SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
33 
January 14, 1893] 
canoes and gnrraghs in their fishing operations, and, 
though those met with much success for a time, the 
season was, generally speaking, a bad one. The fisher¬ 
men of Dingle, Dnnguin, and many other places on the 
North Kerry coast line have been complaining loudly of 
want of piers suitable for landing their fish. It was 
expected that the congested districts’ board would do 
something to ameliorate their grievances, as the districts 
referred to are scheduled under the “ Relief of Distress 
Act,” but up to the present nothing has been done in this 
direction. Seine boats did fairly well in the autumn 
at mackerel at Connunna, Coomorouma, Valentia, 
Killimly, Kells, Portmagee, Ballinskelligs, Cooma- 
couclane, Bunnaneer, and Brakagharg, but the spring 
mackerel season was a failure at all those places. 
The hake fishery proved up to the average at most 
points, and was exceptionally good at Portmagee and 
Ballybog. Herrings were taken in average numbers 
during October and the early part of November, but bad 
weather abruptly brought this class of fishing to a close. 
In the Waterville district hand-liners did very well 
among whiting during the summer. Gurnet, bream, and 
haddock also afford much sport. In the autumn matters 
were not so good, and in November and December fish¬ 
ing w'as impracticable during most of the time, owing to 
bad weather. 
ULSTER.—The snow yet lies on the upper hills and 
mountains, and the most of the rivers are half filled 
with snow water, and slush. Angling of any kind is 
almost out of question, but a thaw is slowly progressing. 
The public are not yet unmindful of the services of 
Sir "rhomas Brady, late one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors 
of Irish Fisheries. At a meeting of the Newry Town 
Commissioners last Monday, Mr. James McMahon, J.P., 
in the chair, the town clerk, Mr. Doherty, read a letter 
from the town clerk of the Dublin corporation asking 
the Newry Commissioners to adopt the following reso¬ 
lution, which had been passed by that body : “ That the 
special services which Sir Thomas Brady has in the 
conrse of a long public life rendered to this country 
merit the recognition of this council, and that this council 
recommend his claims to the fullest consideration of the 
Treasury.” In reply to the chairman, the clerk said that 
Sir Thomas, after many years’ service, had been compul¬ 
sorily retired from his post under the “65 year rule.” 
Mr Treavor, another commissioner, observed that Sir 
Thomas had rendered great service to the fishing and 
angling industries of this country, and he was entitled to 
the largest pension that the Treasury could give. It 
was not a political matter. The resolution was unani¬ 
mously adopted. 
A valued correspondent, writing me from the Black- 
water (co. Tyrone), says ; “We intend trying to have 
the angling season extended here. The opening of the 
season here is March 16, so you have the advantage on 
the Ballinderry (which opens March 1). I caught some 
trout in the middle of March last year, and they were 
quite pink and in splendid condition, and I wonder how 
it is that the season should be so late as March 16. 
I never saw a salmon here after the first week 
in February.” The season terminates Oct. 15, and 
a petition is about to be got up to have it extended till 
Oct. 31, same as on the Ballinderry. Continuing, my 
friend says : “ Up to a short time before Christmas the 
river was very high here—a succession of floods—but it 
has fallen greatly during the past ten days or so. The 
high water prevented poaching, but I am sorry to say 
that when it got low the poachers commenced operations. 
The other day I took a walk down the river, and, adjoin¬ 
ing a favourite ford, I distinctly saw the traces of 
where a net had been spread out on the bank and the 
tracks of two men leading into the river. I saw where 
they made their exit in two places and where they threw 
down the fish. I could easily trace it on the white frost. 
The lessees of the Derry fisheries sent a man here to watch 
the river inNovember, and he has continued here since, but 
the poachers took advantage of his absence at Christmas. 
