SUPPLEMENT TO THE FISHING GAZETTE 
SATURDAY. JANUARY 7 , 1893 . 
NOTES FOR CLUB ANGLERS. 
Matters are very quiet just now with club anglers on 
account of the unusual severity of the weather, and 
from what I can glean very little water now remains 
open. The Lea, the Arun, and the Stour are alike ice¬ 
bound, and skating has commenced on the Thame.s. 
Fishing is at a standstill in the tidal waters, and the 
daily papers are talking about roasting an ox on the ice 
at Richmond and Twickenham I As some slight com¬ 
pensation to their feelings, Thames tidal anglers will, 
of course, be invited to the feed. Under the circiim- 
stances, however, the best thing the angler can do is to 
devote his spare time to the inspection of his tackle pre- 
parato^ to making some big bags when the ice shall 
have disappeared. Now is the time, too, for club con¬ 
certs and readings, and, although frost may reign 
supreme by the river bank, it will have very little 
influence round the cheery club-room Are, where, no 
doubt, many a good story will be related of doughty 
deeds done in the past, and many a pleasant evening 
passed. Secretaries are for ever grumbling of the poor 
and late attendances made; but one would think that 
anglers would delight to resort to some of the snug club- 
rooms and participate in discussions piscatorial, or else 
reach down some volume of angling literature, and over 
the weed and a mug of nut brown ale read of the doings 
of others. But I must confess that, although I have 
been in many club-rooms, I have met with few anglers 
engaged in a book. Not that there was no book to 
engage in. In the club case were many volumes, and 
frequently old and interesting files of the Fishing Gazette. 
Why the bookcase should be looked upon as an orna¬ 
ment, like the specimen fish, I am at a loss to under¬ 
stand; and I would, therefore, especially at this period 
of the year, urge a wider dissemination of angling litera¬ 
ture in the club-room, and also recommend the purchase, 
where funds will permit, of an additional stock of books. 
With regard to the draft of the proposed new fishery 
bye-laws for the Thames I have not much to say, as the 
Editor of the Fishing Gazette has outspokenly expressed 
what must be the views of all sportsmanlike anglers in 
the matter. I should be wanting, however, if I did not 
say what an unfortunate thing it is that no heed has been 
taken of the sizes of fish and the close season for coarse 
fish. Fancy baiting with undersized chub I This is 
truly absurd. Did I not hear a conservator get up at 
the annual dinner of the T.A.P.S. and say “ he hoped 
the new bye-laws would do away with the taking of 
undersized fish? ’ And yet we have it proposed to 
utilise chub fry in the form of live bait. Considering 
that we anglers wish to foster the chub, splendid 
fellows that they are for giving sport. We have 
four live baits — roach, dace, bleak, and gudgeon — 
which, I believe, the most fastidious angler is content 
with. Touching the live-bait question again, it appears 
that an angler will be allowed to have as many sizeable 
baits as he likes, but only twenty unsizeable fish in his 
possession at a time. The proposed abolition of the gaff is 
truly absurd, but I have every reason to know that this 
suggestion will not be carried into effect. I have only a 
word or two more to add, and that is to say that the pro¬ 
posed abolition of trailing by the conservators has heen 
received with the liveliest satisfaction by the anglers, 
who, however, would also like to hear that some sugges¬ 
tion had been introduced into the draft with reference 
to the furious way in which the steam launches are 
allowed to plough up the water. To see the danger the 
punt anglers are often placed in hy these reckless “river 
reamers” is truly alarming; whilst on the other hand 
the quantity of fish spawn which is annually ruined as 
a result of their exploits, must be something enormous. 
.Side by side with the stoppage of trailing, the con¬ 
servators might surely have introduced a measure to 
regulate the better conduct of the steam launch. It is 
the “ Thames terror ” in the summer months. 
A FRIEND of mine who has been chubbing up the 
Thames this frosty weather, in concluding a letter to me, 
giving an account of his excursion, says he never saw 
the chub so well on. He adds : “ They flopped the float 
down bang ! ” What an ideal bite. 
I AM pleased to be able to announce that the Great 
Western Railway Company have just granted cheap 
fares to anglers from Acton, Ealing, and Castle Hill to 
the up river stations as far as Moulsford. 
Eastbourne is very gay just now, and, according to 
the World, this charming seaside resort was never so 
full of visitors at this season of the year before. The 
weather has, however, been terribly cold, and, although 
bright and bracing, it was evident, from the crowded 
state of the Parade on Wednesday, that many of the 
holiday makers had hitherto been content to 
watch the sea from the grand establishments 
which command such an exquisite view in this town. 
But Wednesday was as balmy as a spring day, 
and the sea was almost as calm as a lake. The 
sun shone out brilliantly, and impelled many of the fair 
sex to display a pretty parasol, not that it was wanted, 
but because it was “ the very latest.” Pleasure-boats 
put off, and the climb to Beacby Head was pleasant 
in the extreme, though top coats and wraps could 
easily have been dispensed with. 
