106 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
[February 11, 1893 
fortnight, my impression is that sport -with the rod ought 
to be fairly good, as the water has been in first-class 
Tolume, although at times cold, for fish running up 
during the last fortnight, that is since the ice broke up. 
It is of interest to note that, in relieving ice-bound 
ripe fish, clean ones were got among them, so that 
even then they must have been pushing up, bitterly 
cold as the water must have been. It is, however, an 
undoubted fact that the low temperature of the Spey 
from-so much snow water running down, does not give 
its angling a fair chance until a month or so after its 
opening, because, previous to then, the fish are apt to 
lie in the reaches covered by the Duke's miles of 
netting ; and when the nets go on the doom of these 
is sealed, or at least very few escape. As already 
stated, fair sport may be enjoyed should the weather 
here remain open to allow a good head of fish to push 
forward past the netting posts, to the angling reaches 
before the opening day. It is most regrettable that 
the success or failure of salmon angling on such a 
river as the Spey should be controlled by the Duke’s 
netsmen, for. until something is done in this matter, 
things must remain as they are. It is worthy of note 
that not for many years have so many fish been seen at 
work on the spawning beds as there are at present. 
This results from the ripe fish being kept off the redds 
by the prolonged frost, and means trouble for anglers 
w'ith the numerous kelts which will infest the river later 
than usual. Taken all over, the Spey usually fishes 
best in March and April.—J. M. 
Tay (Killin). —On the 6th, Mr. Bayley, two nice 
salmon, 211b. and 191b. On the 8th, Mr. Bayley, two, 
one 201b., one 191b. Mrs. Bayley, on the 6th, one, 221b. 
On the 8th, Mrs. Bayley, one, 201b. On the 6th, Mr. 
Midwood, three nice salmon, 291b., one 231b., one 191b. 
On the 7th, one of 231b. On the 8th, one of 181b. On 
the 7th, Mrs. Midwood, one, 241b. Dr. Lawton on the 
7th, one, 191b. On the 8th, one of 201b. Mr. Ferguson 
on the 8th. one, 221b. Mr. Olapham on the 8th, one of 
241b.—H. J. Maiset. 
Tay (Loch and River).— Although no fish of 
exceptional weight has been got. yet, as the weather 
and water conditions have been favourable, gratifying 
sport has been the rule. There is an abundant supply 
of fish in the loch, and, although many, from the ice and 
lowness of the water, must have long arrived, they 
look like newly-run fish. The heaviest fish yet got is 
351b., and perhaps the most successful have been 
Mrs. Richman, Glasgow, who had over 1001b. on 
the first two days, and Colonel Purdie and Mr. 
Purdie, Glasgow, who, in the week ending Feb. 4, 
landed twelve salmon of the aggregate of 2251b. 
The following takes have been made since our last: 
Kiver : Very good sport has been got on the Birnam 
Hotel water, the conditions being in everyway suitable. 
Admiral Walker had two salmon of 181b. and 241b. on the 
Murthley stretch, and Mr. Henry Douglas, Whitehill, 
two beaiitiful fish of 211b. and 221b. on the Stention por¬ 
tion. Rei^erve water. —Mr. Bayley, two of 211b. and 191b.; 
Mrs. Bayley, one of 211b. ; Dr. Ritchie Dickson, two of 
181b. and 241b.,- Mr. Michin, two of 161b. and 191b. ; Mr. 
Midwood, three very nice salmon of 291b., 231b., and 
191b. -. Mr. Aitken, Letterallan, one of 191b., and five fish 
of -341b.; Mr. Robson, keeper, a new run fish of 261b. 
Kenmore Hotel Water: Mr. Knight, two nice new run 
fish of 241b. and 251b. Lochay Hotel Water: Mr. W. P. 
Dunlop, Sydney, had a salmon of 181b., and Mr. Claude 
Hamilton, of Ayr, three beauties of 281b., 261b., and201b.; 
Col. Purdie, two of 181b. and 211b.: and Mr. Purdie, 
seven of 291b., 221b., 211b., two of 201b., 191b., and 161b. 
Tay (Perth).—The river has been too high and 
unsettled to ensure good sport; had it kept steadier 
better sport would have been got, as fish are plentiful. 
On Stobhall water. Col. Egerton killed a fish of 16^16. on 
Wednesday, and two on Monday, 201b. and 181b. Major 
Dundas and Mr. Kinloch killed a small fish on Bertha 
water. On Thursday, Mr. Panton killed one of 161b. on 
Meikleonr water ; and Col. Legh killed two on Stobhall. 