Indeed, one man is of very little use, as he could hardly 
deal with the poachers single-handed, and it would have 
been better if a few of our local men were appointed by 
the Coleraine Board.” Speaking of the weir at Ben- 
burb he says; “It is next to impossible for fish to 
ascend it, and the result is that more than forty miles 
of the best spawning beds in the river are unavailable 
to the fish. It is indeed extraordinary that something 
is not done, as by a small outlay a proper pass could be 
constructed which would be to the advantage of the 
lessees.” The above esctracts show my friend is a keen 
observer, and I may adid he is probably the best fly- 
fisher on the Blackwafer. Any further comments of 
mine are iinnecessary, and I leave it to the judgment 
of my readers how angling interests are looked after in 
CO. Tyrone, and the same remarks of my correspondent 
apply to a great many rivers in this province. 
Last Tuesday evening, the first public meeting of the 
newly organised North-East Ulster Angling Club was 
held in the Artisan’s Hall, Garfield-street, Belfast. 
This club has been formed for the purpose of advancing 
the “gentle art” among the artisans of Belfast, and, 
with a view towards the suppression of illegal fishing 
on the Lagan in particular, and the streams of Down 
and Antrim in general. Both counties are richly pro¬ 
vided with streams, which, if properly looked after, 
would be first-class salmon and trout streams, and, fail¬ 
ing these, would make prime coarse fishing grounds. 
But the Boards of Conservators are not willing, or are 
unable, they say, to strengthen the staffs of bailiffs to 
watch the rivers, and, short of this, the only way that 
netting, gaifing, poisoning, and other devices of the 
poacher, can be met, is through the agency of angling 
clubs, of which Belfast now possesses two. Mr. F. J. 
Kennedy, hon. sec., Belfast 'Angling Association, pre¬ 
sided over the meeting, which was pretty large and 
very enthusiastic. At a private previous meeting the 
following resolutions were unanimously adopted and 
confirmed by the public meeting “ (o) That the club be 
called the North-East Ulster Angling Club ; ” “ (6) That 
5s. be the annual subscription, payable in advance “ ('■) 
That the members who were present the first night of 
meeting forma committee, with power to add to their 
number ; also, that Mr. William Ferguson be appointed 
secretary and treasurer for the ensuing year;” “ (d) 
That Mr. F. J. Kennedy be appointed president of the 
club.” The chairman, in addressing the meeting, said 
that the club had been formed for the purpose of bene- 
fitting working men anglers, and its objects were the 
encouragement of angling, the preservation of the rivers 
and the suppression of poaching. (Hear, hear.) He 
pointed out that the streams and rivers could be re¬ 
stocked, and made special reference to the Lagan, which 
he said within this century was well supplied with trout. 
He thought they could restock it without difficulty. 
There was plenty of poaching and illegal fishing going 
on over the Lagan and its tributaries, especially about 
Lisburn and on the levels—my readers should know 
that the Lagan is formed into a canal with locks, &c. 
above Shaw’s Bridge. In those reaches a few trout 
represent the Salmonidce. Mr. Kennedy having made 
some further remarks, the rules, which had been pre¬ 
viously drafted, and the appointment of office bearers, 
were confirmed, and the meeting terminated. The 
N.E.U.A.C. was raised mainly through the instrumen¬ 
tality of Mr. Kennedy, who is most unwearying in his 
endeavours to promote angling in Belfast and its 
vicinity, and in recognition of his many services to the 
angling fraternity the new cluh elected him their pre¬ 
sident—an honour which we trust he will long enjoy, and 
which he so worthily deserves. 
REPORTS FROM RIVERS, LOCHS, &c. 
I®* River Reporters who want forms and envelopes 
should send a post card to the Manager of the Fishing 
Gazette, St. Dunstan’s House, Fetter-lane, London. 
Time of Hig'h. Water in the Thames. 
To find the time of high water in the Thames at any of 
the following places, to the time of high water at London 
Bridge given below. 
! 30 min. for Chelsea. ^55 min. for Kew. 
1 ) )) Putney. w5 ,, ,, Richmond. 
45 ,, ,, Hammer- Add-<80 ,, ,, Twicken- 
smith. / ham. 
50 „ „ Barnes. kgS „ ,, Teddington 
Example :—If it is high water at 2 o’clock at London 
Bridge, it will be high water at Teddington at 3.25 or 85 
minutes later. 