But with the strong and healthy, and people not afraid 
of Jack Frost, skating has [formed the chief item of 
amusement in the programme at Eastbourne. Every 
person of this description is going skating. “ The 
Crumbles ” is the resort of the day. The Crumbles is 
comprised in a number of “ lakes ” situated away down 
Seaside-road. Everyone is mad on the Crumbles. If 
you are not an invalid and don’t visit the Crumbles you 
are looked upon as being demented. The “ Butcher, the 
baker, and the candlestick maker” are all there. Sir 
John Jones and the Rev. So and So all go to the 
Crumbles. All the Eastbourne ’buses run to the 
Crumbles. The town crier delivers quite a lecture 
with regard to the delights of the Crumbles. 
Of course, I went to the Crumbles, and, on returning, 
stopped to gaze upon a large-sized horse-pond by the 
road side, for the reeds which waved in the breeze some¬ 
how or the other set me thinking what a nice little shop 
it looked for a jack. Little did I think “that a fell 
tyrant of the watery plain” had once existed there, but, 
later on, I heard on piscatorial authority that a summer 
or two ago a jack had been taken there under extraor¬ 
dinary circumstances. The proprietor of an hostelry 
had been very much exercised over the mysterious dis¬ 
appearance of his ducklings. The brood grew less by 
one each day. A London angler learned of this, whilst 
participating in refreshments, and determined to keep a 
watch on the pond. Arriving there early next morning he 
was in time to seethe old lady marshal her ducklings for 
a swim. Almost the next moment there was a swirl on 
the surface of the water, and the cruel jaws of a jack 
closed over the remains of one of the hapless ducklings. 
This was enough for the angler, and, though he was 
considerably derided by both small and large boys, 
three days afterwards, with a live dace on snap tackle, 
he ra,n the duckling devourer, and put an end to his 
nefarious operations for ever. The fish, a long and 
hungry-looking brute, weighed 71b., and how he came in 
the horse-pond is a mystery to this day, as, when the 
water was run off, not another scale could be found. 
When anglers venture out in such weather as we are 
now being treated to, they certainly deserve well of 
success. It is nothing new now to hear of fishermen 
who have had the rings on the rod blocked with ice, and 
the linefropn to it. Indeed, it is just on the cards that 
the punt, like the steamer which recently arrived at an 
American port, will reach the shore looking as if it had 
come from the Arctic regions, with the beer bottle in¬ 
closed in a coating of ice, and icicles adhering to the 
enthusiast’s beard and moustache. This week, Mr. 
Charles Newbury, of the New Albions, has faced Jack 
Frost, and, I am pleased to say, made a really splendid 
bag of roach and chub up the 'Thames, in spite of the 
fact that ice frequently formed on his rod and line. In 
three hours he took twenty chub, weighing 301h. (largest 
fish 31b.), and a dozen roach, averaging Jib. a piece. Mr. 
Newbury is to be justly complimented on such a 
performance. _ 
The competition for a second silver cup and other 
prizes has commenced, last Sunday witnessing the first 
weigh in ; but, owing to the frozen condition of both 
Thames and Lea, there was little work for the clerk of 
the scales. Points were, however, obtained by Messrs. 
R. Morris and J. Wheelhouse. As before, the weighing- 
in takes place at the Imperial Hotel, Sonthwark-street. 
“ The Still Alarm ; or, a Day amongst the Jack,” 
was on the boards at the Epsom Angling Club on 
Monday night. Mr. G. H. Howard sustained the lead¬ 
ing character, and was frequently applauded. The 
paper was much enjoyed, and when the alarum went off 
no accidents happened, though the members of the 
Epsom Fire Brigade held themselves in readiness for the 
“ still alarm.’’ 
Goosequill. 
Sh.vnnon Prospects. —For the information of 
English sportsmen who have already rented waters on 
the Shannon for the coming season, as well as those who 
may be contemplating doing their spring fishing on this 
celebrated river, it affords me great pleasure to state 
that, in my opinion, the early months of spring—Febru¬ 
ary and March—will be unusually good for sport among 
the big fish. As most anglers who know the Shannon 
are aware, the spring fishing, both at Killaloe and Castle 
Connell, depends altogether on the height of the water. 
Should the river be in flood the chances of sport are 
very alight indeed, but if, on the other hand, the water 
he in good trim, then, indeed the salmon fisher may 
reckon on bringing to bank and boat many giants of the 
pools and rapids. From present appearances, and we 
are only about three weeks from the opening day—Feb. 1 
—I incline to think that fishermen will have a splendid 
chance of making big scores next spring, for this reason, 
that the river is now very low for the time of the year, 
and as a very severe frost has set in and no likelihood 
of any rain falling for some time. Last spi-ing the river 
had been in full flood all the time, but, all the same, 
several very heavy fisli were captured, some of them 
.381b., 3711)., and even 42Jlb. The present spawning 
season is proceeding very satisfactorily. All the big 
brown and gillaroo trout have completed their opera¬ 
tions in the numerous splendid tributaries falling into 
Lough Derg, and the salmon are still busy on their 
favourite gravelly beds. There has been no snow to 
speak of, so that they have not been sickened with the 
broth, which retards their depositing the ova. - S. J. 
