32 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
[January 11, 1893 
ostponed indefinitely, so that the avaUable funds may 
e utilised in endeavouring to recover compensation for 
the damage done to their fishery by the recent pollution 
of the Dane. This is a step in the right direction, and 
will meet with general approval by the Lancashire 
contingent of this society. The usual meetings are to 
be held fortnightly in 1893, the first being held on 
Jan. 7. The committee responsible for the arrange¬ 
ments in connection with the anglers’ dinner, to be held 
in Manchester on the 21st, would be glad if those 
intending to be present would apply for tickets imme¬ 
diately in order to prevent disappointment. The Merry 
Anglers, Manchester, have successfully concluded last 
year’s business; several items have prevented this being 
accomplished earlier. The year has been one of pro¬ 
gress, and the members are to be heartily congratulated 
on their present position after the trying ordeal of an 
extensive programme. At the annual meeting, held a 
few days ago, the date of their annual dinner was fixed 
for Jan. 25, and the officers for the ensuing year were 
elected as follows:—President, Mr. Geo. Yates ; vice- 
president, Mr. B. Marshall; treasurer, Mr. G. Thompson; 
secretary, Mr. T. Mass; club representative, Mr. Geo, 
Yates, and a committee of management consisting of 
Messrs. H. Perks, T. Pierce, T. Worrall, H. Bancroft, 
and W. Thicket. The president takes two first prizes 
out of the numerous list offered during the past year. 
The watchers engaged by the Worsley Canal Fishery 
Board were entertained at the Golden Lion, Eccles, 
on the 7th. The success of the dinner was 
somewhat interfered with by the unavoidable absence of 
a few of the expected ones. Nevertheless, a most 
excellently-prepared repast was done ample justice to, 
the cooking of Mrs. Fiay giving every satisfaction. 
Owing to the great distance many of the guests had to 
go, the proceedings terminated somewhat early. The 
singing of Mr. B. J. Pickering largely contributed to 
the musical part of the evening. The amount of mature 
fish destroyed during the present frost is a most unfor¬ 
tunate item, but, of course, the necessity of the'canal being 
kept open for navigation is paramount, and the interests 
of anglers must naturally be a second thought. There is 
this consolation, that when we see roach of upwards of 
a pound, and bream turning the scale at 21b., we know 
of a certainty that large fish are still to be found in 
hese waters. 
The Brookfield Angling Society has just secured about 
six miles of the Peak Forest Canal, between Marple and 
Bnxton Road Wharf at Macclesfield. It is proposed to 
stock the water with coarse fish, and strictly to observe 
the close season. The charge of Is. and 2s. per season 
and 4d. per day is a low price unless the support ac¬ 
corded be very generous in numbers. Canal preserva¬ 
tion appears to be quite the correct thing about here, 
and surely, after this, we shall not be told that the 
working man is not catered for. We have now three 
distinct canal undertakings within a few miles of Man¬ 
chester. _____ 
FROM MONTGOMERYSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Salmon-fishing will recommence on Feb. 2, but it is 
almost hoping against hope to expect any improvement 
in it as far as the Upper Severn and its tributaries are 
concerned. The river watchers report that the autumn 
was most favourable for the migration of salmon to the 
upper districts for the purpose of spawning, as there was 
a succession of freshes in all the rivers at the time when 
most needed, so that the prospects are very good as far 
as the future supply of salmon is concerned. But it is a 
very sore subject with the Upper riparian proprietors, 
that, in spite of deficient passes and other obstacles in 
their progress, the fish will make their way to the upper 
districts at that time of year, and they argue that the 
salmon would also be as plentiful then at other seasons 
of the year were they allowed a chance to ascend. But 
as long as the lower parts of the Severn are over fished, 
as they are at present, so long will the scarcity of fresh- 
run salmon continue in the upper waters, and the resi¬ 
dents there have at last lost all faith in the Severn 
Fishery Board, although some time ago very strenuous 
efforts were made by several of the Upper conservators 
to remedy the present most unsatisfactory state of 
affairs, but all the good done at one meeting of the 
hoard was undone at the next, so that all those well- 
meant efforts were futile, and matters remained as they 
were, and appear only too likely to continue so. unless 
the Upper conservators can command a majority on the 
board, which it appears as if at present they cannot do 
BO, all their efforts to benefit these districts resulting in 
failure, the only change they have succeeded in making 
being the inerease in the trout licences from Is. to 2s. 