N.B.—A strong wind up-stream accelerates the tide 
very much, and one down-stream retards it. 
Time of High Water at London Bridge. 
Mornine. Evenine. 
Saturday, Jan. 14 . 
. 11.17 . 
Sunday, ,, 15 . 
_ 
. 0 21 
Monday, ,, 16 . 
. 0.48 . 
. 1.11 
Tuesday, ,, 17 . 
. 1.33 . 
. 1.54 
Wednesday, ,, 18 . 
. 2.13 . 
Thursday, ,, 19 . 
. 2.50 . 
. 3. 9 
Friday, „ 20 . 
. 3.27 . 
. 3.46 
English and Welsh Reports. 
Lower Thames. — General Remarks. —I do not 
suppose the fish have had much cause to enjoy them¬ 
selves in their imprisonment under the ice, and whilst 
the skaters were regretting the appearance of a cold 
thaw, which showed itself on Saturday night, the anglers 
were hoping for a continuance of it, so that they might 
soon get amongst the fish again. I notice several of the 
angling clubs have been postponing their competitions, 
and the one of the New Albion Piscatorial Society, 
which was a fixture of December, and then from the 
disappointment of the day abandoned until this month, 
has got shifted into February, when it is hoped they will 
bring it off at Staines. It not (infrequently happens 
that special days are not the best days for sport. This 
has been my experience in days gone by. i remember 
a 3Jlb. jack being the only fishshown at the Piscatorial 
Society on its great jack competition day some years 
ago, and that would not have been brought up, except 
through the advice of my old friend, Mr. T. E. Sachs, in 
persuading the late Mr. F. Lecluse to take it to the 
club room, which he had no intention of doing, and so 
gained the first iirize. Although there is nothing very 
serious in the new bye-laws as affecting this portion of 
the river, there is a wide-spread sympathy for that of the 
Upper Thames in the movement of the Association, as 
against the privileges ceded to the riparian owners ; and, 
in the Viold stand that is being taken to pursue the laws 
now proposed to the council, if the conservators refuse 
to listen to them, that sympathy will be largely increased. 
It is not at all impracticable ; if the conservators are 
desirous of meeting the views of the upper associations, 
they will invite the attendance of a deputation to con¬ 
sult with them on the objections that have been raised. 
This has been their usual course, and I should not be at 
all surprised if they do it again. Then, if the objections 
are not met by the board in the alterations they require, 
the after course will be that of the council.—B. 
Upper Thames. —The Thames is high and of a 
nasty tint; indeed, is full of snow water. If the weather 
holds as open as it has done to-day (Thursday) good 
jack and chub fishing should accrue in the middle or 
end of next week.— Marlow Buzz. 
Thames (Uatchet). —Needless to say there has 
been no fishing going on, but I am in hopes of being able 
to do something in a day or two. The water looks 
rather promising, save for large sheets of broken ice 
floating down the stream. I went out for an hour this 
afternoon to inquire of them ; caught two roach, and a 
paternoster out was not noticed. I started several jack 
from the sides coming home, a proof they are not stuck 
in the mud.—G. Lumsden. 
Thames (Hampton Court). —William Milbourne 
writes : “ The Thames this week has been frozen over 
from Hampton Court to Sunbury, and in places the ice 
has been very thick. Opposite Tagg’s Island the people 
have been able to walk to and from the island. The 
ice is breaking up very fast, but I am afraid with the 
quick thaw and the rain we have had will thicken the 
water for some days.” 
Thames (King'ston). —The head river keeper, in 
giving a general account of the river, says: “There are 
no reports at the present time. The ice is floating 
down the river fast. 
Thames (ffXonkey Island). —Nothing doing since 
my last report. Without any more snow or frosts there 
ought to be some good all-round fishing, especially chub 
and jack. The water is a little thick, but I should think 
it would be in very good condition in a few days.—R. 
Plummer, sen. 
