February 18, 1893] 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FISHING GAZETTE 
123 
reward those who give the roach a turn, and I have not 
Been a chub or heard of one being caught all the winter, 
yet some of our water contains some excellent chub. 
Enthusiastic anglers here are few and far between.— 
C. Herbert. 
Thames (Staines). — John Keene, jun., one day 
with Mr. Rogers, three dozen of roach ; another day 
with Mr. Edwards six dozen of roach ; another day with 
Mr. Elliot and friend, six dozen of roach : and another 
day with Mr. Burkett and friend, three dozen of roach. 
In each of the takes the fish were all good ones, and in 
fine condition. 
Thames (Snnbury).— The punts of Messrs. E.Clarke 
and Sons, have brought in during the week seventeen 
and a half brace of perch, seven jack and fifteen dozen 
of roach and dace. Mr. Nicholls, one day, twelve brace 
of perch, four of the largfst fish weighed 31b. 9oz. 
Thames (Teddmgfton).— W. McBride, in two days, 
five jack—one of the bank anglers Took a jack of 71b.— 
Six other jack have been taken during the week. 
Thames (Twickenham).— C. Brown, in two days, 
fourteen dozen of roach and dace and one perch, and 
John Spong, in five days, 151b. of roach and dace. 
Thames (Windsor). — This exceptionally mild 
weather for time of year, coupled with the rainfall, will 
cause the jack to work up the ditches, and preservation 
societies will do well now to give such places close 
attention, especially on Sunday mornings, the time the 
village loafer and poacher selects to carry out his 
nefarious operations. Though heavy rains have fallen 
here the river, at time of writing, is not a bad colour ; 
in fact, for close paternostering in likely spots, it is 
just what I like, and, on passing over Windsor Bridge 
to business this morning, I quite fancied it, and wished I 
could get away there and then. Master Hornby, of 
Eton College, had one this afternoon, Sjllb. I tried 
them later on in the afternoon, caught one small one. 
which I returned, ran another about 3ib., then another 
—a decent fish, but he severed my single gut hook, 
which had been used too long, and should have been 
discarded before. Last Saturday I had a brace in about 
ten minutes, but too small for me, so returned them. 
Water grand for roach, but too much water and too 
thick for chub.—B. R. B. 
Ancholme District. —It is now very fine for fishing, 
hut Mr. Meanwell is the only local gentleman who goes 
out here now. He has had two or three more pike. A 
fine lot of growing trout were turned into the Burnoldby 
beck on Saturday last, and a lot of fry go into another 
beck this week.— Thomas Ford. 
Dee (Corwen). —The season opened on the 15th inst. 
with a fine day, but, owing to the river being over¬ 
flowing its banks and muddy, there were no anglers out. 
Worming is not allowed till April 1. To-day (Thurslay) 
the water is fining down, and by next week, if weather 
permits, there will be good trout fishing. March, April 
and May are the best months. At a meeting of the 
association, a close season for grayling was passed. 
The close time will be from Feb. 1 to June 30. It was 
wanted badly, as grayling are getting scarce where at 
one time they were plentiful — Alwen. 
Barle (Dulverton). —Season opened on 14th inst. 
Nothing has been done on account of the high water. 
Cloudy, warm, and showery, with falling glass, and 
high south-south-west winds.— Iron Blue. 
Bast and West Cleddau (Fembrokeskire).— 
A nice little salmon of 71b. was taken last week (on fly) 
near Haverfordwest. There do not appear to be so many 
fish up the rivers as usual at this time of the year, and, 
unfortunately, a good deal of netting is done at the 
weir on the West Cleddau. where there is great need of 
a salmon pass. 
Bze and Canal (Bxeter). —We had another good 
water down on Saturday last, and the river has been 
rather too high since for comfortable angling. The 
salmon have been running up in fine style during the 
past few days, so there seems to be every probability of 
the coming season beginning well. Very little has been 
done by our pikeiats this week, owing mainly, of course, 
to the river being more or less out of condition. The 
Lower Exe Association opens its trout season to-day, the 
15th, and the Upper Exe on the 20th inst., but no doubt 
many anglers will defer active operations for another two 
or three weeks at least. Trout will naturally be very 
backward after the severe weather we have experienced. 
Perch should be worth a trial when the water is again 
fit, and I fancy a live minnow fished fine in the eddies 
will be likely to tempt some of those “ old-fashioned ” 
ones which so seldom grace the fishing-basket nowadays. 
I mean to wait upon them myself very shortly, when I 
hope with some choice samples in the minnow line I may 
he fortunate enough to secure a share of their patronage. 
Tiverton Canal is once again in fishing form, and I hear 
some good sport has been enjoyed among the pike lately 
by one or two Tiverton anglers. Last week’s 21j-pounder 
has not yet been beaten, so there is a chance for someone 
to distinguish himself.— Red Palmer. 