Admiral Walker had one of 181b. on the Birnam Hotel 
water, and one on Monday, 241b. Three fish were got 
on the Burnmouth water on Friday, and Mr. McIntosh, 
the keeper, had six on Taymount water. Mr. Reid had 
one of 261b. on Stanley water, and Mr. D. Douglas, one 
of 211b. on the Bieman Hotel water, and one on Monday 
221b. On Saturday, Mr. Fenton had one of 181b., on 
Stobhall ; and Col. San deman one of 251b., on Stanley 
water. On Monday, Dr. Fitt, London, fished the 
Luncartj' water, and killed a fish of 201b. Mr. McIntosh 
killed two, 201b. each, on Taymount, and one of 201b. 
was got on Burnmouth. (In Barehill water, Mr. J. Sher¬ 
wood, Liverpool, killed one, 201b. On Tuesday, Mr. 
Pearce, Cardiff, killed one of 101b. on Burnmouth. 
Tweed. —The fresh still continues, for which we on 
Tweedside are thankful, and once more the bonny 
Tweed rolls on in all its beauty to the sea. The thaw, 
which came on somewhat gradually, culminated in the 
ice—which had bound the river so long—breaking up on 
Wednesday of last week, and now neither is to be seen 
wherewith to tell the tale of the merry hours spent by 
both curlers and skaters on the frozen waters. It does 
not seem as if any great amount of injury has been done 
to the breeding grounds in the river, at least in the 
Kelso district. No doubt, however, damage to a certain 
extent must have occurred to both spawning beds and 
fish by the late severe weather, as in many of the 
shallower parts the ice was ground frozen, and this of 
itself cannot but have done much mischief to the ova 
of the earlier spawned out salmon. Had the 
fresh come all of a sudden, the destruction to 
the breeding grounds and to the breeding fish would have 
been tremendous, as the broken blocks of ice would have 
tom up the ova beds in a most destructive manner ; on 
the whole, however, the ice was lifted very clearly by the 
rising waters, and lessees and proprietors of salmon 
angling waters have therefore much to be thankful for. 
Spawning proceeds apace, and hundreds of fish are busy 
depositing their ova in all the various districts of the 
river. At Kelso Bridge, since Friday week, great 
numbers of spawners were to be seen hard at work, 
while the number of fish that were seen “ shooting the 
cauld at the “ Back Bullers ” on Sunday was something 
incredible—nearly all seemingly bent on making their 
way to the upper spawning grounds. A good many 
clean-run fish were also observed; and as several were 
got in the nets w-hen the recent operations were going 
on for acquiring the ova for foreign exportation, 
anglers are therefore in expectation of a pull or two once 
the angling season sets in. Although several fish have 
been observed with marks of the fungoid disease on 
them, it is said that the pestilence is not at present very 
virulent. I have it, only on hearsay, however, that the 
poachers in the vicinity of Kelso have been “ in it ” 
recently, a very large haul having, it is rumoured, been 
made between Sunday night and Monday morning. And, 
again, it is whispered that one extraordinarily large fish 
— about 601b. or thereaway—had fallen a prey to these 
river depredators. The above may or may not be true, 
but that poaching does exist cannot be doubted. A 
rattling good flood would be of much benefit just now, 
as it would cause a run of clean spring fish, and also 
allow of those spawned out to proceed to the sea, there 
to recuperate, and thence again return to the river. 
