116 
THE EISHING GAZETTE 
[Eebrtjart 18, 1893 
BEADING DISTRICT ANGLING ASSOCIATION. 
Thi.s prosperous river preservation soeiety hold its 
annual meetine on Friday evening, at the headquarters, 
the “ Great Western ” Hotel, Reading, Mr. James 
Simonds, J.P. (President), in the chair. 
The report and cash account were duly submitted, 
and, on the motion of Mr. Hickie, seconded by Mr. 
Hurley, were unanimously approved. We extract the 
following from the report:— 
“Your’ committee Ipresent their sixteenth annual 
report, and are pleased to say that although climatic 
conditions have, on the whole, been unfavourable, the 
angling in the largo district of the Thames, under the 
care of your association, has again been good during 
the past season. A great number of fine trout have 
been taken, the largest (weighing over 101 b.), being 
caught by Mr. Alfred Hurley, V.P. Last year the 
notable increase of Thames perch since the epidemic 
was commented upon, and the improvement continues, 
many large bags of good-sized perch having been taken. 
The pike, chub, and roach caught in the district have 
been also above the average in numbers and weight, and 
a few grand specimen carp are recorded. So thoroughly 
has poaching been stamped out in this section of the 
Thames, and so appreciated are the efforts of the 
association by the many hundreds of anglers, mainly 
working men, as to the enforcement of the legal sizes of 
fish, fence seasons, methods of fishing, &c., that not a 
single prosecution has been necessary during the year. 
The fact that no steps have had to be taken beyond 
the warning of boys and of a few men for trifling 
offences, is very gratifying in face of the fact 
that the honorary river keepers, the bailiffs of 
the association, and the conservancy officials, have 
by no means relaxed their vigilance. iThe princi¬ 
pal additions made Viy your committee to the stock 
of fish in the Thames during the year consist of the 
purchase of 200 very fine Wycombe trout in Novem- 
be’-, and the rescue during the annual cleansing of the 
bathing-place of 18 trout, 45 jack, 12 good perch, .50 
chub, and 12 buckets of small fish, mainly jack and 
perch. The usual precautions in regard to the pro¬ 
tection of perch spawn, so successful in previous year.s. 
have again been taken. A donation of ^65 5s. was re¬ 
ceived in November as part of the proceeds of a special 
collection made in the London angling clubs in aid of 
river preservation—a movement which gives your com¬ 
mittee much satisfaction, as showing that those who 
use the Thames are not altogether insensible to the duty 
of supporting the agencies for maintaining its sporting 
value. Arrangements have been made for expending 
this sum in the netting of various private waters known 
to contain good store of pike, perch, carp, bream, tench, 
and roach. The Loddon Fishery (the joint property of 
the Reading and the Henley-on-Thames Associations) 
has well maintained its repute, and afforded much sport 
to the subscribing members : a special feature being the 
thorough success attending the introduction of grayling. 
Owing to the re-organization of the Henley Association, 
your hon. secretary (Mr. F. Brown) has this year under¬ 
taken the management of this fishery on behalf of the 
two associations. 
“ While all tins more or loss routine, but essential 
and really good work has been carried on, as usual, 
quietly and succ'sefully, a crisis has arisen which re¬ 
cently threatened to nullify all the efforts of your asso¬ 
ciation for the public good, if not, indeed, to lead to its 
dissolution. A'our committee allude to the extra¬ 
ordinary set of draft Fishery Bye-laws issued by and 
still under the consideration of the Board of Thames 
Conservancy. So vital and of such grave import is this 
matter that no apology is needed for here recording in 
brief the various stages of the question.” (The 
most important points have already been reported in the 
Fixliing Gazette.) 
“ The matter has been warmly taken up by the various 
associations affected, and by the sporting and general 
press ; and the indignant condemnation expressed in all 
quarters of the new draft has resulted in the conser¬ 
vators agreeing to further consider the matter. Your 
committee have reason to hope, and indeed to believe, 
that the recommendations set out above will yet be sub¬ 
stantially adopted, and the obnoxious new clauses 
abandoned. Should this hope, however, unhappily prove 
ill-founded, they confidently anticipate the cordial sup¬ 
port of this association at large, and of all others 
interested in preventing the destruction of the Thames 
as an angling resort, in opposition before the Privy 
Council. 