Fen Waters (South Lincolnshire). —The weather 
has been again favourable for angling operations, and 
the waters have run down into fairly good condition. 
Anglers will have a good opportunity of getting after 
the pike. Pishing is largely confined to local experts, 
and some of them have been doing pretty well. At the 
present time the Forty-foot dram is getting the most 
patronage, though other waters are receiving attention. 
The best parts, I believe, are the reaches about Doning- 
ton Bridge and Neslam Bridge, but there is little doubt 
that good fish may be obtained in other districts. Roach 
are also feeding well, and when anglers turn their atten¬ 
tion to them, they meet with very decent sport. Worms 
are said to be the best baits for these fish. Some nice 
roach and bream are stated to have been got from the 
Welland, and also from the Nene. I hear there is likely 
to be some dredging operations on the latter stream, but 
whether it will interfere with the fishing remains to be 
seen.—L impet. 
Great Paxton (St. Neots). —The river is at last 
in fine condition for all kinds of fishing. The roach have 
been feeding well during the dirty water, and some good 
bags have been made. Last Saturday two roach were 
caught with brandling worm, which soiled 31b., and a 
goodly number of good fish were taken beside. Pike 
have b’gun to feed ; a trial was made here on Tuesday 
last, and a beautiful fish of 91b. was taken, and another 
one lost by the hook breaking in the middle of the bend. 
—William Duckeb. 
Idle(Nort]i Notts) .—The waters of this district 
are in good condition for angling, but the number of 
anglers who have heen trying their luck have been only 
small. The lower district has had some attention 
from pike fishermen, but their results are only poor, the 
fish being scarce and only running small. The drains 
are in good order, but some of them are rather awkward 
to reach. I hear that an estate Ins lately changed hands 
in the district below Retford, but whether it will make 
any difference to anglers or not in the coming summer 
I cannot yet say. The Sheffield Angling Association 
have been trying to arrange for some water on the Idle 
for their members, but as yeti do not hear that arrange¬ 
ments are concluded. I hear the trout are promising 
well for the season on the upper waters and the minor 
streams, but most of these waters are private. The canal 
also is in a promising condition for roach fishing, and if 
the present weather continues, they would be worth 
looking after.—L 
Lea and Stort. —The rivers are now in about as 
good fishing condition as they possibly could be, either 
for the present or any other time of the year, and 
anglers will do well to take advantage of the oppor¬ 
tunity. The weather has certainly been most uncertain, 
and his prevented many fishermen from turning out, 
but we may yet have it worse before March is done with. 
I remember two years ago, turning out with a friend to 
fish the Mill pool, at Ponder’s End, on March 9, when 
the weather was so frightfully cold that neither of us 
could stand more than one hour of it, a north-east wind 
blowing down the marshes. It is a most unpleasant 
recollection. During the past week, there has not been 
much sport to record, anglers, for the above reason, not 
having been out in great numbers. Some of the Edmon¬ 
ton and Tottenham members fished at Ware on the 12fch 
inst., for several good prizes; the sport was, however, 
but indifferent. Mr. Geo. Rochester had a nice jack, and 
the three brothers Hadkisa, roach, all the above I believe 
securing prizes. Mr. Watling, of the Hormsfield Otters 
Club, Cross Keys, Edmonton, bad a nice chub of about 
Sib. from Harlow, on the Stort. Several small jack 
were taken from tbe old river at Cook’s Perry on the 
12th inst. There was one of about 2.ilb., the others 
were very small, and were, I hope, returned. But there 
is no protection in this length, and people with rods, 
lines, or nets do just as they like. There will be another 
open competition at Harry Avis’s, the King’s Arms, 
Waltham Abbey, on the 19th inst., entrance 6J. each on 
the spot up to 11 a.m., the time of starting. This 
should prove attractive, not only to club members but 
to a largo number of unattached fishermen, as there are 
good prizes in addition to the entrance monies. I think 
anglers at this time of the season should not neglect to 
try the efficacy of small red worms for big roacb, &c.— 
Spliced Joint. 
Leicester. —With a continuance of the miserably 
dull weather, angling has again been at a discount. 
Rain has fallen every day this week, and the waters are 
now very thick, and running high. The Leicester 
Society’s preserves have received but scant patronage ; 
Mr. Manskell took a few nice roach, and Mr. Bricknell 
secured a few pike, the largest being 41b. A few 
Leicester anglers have been down the Wreake Valley 
district, but found their visit was inopportune, owing 
to the bad state of the River Soar. The Market Har- 
boroiigh locality is fast becoming a favourite hunting 
ground of the angler in these parts. Mr. Cave, at the 
early part of the week, secured good roach, and Mes.srs. 