Until Wednesday last this river has been running at a 
very low ebb, but heavy rain on Tuesday night brought 
about a much-needed change, and the Tweedometer at 
Kelso Bridge, on Wednesday, registered two feet of 
flood water. During the past three weeks the amount 
of spawning salmon on the redds on all parts of the 
river has been something enormous, while in the Kelso 
district it has been quite unprecedented. After the 
break-up of the ice on the river, the fish came to the 
upper reaches in shoals, and as long as there was water 
enough to carry them over the caulds, they forged ahead 
to the upper and higher districts, and it therefore 
stands to reason that the river, from top to bottom 
where there is any spawning ground at all—must have 
received a very grand supply of spawning fish this 
season. The season, too, has been a wonderfully good 
one for the laying down of the ova, and one most remark¬ 
able feature regarding the breeding fish, has been their 
large size—fish computed to be of from 301b. up to 401b., 
and even heavier, having, it is said, been seen running 
the various caulds in many parts of the river. As can 
be well imagined, the poaching fraternity have not been 
idle, and large hauls of spawned-out and spawning fish 
have fallen victims to the “ cleek,” or other illegal 
instrument. Since the opening of the rod angling 
season on the 1st., the conditions have not been favour¬ 
able for angling purposes, and the above-mentioned 
flood, which has come most opportunely, will have done 
an immense amount of good, inasmuch as it will have 
allowed of a fresh run of clean fish from the sea, as well 
as giving an opportunity of taking down kelts and 
diseased salmon to the tidal waters, there again to 
recuperate, and be able once more to return to the river, 
should they escape the nets. That there were a con¬ 
siderable number of clean fish in the river some time 
ago is well known, as several were brought to shore 
during the netting operations for ova for transmission 
abroad, which were going on a month ago, just above 
Kelso Bridge, and now this rise cannot but have been 
the means of stocking, to a considerable extent, the 
various rod angling waters all over the river. The 
weather is mild and genial for the month, and 
Waltonians are eagerly awaiting the time when the 
weather and water conditions will permit of them again 
opening the campaign for another season.— Maxwheel. 
Irish Reports. 
Ballinderry.—The river is pretty high and dis¬ 
coloured. On the lower tributaries some pike were killed 
laskweek. The bailiffs are getting more vigilant, but 
no poachers have been caught this season. The 
Loughry tributary—a splendid trout stream, recently 
rented to an English gentleman, Mr. Charles H. I/ennon 
wiU soon be on the market I hear, through the regretted 
death of the late owner Colonel J. E. C. C. Lindsay, 
D.G., and the fact that the present owner will notreside 
at Loughry, but will let it if possible. 
Bundrowes. — The weather of the past week was 
very boisterous and wet, and the river bank high, still 
there was a few places fishable ; and on Wednesday, 
the 1st inst., Mr. M. Gallaher hooked, and, after forty 
minutes very exciting sport, landed the first fish of the 
season, a beautiful clean run salmon of 111b. ^ This was 
followed on Saturday, by Mr. J. McGloin, with one of 
lOJlb. An unusually large number of salmon for this 
time of the year are running up. The salmon angling 
on Lough Melvin opened on the Ist inst., and, owing to 
the big run of fish several gentlemen are making 
arrangements to fish it this week and next.—M. Rogan 
AND Sons. 
Lagan (co. Antrim). —Angling opened the 1st inst. 
on this river. Last Friday two members of the North¬ 
east Ulster club had eleven trout, the heaviest of which 
weighed 21b. It should have weighed more according to 
its size. It was in rather poor condition. About 6000 
perch have been turned into the Lagan in the past week 
under the skilful management of Mr. F. J. Kennedy, 
president of the N. E. U. A. C. Surely in the coming 
“coarse fishing” period, the Lagan will be a happy 
hunting ground for perch fishers. A keeper will shortly 
be appointed by this club, the latest one in the north. 
Lough Currane CWaterville, co. Kerry).— 
The rod-fishing opened on Feb. 1 under very unfavour¬ 
able circumstances. On the first day a dozen boats 
were out, but only two salmon were had. Those were 
caught by Colonel F. Rogers, who was on the water for 
a few hours only. Since then the weather has got from 
bad to worse, and angling is practically suspended for 
the past few days. On Feb. 2 W. Crowley had a salmon, 
81b., and M. Brennan, one, 13Jlb. On Monday, on 
Waterville river, Dan Leary, fishing for Colonel T. 
Stoughton, caught a fine fresh-run salmon, weight not 
known at time of writing.—Teos. J. Dennehy. 
Moy and Lakes (Ballina).— Since last report rain 
has fallen here ; consequently, the river is in a disturbed 
state and unfit for salmon fishing. Trout anglers on the 
Bunrie and Lower Moy are doing fairly well with sea 
trout. The best basket that I have heard of was one of 
thirty-eight fish; I did not ascertain the weight. The 
run of spring salmon to the weirs still holds good.— 
Frank Hearns. 
Shannon and Lough. Derg (Killaloe). — An 
angry river, floods tearing through the sluice gates and 
arches of the bridge, and every one of our salmon beats, 
which had been in such splendid trim ten days ago, are 
to-day unfishable. I do not think that a line can be wet 
here before a fortnight at the least. From the up-river 
stations, I learn that sport has also received a check in 
consequence of the floods. At Athlone on the opening 
day, four springers were landed. Fish of extraordinary 
size are ascending in considerable numbers, so that 
sport among the big springers may be looked on as a 
certainty byand-bye.—S. J. Hurley. 