“ The death during the year is recorded, with sincere 
regret, of two members of the committee—Mr. Arthur 
Berry, of Caversham, and Mr. J. W. Knight, J.P., of 
Henley-on-Thames. 
“No less than 16 now members have been elected 
during the year, so that (in spite of a few resignations 
owing to leaving the district and other causes) the mem¬ 
bership roll still shows a satisfactory growth. 
“ The cash account accompanying this report testifies 
that the sound financial position of the association has 
been well maintained.” 
Mr. Creed proposed the re-election of Mr. James 
Simmonds, as president, for another year. 
Mr. Bonny seconded the resolution, which was car¬ 
ried unanimously. 
On the proposition of Mr. Bonny, seconded by Mr. 
Blowers, Messrs. R. Benyon, J.P., A. C. Butler, H. 
Creed, W. Ferguson, A. Hurley, K. B. Marston, F. C. 
Parker, W. AV. Ridley, and W. Senior were re-appointed 
vice-presidents. 
The Chairman proposed, Mr. Hickie seconded, and 
it was unanimously agreed, that Mr. Charles Stephens, 
J.P., be [requested to act as honorary treasurer for 
another year. 
Mr. Hurley moved and Mr. Butler seconded the 
re-election of the auditors, Messrs. Creed and Ferguson, 
which was carried unanimously. 
The committee were then elected as under, on the 
proposition of Mr. Blowers, seconded by Mr. Creed ; 
Messrs. W. Bonny, S. Biggs, W. Collins, AV. G. Flana¬ 
gan, AY. Hickie, B. R. Body, C.C., J. AY. Lindars, T. 
Mackrill, Ernest Simmons, J. Sims, H. W. Verey, J.P., 
and G. AY. AA'ebb ; the names of Dr. R. P. Jeston and 
Mr. C. H. Cook (representing the Henley Association), 
and Messrs. R. Nicholson and H. W. Russell, C.C. 
(representing the Maidenhead Association), being added 
on the motion of Mr. Butler, seconded by Mr. Creed. 
Messrs. Butler and Brown were chosen to represent 
the association on the committees of the Henley and 
Maidenhead associations. 
The President proposed that Mr. Brown be asked to 
continue to act as hon. sec., and this was seconded by 
Mr. Creed, and heartily carried. 
The business meeting closed with a cordial vote of 
thanks to the president. 
The Dinner. 
An excellent dinner was subsequently served at the 
hotel to about forty gentlemen. 
The Chairman (Mr. James Simonds) announced 
apologies from Mr. C. T. Murdoch (late member for 
Reading), Mr. R. B. Marston, Mr. AY. Senior, Lieut. 
Bell. R N.. and others. 
Mr. Butler, in proposing “ Kindred Associations,” 
referreil to the good and unselfish work done by the 
various societies which preserved and protected the 
fishing in the Thames for the good of all. He had for 
many years been striving to bring about a closer union 
between the up-river associations, and was glad to say 
ihat they now worked together in perfect harmony. 
There were associations for the promotion of Thames 
angling at Oxford, Reading. Henley, Marlow, Maiden¬ 
head, and AYindsor; and he did not yet despair of seeing 
similar societies formed at Abingdon and AYallingford, 
so as to complete the chain of protection. He coupled 
with the toast the name of Mr. C. H. Cook, a barrister 
and a writer of distinction, whose special claim on their 
consideration that evening was, however, his enthusiasm 
in the cause of Thames preservation. Mr. Cook founded 
the Henley Association, of which he was hon. secretary 
until change of residence led to his resigning ; but when 
he saw that the association was likely to fall to pieces 
he came to the rescue, and at great personal sacrifice 
resumed the arduous and thankless secretarial duties. 
(Applause.) 