each, and even this might be reversed at the next 
meeting of the board, which will take place in a few 
days. The object of this increased charge is to enable 
the board to employ a larger staff of watchers in the 
district, and which, as all acquainted with the neigh¬ 
bourhood know, has long been urgently required. 
FROM NORFOLK. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
During the last few days we have had quite a change 
in the weather, and though the thermometer has not 
stood very high above freezing point, except just about 
midday, yet the rivers are getting clear of ice, and it is 
to be hoped that they will soon be in something like 
condition for pike fishing in a few days. 
The broads are still covered with decaying ice, and it 
will be quite a week before they are fishable. 
Pike fishermen are eagerly looking forward to again 
beinpr out after their prey, this part of the season being 
considered by most of our local anglers to be by far the 
most remunerative. 
FROM NOTTINGHAM, 
To the Elitor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Angling pursuits have been possible since Monday, 
and a number of pent-up fishermen have been out after 
chub. On Sunday night a thaw set in, and as the snow 
went very gradually, the river on Wednesday contained 
very little extra water. At Wilford, on Tuesday, one 
of the subscribers killed a splendid lot of chub with 
greaves, and on Wednesday nine were got in the field 
below Colwick weir. The fish also accepted the cock- 
spur worm somewhat freely in the nooks and eddies, 
and as soon as the “ snow broth ” disappears sport will 
be good all round. The ice is leaving the backwaters, 
and no doubt the pike contingent will be glad when they 
resume their sport amongst the fish. 
A special meeting of the Nottingham Wellington 
Angling Society was held at headquarters, the Wel¬ 
lington Hotel, Station-street, on Monday night, for 
the purpose of considering a proposition made by 
Mr. T. Wood, the lessee of the King’s Mills and 
Weston-on-Trent fisheries, for acquiring a portion of 
the waters rented by that gentleman from Lord 
Donington. Mr. H. Gaskell, the president of the society, 
was in the chair, and the attendance of members was 
considered satisfactory. The chairman briefly explained 
his interview with Mr. Wood, who was willing to let the 
society that portion of his fishery commencing with the 
ferry at Weston, and extending upwards to the limit of 
his waters. Whilst thanking Mr. Wood for his offer, 
the society begged respectfully to decline it. It was 
next explained that the society had taken action with 
regard to securing the Thrumpton waters from Lady 
Byron, but these may possibly soon be closed to 
the gentlemen who already hold them. It had been 
stated that those gentlemen intended giving up the 
waters, and therefore the Wellingtonians felt they 
must be on the alert. An interesting discussion 
ensued, and, as an outcome, efforts are to be made 
the Shardlow Fishery from Lord Donington. It was 
pointed out that this water might, with care and atten¬ 
tion, be made one of the best reaches on the river for 
all-round angling. Here it was that the late celebrated 
Mr. Bailey so greatly distinguished himself in barbelling, 
and since his decease tremendous hauls of fish have been 
made by such experts as Mr. John Heaker (Old Foss- 
dyke), Mr. T. Burgoyne, Mr. Geo. Bates, Mr. A. West, 
and Mr. W. H. Leek, of Nottingham. Last season the 
water was hadly poached and possibly “ skull-dragged ” 
by people holding tickets from taverns in the district, 
and there is little doubt that Lord Donington was kept 
in ignorance of these facts, besides being unaware of 
Sunday fishing being indulged in. The meeting ap¬ 
pointed the president, Mr. Horton (treasurer), and Mr. 
Spray (hon. sec.) to wait upon his lordship with a view 
to taking over the fishery on behalf of the society. The 
society still holds the Barton length of the Trent, and, 
being handy to Nottingham, the members find it useful 
for a run out. 
