as last week, has been very dull in Derby¬ 
shire angling circles. The waters up to this morning 
were very low, but yesterday’s snowstorm, accompaniei 
by the thaw, has brought down the rivers, particularly 
the Derwent and Dove, in volume, much above what we 
have recently been accustomed to. Nevertheless, they 
are not as yet too heavy, and, if we have no more rain, fish¬ 
ing should still be practicable. As a matter of fact, it is 
melted snow, not rain, that has really swollen the rivers; 
but, as everyone knows, a very little snow broth in water 
is much more prejudicial to sport than even a heavy flood. 
Some very fair grayling fishing has lately been obtained 
in the Eocester district,, though, unfortunately, it has 
not been with the fly. Most local anglers, in Derbyshire, 
seem to fight shy of the fly, and prefer to use the 
maggot. Every one to his taste, but we should think 
that one good grayling killed on the fly was equal to 
half a dozen killed by the maggot, though, of course, 
worming, as developed by Mr. Walbran, for grayling, 
is almost, if not quite, as scientific as fly fishing. 
The bag we refer to was one of five brace, which 
is vary fair as things go nowadays. Talking of 
grayling reminds me that I assisted at the netting of 
a certain portion of the Dove the other day from 
Tutbury Weir down to Tutbury Bridge. We did 
not, it is true, net the whole of the reach, and our main 
object was the capture of the diseased salmon noted in 
last week’s letter. In this we failed, nor did we see any 
signs of it, nor of any other fish of the salmon kind. 
TUe Dove, at this point, is an extremely difficult river 
to net, as it is full of old stakes, piles, and all sorts of 
rubbish, their existence being no doubt due to the fact 
that the river is so impetuous that it constantly changes 
its banks. Our total capture was a few grayling of no 
great size, one small pike, and a few coarse fish, roach, 
and dace. Three of the grayling I retained for exami¬ 
nation, and [the small pike, a fish of lib. or so. The 
grayling, I found on examination, were full of well- 
matured spawn, and the pike revealed the same state of 
affairs. This, of conr.se, is not anomalous, but it is a 
curioias reflection on the late season in the matter of 
spawning, so far as trout are concerned, though from the 
latest accounts fish are now spawning in some of the 
upper tributaries. 
If the Wellington Club secure the Shardlow reach it 
will be a very good thing for the club, and a very bad 
thing for numerous one-day-a-week anglers. I presume 
that the piece of water will extend from the Iron Bridge 
down to the Pride of Derby water. If this bo so then 
the Wellington will have one of the very best reaches 
on the Trent in its own hands. There is, of course, the 
famous “Long Swim,” which is one of the surest 
“ finds ” for salmon, and, moreover, the best bags of chub 
made this season on Trent, so far as I am aware, were 
taken on this reach by Dr. Butler, with the Jig. There 
is also some excellent barbel water, and if the reach 
includes that portion of the water from Cavendish 
Bridge down to where the Pride of Derby water begins, 
some of the best roaching water in Derbyshire, especially 
in autumn, should bo included. 
The Nottingham and Notts Angling Association is a 
very energetic body, and has, I believe, the interest of 
anglers at heart, but it has developed a very strong 
belief in its own powers—legal and otherwise. In the 
netting case recently reported in the Fishing Gazette, 
this society was going to take out a summons against 
the defenders, but did not do so, by reason of the fact 
that it would not very well conduct a prosecution which 
was at the instance of the Trent Board for a violation 
of one of the said board’s bye-laws. From the tone of 
recent letters, the society seems to imagine that it has 
the power so to prosecute : legally it has not any such 
power, though in its own waters, with the consent of 
any of the clubs affiliated, it can persecute any breach 
of the general law as distinguished from a particular 
bye-law. ___ 
FROM FEN DISTRICT (LINCOLNSHIRE). 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The conditions for angling have been much better this 
week than last, and, although there is still a good deal 
of ice on the.fon rivers and drains, there is, in moat cases, 
a clear course down mid-stream, and anglers have boon 
able to resume operations. The reports to hand show 
that nearly all kinds of fish have been well on the feed, 
and, amongst pike especially, tishermou have met with 
excellent sport. In a roach of the Forty-foot, below the 
railway bridge in Holpringham Fen, Mr. Binder captured 
four, one afternoon, with live bait, the largest of which 
weighed 71b., and the smallest 21b. 8oz. Higher up the 
river, towards Swinoshead, Mr. Winter had a run of good 
luck on Tuesday, taking three fish, scaling in the aggre¬ 
gate 141b. 2oz., and losing two othorsin cousequence ot his 
line breaking through friction on the edge of the 
ice. Other sportsmen have reported the loss of good pike, 
through similar accidents ; and one of them, Mr. Smith, 
in addition to losing his chance of securing a big fish, 
also lost a choice artificial bait. During the week Mr. 