Mr. Cook, replying, said Mr. Butler was his father in 
Thames presprvatir.n, and had rendered him great 
assistance. Thanks to the efforts of the Reading, 
Henley, Maidenhead, and other associations there was 
no better trout stream in the United Kingdom than the 
Thames. In that grand river the trout did not go “ five 
to the pound,” but were fish that fought as gamely as 
sea trout, and far better than salmon or grilse. The 
fight about the bye-laws was hardly yet oyer, but they 
had got inside the fortress. Having given a short 
history of the bye-laws, he concluded by saying that 
the kindred a.ssociations had no petty jealousies, but 
had the one object of jjromoting the good of the whole 
river. (Applause ) 
Mr. C. B. Stevens proposed “The Mayor and Cor¬ 
poration of Beading.” 
The Mayor responded. Even a mayor, he said, could 
not alwa 3 s have things his own way, even if he wished, 
and he was rather disappointed that he could not bring 
them as good news about the Thames-side improvement 
as Mr. Cook had brought them about the Thames bye¬ 
laws. The council had not thought fit to carry out in 
its entirety the scheme of the Improvement Association, 
and therefore the matter was practically, for the 
moment, shelved. He thought, however, that if a 
modified scheme were brought before them another day 
it might be carried out, many gentlemen on the corpora¬ 
tion being ready and willing to co-operate in a practical 
scheme which would not involve the expenditure of a 
large sum of money that some of them thought the town 
could not afford. They did not intend to pass any of 
the great schemes before them without duo considera¬ 
tion, and they meant to take them in order and pass 
them, as they could, for the good of the town. The 
corporation would always look upon it as their bounden 
duty, and he a.s mayor, looked on it as his bounden and 
pleasurable duty to forward the interests of that (the 
angling) and other valuable associations. He hoped 
they would all attend the meeting called by Sir Gilbert 
East to consider the status of the Thames Conservancy. 
The organisation of that body must be watched very 
closely. Many gentlemen in Reading who were entitled 
to vote for conservators were not registered ; and he 
understood that while London was much over-repre- 
Sfuted, the Upper Thames was under-represented. 
(Hear, hear.) Public rights had been to a great extent 
ignored by the conservancy, and he should be very glad 
to see new blood on the board. (Applause.) 
The Chairman next submittedThe toast of the even¬ 
ing. It was very gratifying that they had another 
accession of members, for the continuance and increase 
of the good work they had done in the past depended 
upon the amount of support they received. The number 
of the Thames anglers consisted principally of working 
men, and he could not conceive any more healthy pur¬ 
suit. He could not see why netting, except for the 
purposes of catching bait, was allowed at all in fresh 
water, and he should like to see it done away with 
altogether. He did not know whether the improvement 
of the Thames-side would increase the trade of the town, 
but he did believe that stocking the river as they did 
with fish would have that effect. (Applause.) In con¬ 
clusion, ho referred to the friendly relations betwcei 
the various associations, and the reciprocity in their 
work. 
Mr. Brown, in replj’, said he believed the association 
would now carry their views as to the proposed altera¬ 
tions in the bye-laws, and that the new netting bye-law 
would be thrown out entirely. Their object was solely 
to do their best for the benefit of genuine anglers, and 
their whole work was philanthropic. Their aim was to 
protect the river from unfair fishing and poaching, and 
to increase the stock of fish ; and, as the president had 
said, if their funds were larger, they could improve the 
fishing still more. (Applause.) 
The toast of “ The President,” was submitted by Mr. 
Ridley, in appropriate terms. 
Mr. Simonds, in response, said that while he should 
not feel in the least hurt if they found any one who 
would be more useful, and put him in his place, he 
appreciated the compliment very much indeed, and ns 
long as they continued on the present lines he should be 
glad to remain their president. He owned about a mile 
and a half of the Loddon, and should be pleased to give 
leave to any member of that association to fish there, 
knowing that they would fish as sportsmen. (Applause.) 
In conclusion, he gave, in graceful terms, the health of 
the vice-chairman. 
Mr. Hurley suitably responded, and the list came to 
an end. 