The large pike (2^1b.), recently caught in private 
waters by Mr. J. Tomlinson, a member of the society in 
question, has been set up, and it certainly looks first- 
rate. One striking characteristic is its very small head. 
A few days following the capture I notified that when it 
was opened a tench of nearly 51h. was taken out of its 
stomach. _ 
FROM SHROPSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
At the next meeting of the Severn Board of Conserva¬ 
tors, to be held at Birmingham on the 19th inst., one 
or two matters of great import to Shropshire and 
Montgomeryshire Anglers are down on the agenda for 
discussion. The most important business perhaps is the 
question of increasing the licence fee for rod and line 
trout fishing, and the chairman, Mr. J. Willis Bund, is 
down to move the following resolution, which has 
already passed the committee : “ That the licence duty 
levyable on rods and lines used for fishing for trout in 
the Severn Fishery District be varied, and that the 
amount of the licence duty for each and every rod and 
line for fishing for trout, to bo used in such part of the 
district as lies within the counties of Salop, Mont¬ 
gomery, and Denbigh, shall be the sum of 23., and to 
be used in the remainder of the district, the sum of Is.” 
This means, practically, that anglers in and above 
Shropshire will have to pay fls. per annum for the 
right of fishing for trout, instead of Is., as formerly, 
while in the lower waters the amount payable 
will be as heretofore. Few anglers will object to 
pay the additional amount, which, after all, is but 
very nominal, but there is a pretty general feeling 
that the board should bind itself to utilise the additional 
funds for the benefit of the anglers from whom it will be 
derived, and not added to the finances of the board, and 
used for the general benefit of the river. Ironbridge 
anglers do not genera'ly favour the pronosal, inasmuch 
as their benefit will not be great, for the reason that 
they are for the most part bottom fishers, and, even if 
they would, have not the facilities for trout fishing that 
are afforded their more fortunate brethren above. As 
regards the best means of disbursing the extra revenue, 
there will doubtless be a conflicting opinion, but among 
the best suggestions put forward, are those for re-stock- 
ing and protecting the river. There is a great need for 
additional water bailiffs in the Upper Severn districts, 
for, under the present circumstances, the one or two 
bailiffs, whose beat extends over many miles of water, 
are totally unable to protect the water from the ravages 
of the poacher. 
Another matter for discussion is a proposal to increase 
the jurisdiction of the board, and a member for Mont¬ 
gomeryshire is down to move : “ That the provisions of 
the Fresh-water Fisheries Act extend from the junction 
of the Verniew and Severn to the source of the Severn.” 
Hitherto the board have not had the control of these 
waters, except so far as the trout and salmon fisheries are 
concerned. 
The representatives of the various counties interested 
in the Severn fisheries upon the Executive and Pollution 
Committee of the Board of Conservators is as follows : 
Gloucestershire: Capt. W. B. Marling, and Messrs. T. 
Cadle, M. F. Carter, G. W. Keeling, J. Miller, Trevor, 
Powell, and Walter Comely. A'V^oreestershire: Messrs. 
C. H. Krbeck, B. Danks, R. P. Hill, J. Lloyd Bozward, 
T. Southall, and Major W. C. Hill. Staffordshire : Mr. 
Henry Smith. Shropshire : Sir C. H. Rouse-Broughton, 
and Messrs. R. E. Anstice, H. H. Hughes, and H. 
Mostyn Owen. Montgomeryshire : Capt. Mytton, and 
Messrs. Edmund Buckley, A. Ford, Geo. Kempster, and 
Edward Elwell. Herefordshire: Mr. R. Hartington. 
Radnorshire and Denbighshire: Sir Herbert E. F. 
Lewis. Representative member : One vacancy. 