Thames (Oxford). —River at present mostly frozen 
over, a few places being clear, making it very awkward 
for fishing. Very few takes are to hand. Three jack 
were taken at King’s Wier a few days since, largest 51b. 
Roach fishermen are few and far between. In one hour’s 
fishing I secured one dozen and a-half of good roach, 
largest 11b.; bait, gentles. A few enthusiastic anglers 
are patiently waiting for the removal of the ice, to try 
a few specimen jack that they knew the whereabouts of 
previous to the frost setting in; one I know of about 
201b. The heaviest specimens up to date being: one 
roach. Port Meadow stream, 2lb. 2oz. ; one perch. Medley 
Weir, 21b.; one chub, the Weir’s water, 31b. 15oz.; one 
jack, Eynsham water, 121b. Prospect for the next few 
days, skates.—C. Herbert. 
Thames (Windsor District).— At time of writing 
water has a bad colour, due doubtless to the melting 
snow, ice, and debris, caused by the thousands who 
skated on it recently. Frequenters of this neighbour¬ 
hood will hardly think it feasible, but on the 5th inst. 
I skated to Clewer Point from Windsor Ferry, and 
stood on the ice in middle of river trying for a jack in 
the open part, but could not get a run. The next day 
the whole of the reach above was clear from ice. I have 
just been opposite here to try the chub, and soon got 
one exactly IJlb., and ran another good one, proving 
water is not too bad for them. I was using pith. If 
no rain or snow water, should be perfect next week.— 
B. E. Bambridge. 
Ancholme District.— Waters are still too full of 
melted snow and ice to permit of anything like success¬ 
ful angling. Two or three hardy ones have been out 
after pike, but results are not worth reporting. 
Indications point to a mild return of frost.— Thomas 
Tree. 
Arun. —Water in good trim at Amberley. In one of 
the cuttings there this week 201b. of eels were caught by 
a local resident, but whether with baskets or the rod 
and line my information does not say. Few anglers h,ave 
been out, but there is a chance of sport now.— 
Goosequill. 
Exe and Canal (Exeter).— After fourteen days’ 
hard frost, we were treated to a thaw on Saturday, 
which lasted until Tuesday, when frosty weather again 
set in, and at present there is every indication of our 
getting dose No. 2. We are certainly being badly served 
this winter, but the true angler’s buoyant nature will 
no doubt rise to the occasion, and when he does get an 
“ innings,” something will have to suffer for it, that’s 
certain. The main river is now free from ice, but the 
snow broth has not yet run off, so that nothing will be 
done for a day or two. Messrs. Edwards and Jackman 
tried the jack for a couple of hours to day, but drew a 
“ blank.” Until the snow-broth is gone, this will, I 
fear, be the general experience. All our backwaters 
are still more or less frozen, and sad thought it is, 
their last state is likely to be worse than the first. 
However, it cannot last for ever, and anglers may well 
utilise this idle time by a general overhaul of rods and 
tackle. This will help considerably to pass the weary 
days away, and be making a profitable use of the “ lock¬ 
out ” at the same time. In the article “ Fishing on the 
Exeter Canal,” by “Jesse,” which appeared in last 
week’s issue, I notice the writer alludes to the supposed 
scarcity of pike in the .canal, and seems at a loss to 
understand why fish which were, a few years since, so 
plentiful, should now be so hard to find. The explana¬ 
tion of this falling off, or, I might say, extermination, is 
a very simple one. Some seven or eight years ago the 
canal was practically empty for several days, owing to 
the double locks undergoing repairs, and this occurring 
in the height of summer, the little water left soon be¬ 
came very foul, resulting in a wholesale slaughter of 
fish of all kinds, amongst which the pike were con¬ 
spicuous victims. Hundreds of them, and many fine old 
warriors, shared this ignominious fate, since which pike 
fishing has naturally been a sorry game, and, without 
restocking, is, I fear, likely to continue so.— Red 
Palmer. 
Fen Waters (South Lincolnshire). —Very little 
change has to be reported in reference to angling 
prospects this week. A heavy snow fell towards the end 
of last week, and has had the effect of spoiling the ice 