Hurley. 
Ipcovincial Botes 
FROM BIRMINGHAM AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishirtg Gazette. 
The Vine Unity Society, held at the Vine Inn, Carver- 
street, held a smoking concert on Tuesday evening last, 
to inaugurate the opening night of the year, and also to 
relieve the monotony of the present angling depression, 
through the severe frost. The concert was well attended, 
and some first-class singing and music was rendered by 
the members and their friends. 
The frost in the midlands still holds on, and the whole 
of our rivers, pools, and canals are frozen over, and 
skating instead of fishing is the order of the day. The 
ice is reported to be of great thickness. Fishing 
prospects seem very remote for some time to come, so 
the best thing we can do under the circumstances is to 
look to our tackle and make preparations for the future, 
when the frost and snow has wished us good-bye. 
FROM FEN DISTRICT (LINCOLNSHIRE). 
To the Editor of the Fislnyig Gazette. 
The frost continues very severe, and angling is alto¬ 
gether out of the question. The Forty-foot is still 
frozen over, and there is a splendid stretch of ice from 
Bourne to Boston, a distance of twenty-six miles. 
Hundreds of Fen people have skated the whole distance, 
and while sauntering along myself the other day, I ob¬ 
served several large and dangerous holes in the ice. Upon 
inquiry I was informed that they had been made for the 
purpose of obtaining water for the stock. My informant, 
who was a very loquacious individual, in reply to my 
questions, went on to say that he had seen people fish¬ 
ing through these holes, and that one angler had taken a 
particularly fine lot of roach. He also added, I 
suppose he thought for my edification, that the fish were 
very easy to catch when the river was frozen over, and 
that he had known stones of them, especially eels, to be 
taken through holes made in the ice. Before the snow¬ 
fall on Sunday the ice was as transparent as glass; so 
clear, in fact, that in skating along the fish could be seen 
beneath the surface. No serious accidents have been 
reported on the Forty-foot, though I hear that 
one or two persons have had narrow escapes. 
A party of four gentlemen were skating to Boston 
on Saturday, when two of their number fell through 
the ice near one of the bridges. Luckily, however, 
help was at hand, and they were speedily rescued. An 
old man named Rauby, residing on the North Forty- 
foot bank, was found dead on the river the other day. 
It is supposed that in going home at night, he slipped 
down the embankment and fractured his skull, as a 
doctor’s examination showed that death resulted from 
concussion of the brain and exposure. A singular 
accident has also occurred on the Witham. A flock of 
seventy sheep, belonging to Messrs. Ryan, of Boston, 
were being driven across the ice at Stixwould Ferry, as 
the boat was frozen up and could not be used. 'iVfien 
half way across, the animals clustered together, and the 
ice not being strong enough to bear their weight, broke, 
and seventeen of the sheep were drowned. The severe 
weather has driven large numbers of wildfowl into the 
fens and marshes, and as sportsmen have not been able 
to use the rod, many have been out with the gun. 
Excellent sport is reported, not only by punters, but by 
those who confine their sport to the shore, where nume¬ 
rous duck, wigeon, and snipe are met with in the 
creeks and eddies. At the time of writing (Wednesday 
evening), there .seemed no prospect of the frost breaking 
up, and unless there is a rapid change, the rivers will 
not be available for angling this week. 
FROM NORFOLK. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Every piece of water, still and tidal alike, in this 
locality, is frozen over, to the delight of the skater and 
the chagrin of the pike fisherman. The ice everywhere 
is in grand condition, the Broads, in nearly every case, 
being safe up to the very edge. The Yare is so thickly 
covered that a steam wherry tried to break it on Monday, 
but without success, and if the frost continues, as there 
is every prospect of its doing, we shall soon bo able to 
skate from Norwich to Yarmouth. 
FROM NOTTINGHAM. 
To the E.'itor cf the Fishing Gazette. 
The year for angling on the Weston and King’s Mills 
fisheries closed on the 1st inst,, and already several new 
tickets have been issued. The Nottingham Wellington 
Society are negociating with the lessee to secure a 
portion of the Weston reach, and a general meeting of 
members will be held at headquarters on Monday night 
next to discuss the matter. Weston yields the best fish 
during the winter months. The water is deep and 
sluggish, and just suited to the habits of bream and big 
roach. Chub and barbel swims are few and far between, 
these being the most prominent below King’s Mills 
weirs. 
All the canals and reservoirs are covered with ice, and 
anglers just now can do nothing better than pry into 
their fishing baskets for the purpose of overhauling their 
reels and tackle. 