During the evening, songs and dnets were given m 
splendid style I y Mcs.-rs. Knill. Bonnj-. Lo Couteur, and 
Flanagan, and recitations by tlie Rev. D. Ames an I 
Mr. Knight, and Mr. Beeson kindly showed some extra¬ 
ordinary feats of legerdemain. Mr. A. J. AA^alker was 
the accompanist. 
CARLISLE ANGLING ASSOCIATION. 
The annual meeting of the Carlisle Angling Associa¬ 
tion was held on Friday night in the Caledonian Hotel. 
Mr. George Coulthard was called to the chair, and there 
was a large attendance. The balance-sheet showed th it 
ihe receipts, with a balance of .£14.5 03. 7J. from 1831, 
amounted to ,£260 2s. 3d., and included JH13 2s. (>1. 
tickets sold. The payments included ,£85 163 . 3d. 
fishery rents; .£44 16s., Howietown Fishery for 4)O0 
yearlings and carriage ; and £30 miscellaneous, leaving 
a balance in the bank of £9!) 8 s. 2 d. 
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report 
and statement of accounts, said they would all regret 
with him that for a considerable length of time they had 
year after year been losing water in the upper stretches 
of the river, and only this year they had lost the water 
which they had had for many years between AYetheral 
and AYarwick Bridge, and also the water at AYallaco 
Field. Now the highest part of their water was that 
which belonged to Mr. Macinnes. As the report stated, 
the lease of the Dean and Chapter's water to Corby 
Castle came to a close sometime daring last year, and 
the whole of the committee w’ere in great hopes that 
they would get a large part of that water, but, unfor¬ 
tunately for them, they had not done so. They were 
told by Mr. Saul, he thought it was, that the water was 
in the market, and they were asked to make an offer for 
it. They did so, but it was not accepted. Since then 
he bad been told by the gentleman who had taken the 
water that it was never intended that the association 
should have it, and why they wei-e asked to make an 
offer ho could not understand; and possibly if they had 
not made the offor they might have had it to-day. AYith 
respect to Mr. Maclnnes’s water he thought under the 
circumstances they were really deeply indebted to Mr. 
Macinnes, seeing that although they had lost the whole 
of the water up above his he had again kindly given them 
the whole of his water free of charge all the way from 
Botcherby Lane End to the Petteril on the one side 
and from Brunstook Beck to Eden Bridge on the other. 
AYith regard to the stipulation which Mr. Macinnes had 
made he might say that he had been informed that Mr. 
Macinnes kept a record of the fish killed, the pools they 
we-e killed in, and the gentlemen who killed them. 
They were also very much indebted to Mr. Thomas 
Robinson for having granted them his water free of 
charge. He thought the association would soon have to 
wind up if it was not for those two gentlemen, and he 
hoped the members would uss their utmost endeavours 
not to break any of the rules of the association, and to 
do their best to restore the association to the position it 
had occupied. The association had been in existence 
forty years, and he hoped the time was coming when the 
upper proprietors would see their way to give them some 
of their water. He did not know why the upper pro¬ 
prietors should have taken umbrage at the association. 
Before the Fishery Board was established the association 
watched the river for years ; and a few 5 ears ago they 
put £50 worth of trout into the river, and only last year 
they added another £40 worth. 
Mr. Fox said that they paid £30 a year to the Fishery 
Board. Now that they bad twelve miles less of water 
he thought that the payment to the Fishery Board ought 
to bo reduced. 
The Chairman explained that they got £15 of the 
£30 back. In fact they only paid £14, and he supposed 
that would be for checking their tickets. He might 
mention that there bad been a proposition brought for¬ 
ward to ask the Fishery Board to reduce the licence.». 
It was £109 they paid altogether to the Fishery Board, 
and as he had pointed out to the board, they paid that 
for what purpose he did not know. They paid that for 
licences. Ho believed that the water would be watched 
if there was no association in existence, bu t stil 1 he might 
remind them that those licences were charged a guinea 
at the beginning and they had never been reduced. He 