The members of the St. Michael’s Angling Association, 
which has been recently formed at Shrewsbury, and 
which has for its first president H. D. Greene, Esq., M.P. 
for the borough, held a prize distribution and supper 
at their club-house, last week. Enthusiasm was not 
lacking, and the evening’s programme was productive 
of great enjoyment to all concerned, toasts and songs 
being received with acclamation. The following con¬ 
tributed to the harmony of the proceedings: Messrs. 
Shackleton, E. Andrews, C. Tomkinson, G. Phillips, J. 
Turner, W. Brookfield, J. Wall, and J. Burroughs. The 
prize winners were Mr Phillips and Mr. Burroughs. 
FROM IRELAND. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
KERRY.—The weather has been very rainy since last 
notes. This had the effect of flooding all the rivers, 
and nearly all the spent fish have cleared out to sea, 
except those that remain for a time in the lakes on their 
way out. 
'The reports to hand from all sides agree that the 
spawning season was satisfactory on the whole. The 
salmon are reported to have been more numerous on 
most of the spawning grounds than they were in 1891, 
and poachers have done but little harm, comparatively 
speaking. Heavy floods prevented those fellows during 
most of the time from carrying on their operations. 
Spawning being practically over on the Cnmmeragh, 
the principal spawning ground in the Waterville district, 
the constabulary men who were stationed there (have 
returned to their respective stations. The constabulary 
render valuable aid here during every spawning season, 
and only for their presence incalculable destruction 
would be committed amongst the spawning salmon. 
On the Inny only a few salmon remain on the beds. 
Those are the latest fish that came up la.st year. Poach¬ 
ing was very prevalent during the spawning season, and 
as the river is only partially and indifferently protected, 
it is surmised that great havoc w'as wrought amongst 
the spawning fish. 
I am glad to he able to state that no poaching has 
been reported on the river Owreagh during the spawning 
time, now happily ended there. This, indeed, is a 
matter for congratulation, especially tor those anglers 
who annually make Waterville Lake their scene of 
operations. 
This state of affairs on the Owreagh has been very 
unusual, if not unheard of, for it is well known that this 
water used to be up to the spawning season just ended 
a favourite hunting ground of the poaching fraternity. 
On the Ahatubrid river only a few salmon and sea 
trout came up to spawn, but this water, except in time 
of flood, is only a mere rivulet. It, however, has a few 
deep pools. A young man was prosecuted recently at 
the Cahirciveen Petty Sessions for alleged poaching on 
this stream, and was fined 10s. It appears a passing 
police patrol were attracted by a light on the water, 
and proceeding in its direction they found the defen¬ 
dant with a shovel in his hand. A young boy was with 
him holding a lighted torch. The latter was also pro¬ 
secuted, but was let off with a caution. It must, indeed, 
be an easy thing to kill fish in this shallow stream when 
no other implement is needed by the poacher than an 
ordinary shovel. However, I believe there are not many 
salmon or trout there to kill, as years of unlimited 
poaching have virtually wiped them out. Another case of 
poaching comes from the Behy in the Rossbeigh district. 
It was heard at the Killorglin Petty Sessions on last 
Friday, but I did not learn the result. It appears 
Sergeant McBirney and Constable Scanlon, of the 
Glenbeigh station, approached a body of poachers un¬ 
observed, or rather surprised them. The latter fled, 
but one of their number was captured, after a hot 
pursuit, by Constable Scanlon. He resisted arrest, and 
assaulted the constable, and probably is now ruminating 
over the foolishness of his conduct within the walls of 
the county gaol. 
The sea-fishing, which has been suspended recently, 
in consequence of adverse weather, has been resumed 
at several points along the Kerry coast. 
At Portmagee, the hake fishing is being prosecuted 
with much success, and I also learn that this kind of 
fishing is affording much employment in the Ballybog 
district. 
Very little hand-lining has heen practised anywhere, 
and the sport obtained by parties out has been meagre. 
Adverting to the sea-fishing of 1892, it may be said that 
it has been generally disappointing. 
In the Dingle district the spring and autumn mackerel 
fishing was confined to the local boats, and the takes 
were below the average. Prices, too, were at a low 
figure throughout. Many of the Dingle fishermen use 