Marsh has captured four pike — two on the IGth, 
weighing 41b. 3oz. and 3jlb. respectively, and two on the 
17th of 51b. and 2.flb. Mr. Pearson was also responsible 
for four—a brace captured on the 14th weighing 01b. the 
pair, and two others of Gib. 8oz. on the 17th. All 
sportsmen have regarded the pike as easier to catch 
since the frost, and roach and perch have also offered 
excellent sport, the latter taking the worm with avidity. 
The Withain is again getting into nice trim, and the 
waters are running down from the recent thaw. Anglers 
have been out since ’Pne-sday, but at the time of writing 
no individual reports had been received. 
On the Welland there are still complaints about the 
ravages of otters, which are numerous on this river, as 
well as on the Gwash, in the neighbourhood of Stamford. 
Last week one of these animals, doubtless driven from 
it hunting haunts by the severity of the weather, made 
its way into Burghley Park. 'I'emptcd by hunger, it 
was probably exploring the Marquis of Exeter’s famous 
trout breeding ponds, which are situateil there, and 
which contain tame fish, of from 101b. to 141b. in weight. 
Luckily for the trout, and unfortunately for the otter, 
the poor prowler was detected by Mr. Silk, and, with the 
aid ot a dog, the foraging expedition was promptly 
brought to an end. The otter, which measured 3ft. Sin. 
in length, has been sent to a taxidermist. 
There was a welcome change in the temperature on 
Wednesday, and the frost and snow of the previous 
week rapidly disappeared under the influence of warm 
sunshine. At the time of writing there was every 
appearance of a continuance of the open weather. 
FROM THE LAKE DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
After a month of consecutive frost and snow, a 
welcome thaw set in on Monday last, and the few 
enthusiasts who follow coarse Ashing are looking to a 
resumption of sport. It will bo some time, however, ere 
the ten to fourteen inches of ice disappears from the 
lakes and tarns; and, the season is not yet so far 
advanced as to preclude the possibility of a second 
edition of wintry weather. Poaching and fish disease 
are unpleasant facts which are rather prominently to 
the fore, and while the former may, to some extent, be 
coped with, disease is a more difficult matter. With the 
spring floods it may again disappear. 
Despite the severe lessons administered to poachers in 
the police courts, offences of this sort continue on most 
of our rivers; and, so long as a ready sale is found for 
the plunder, often totally unfit for human consumption, 
the temptation will remain to idle fellows to run the risk 
of detection. The public has this matter largely in its 
own hands. Once close the market for this ill-gotten 
commodity, and the poacher’s occupation is gone, for 
few, indeed, would follow it but for the sake of filthy 
lucre. 
At the Sedburgh petty sessions last week, two cases 
of salmon poaching came before the bench, Mr. Sharp, 
solicitor, prosecuting on behalf of the Lune Fishery 
Board. Two men, who had been caught red-handed (the 
water bailiff succeeding in obtaining a large salmon 
from the defendants), were fined in sums of .£3 and 
costs, and 10s. and costs, respectively. William Far¬ 
rington, for whom Mr. G. S.Tatham, solicitpr, appeared, 
was also charged with poaching in the river Dee, on 
Dec. 19. The watcher spoke to seeing a gang of nien 
fishing with a “ low,” i.e., a flaring light, on the night 
in question, and swore to defendant being one of them, 
as he saw him distinctly by the light they wore using. 
Witness said there were four others present, and de¬ 
fendant called four witnesses who swore he was not near 
the river that night. The bench held that the alihi was 
established, and dismissed the case. 
FROM LANCASHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The Moss Side Social Anglers are progressing nicely 
with their organisation, and at present possess no loss 
than five different waters, where the members are free to 
go and fish at pleasure. An old Manchester club is 
likely to bo resuscitated, and will in all probability 
adopt the name and headquarters of the Perseverance, 
at the Blue Bell, on Oldham-road. 
The fact of the general council of the Northern 
Anglers’ Association being summoned for the 21st, shoivs 
that this body is not dead yet, as hinted in certain 
quarters, and perhaps many of its tradueers will now 
wish they had more liberally supported it, for evont.s 
show that, with general and loyal support, it would 
certainly have accomplished good work in the interests 
of anglers in the north. 
The delegate meeting of the Manchester Amalgama¬ 
tion was held at the Wellington Inn, Moston, ou the 
14th inst., Mr. W. E, Ilawkes, president of the associa¬ 
tion, in the chair. Savcril items of interest occupied 
the attention of the assembled delegates. The travelling- 
cards published by this body are now ready for issue, 
and satisfactory progress is reported in the question of 
suitable waters for the members. Visitors to a certa n 
water near to Manchester, where a boat is on biro, will 
be wise in ascertaining its condition before paying their 
money, that is, if they want to remain on the toi) of the 
water, and not make a sub-marine voyage ; in any case, 
it would bo wise to fill up the coupon attached to the 
cover of the L'ishing Gazette before embarking in the 
said boat, for when last reported it was lull of aqua 
pura, and at the bottom of the water in the boathouse. 
Angling is still a dead letter about here. The ice is 
yet on the waters to an extent never before known. On 
many land-locked meres and reservoirs Sin. is a common 
thickness, and even in the canals several days must 
elapse before any satisfactory fishing can be obtained. 