Shannon iCastleconnell).— The fishing season at 
this favourite resort opened on Feb. 1 with a very 
satisfactory result. The fishermen on the Hermitage 
and Newgarden waters had scarcely been an hour on 
their different beats when their “ old Castleconnell 
rods ” were called upon once more to perform a duty 
which they did not resent, notwithstanding that this 
was their first day after a three months rest—in landing 
respectively two fresh run salmon of 24ilb. and 191b. 
Both fish were in splendid condition, and afforded 
capital sport. The water is in grand form, and should 
it continue so, February should prove an exceptionally 
good month. Weather very mild, and has been so all 
through the winter. The Doonass, Hermitage, Prospect, 
Landscape, Woodlands, Summerhill, and De Burghs 
waters, Erinagh and Worldsend fisheries have aU been let 
for different periods of 1893. Amongst those out to-day 
were Capt. C. Vansittart, Mr. J. Enright, and the 
fishermen on Landscape (Mr. R. Phelps's); Prospect 
(Mrs. Enright’s) ; Newgarden (Mrs. Enright’s); Hermi¬ 
tage (Mr. W. C. Jones’); Woodlands (Capt. Bayley’s); 
S. Hill and De Burghs (Mr. Greenhill’s) : Erinagh and 
World’s End (Capt. Vansittart’s). 
Suir and Tributaries. — The salmon and trout 
fishing opened here on Wednesday, the 1st inst. For the 
first three or four days the river was too flooded for rod 
fishing, and only a few nets could venture out on the 
fresh water. Those few, however, did very well, getting 
some good hauls of fish, some of which weighed up to 
301b. The river is rapidly clearing, and we hear of 
two fish already being captured by the rod. Mr. 
Edward Dalton, on his wsters at Ballygriffin, got one of 
201b. on Saturday, and Mr. Jeremiah Gearon one also 
of 201b. on Lord Donoughmore’s waters on Monday. 
Should the fine weather only continue we hope to be 
able to give a good report of sport next week. General 
Dashwood and his brother. Captain Dashwood, has 
taken the Molough and Barnard waters, where he had 
such good sport last year. Mr. Deacon has returned 
to his old quarters at Ardfinan. Lord Dononghmore 
and friends are to thoroughly thrash the Knocklofty 
and Newcastle waters, while Lord Ashtown is sparing 
neither trouble nor expense in improving his waters, 
laying down concrete blocks and boulders of rock 
whenever available, to afford shelter for the salmon 
and protection against poachers’ nets. — Richard 
Bradford. _ 
The Prizes for the open angling competition now 
proceeding, the fish for which must be caught in the 
Thames or Lea, and registered each Sunday evening till 
March 12, at the Imperial Hotel, Southwark-street, 
Blackfriars, have been subscribed by the following gen¬ 
tlemen ; First prize, a sterling silver cup, value 
5 guineas, is presented by Messrs. John Osborne (Mild- 
may), H. Thompson (Havelock), Rawlings Limited, A. 
Brooks (Caxtonians), each of whom subscribe 1 guinea. 
The second prize, a roach pole, is presented by Mr. F. E. 
Longley. 
The Piscatorial Society. — A very successful 
smoking concert took place on the evening of Wednes¬ 
day last, in the Piscatorial Salon at the Holborn 
Restaurant, and there was a very large attendance of 
members and visitors. The programme had been 
arranged by Mr. R. S. Fennings as its chairman, but he 
was unable to attend, which was much regretted. Mr. 
R. E. Booker took his place, and ably discharged the 
duties, with Mr. T. N. Harrisson in the vice-chair. There 
was a splendid selection of vocal and instrumental 
music, and, all being exquisitely rendered, it is difficult 
to praise one more than another. In the instrumental 
portion Mr. W. Fennings contributed solos on the 
violoncello; Mr. R. Fennings on the violin ; Mr. H. H. 
Brown on the flute : Mr. Foghill on the cornet, and Mr. 
A. Sinclair Mantell at the pianoforte. Mr. Edward 
Foreman, one of the prominent fishing members, showed 
a large tray of magnificent pike, the largest weighing 
141b., caught by him that day in some private water in 
the northern suburbs of London, which were greatly 
admired. Altogether a very pleasant and enjoyable 
evening was spent in connection with this increasingly 
prosperous society. 