A. Rabbit, J. Billson, and J. Morton landed fair-sized 
pike, the best specimen being one scaling 51b. 
Leominster.— Four pike iveighing flSJlb. were 
caught in the Arrow at Leominster on Saturday after¬ 
noon, the heaviest, weighing 13.Ub., was a splendidly 
proportioned fish. Mr. James, who was using live bait, 
is to be congratulated on a good three hours’ work.— 
J. H. 
Loddou (Earley). —The water, which has been 
much discoloured this last few days through the storms, 
is now fining down again nicely. Some very good jack 
have been taken, one angler taking one lOjlb. and one 
5ilb., and in good condition; also roach have been 
taken freely.— J. R. Gould. 
Lugg and Arrow (Leominster). —Both these 
grayliag streams, which were in fair order for fishing 
with the maggot and grasshopper, have been visited with 
heavy rain, and there is little prospect of any more gray¬ 
ling fishing being done, as the fish should now be on the 
spawn ; and anglers would do well to wait until trout 
fishing begins, when there is every prospect of some fine 
fish being taken. The Pinsley is now in fair order, but 
no fishing has been done in it.— Gwtnne. 
Lugg, Arrow, and Pinsley (Kingsland).— 
These rivers are now high and stained, with very 
little probability of again being in order before the close 
of the grayling season, which ends with this month.— 
R. T. Williams. 
Medway (Maidstone). —Water is improving in 
colour; if the present fine weather should continue 
there may be a good chance of sport among the jack 
before end of the month. I saw an angler the other day 
who has been having good sport among the roach, and 
again another who had been among the good ones ; 
bream have been biting well also, and several anglers 
have secured some good catches ; the brandling has been 
the favourite lure with most of them.—W. Shrubsole. 
Nene (Peterborough.) —The weather has been 
very unsettled here during the past week, hut the river 
has got much lower, and most of the floods have now 
abated. Several ardent disciples have been out in their 
boats, and most of them have been rewarded with good 
bags. Roach and perch are feeding well, and several 
good bream have been taken. Some good bags of roach 
have been landed near the Town bridge, and a good 
quantity of perch has been pulled out near the Great 
Northern bridge. Mr. W. T. Silk, a well-known 
enthusiast in piscatorial pursuits, has sent from his 
breeding preserves at Burghley Stamford, near Peter¬ 
borough, 20,000 trout ova to the Nilgira Game Associa¬ 
tion, India, by the ship Golconda, the shipping company 
bearing the expense of their transit. It is also worthy 
of notice, and commendatory to Mr. Silk, to know that 
previous consignments to India have been a great 
success, and have thrived wonderfully well. A quantity 
of perch ova are to be sent out in March.—E. A. S. 
Otter (E. Devon). —The season on the free portion 
of the river, near its mouth, at Budleigh Salterton, 
opened on the 2nd inst., but, owing to the heavy spate, 
nothing could be done on that day. On the 3rd, how¬ 
ever, the river had greatly gone down, and several 
anglers were at work. The day was warm and sunny, 
and some fair catches were made, the best being that by 
M r. J. Smart, which comprised twenty fish, including 
several sea trout, the lot weighing (11b. 7oz. The fish 
were in remarkably good condition for time of year, 
more so than has been known in any previous season, 
although thi Otter is known to ba one of the earliest 
rivers in the county. The net fishermen have, as usual, 
been dragging the lower reaches, and have taken out a 
quantity of fish, many, alas ! kelts, which would not have 
taken the fly. It is a thousand pities this wholesale 
destruction cannot be stopped. The Hon. Mark Rolle’s 
water opens on March 1, as does also the private water 
of most of the riparian owners. There is every prospect 
of a first-rate season. The river is full of fish, which are 
already rising well to the fly. The best flies at this time 
are the Blue Upright (wingless preferred). Silver Twist, 
February Red, and Hare’s Flax Upright.—J. E. S. 
Ouse (Hemingford Abbotts).— A pike scaling 
91b. Iloz. was eaugnt a few days since in the backwater 
by Mr. Curtis Hart, a resident of that village.—E. A. S. 
Ouse (Huntingdon).— The water has got into good 
order, both river and backwaters, and jack have been 
feeding well. On the 12th, several were out, and had 
good sport with some good fish. One local angler took a 
fine conditioned fish Ifljlb., and others had some from 
41b. to Gib., and at time of writing (Wednesday) the 
water bids well for very good sport, and it is to be hoped 
the water w-ill keep in condition during the season, for 
it has been a very bad time for sport.—H. Rout. 
Ouse (OfFord).--The water is in very fair condition 
for jack fishing, better than it has been for months. 
Should the weather continue fine, there is every prospect 
of good sport, for jack should feed well after the long 
rest they have had.— Collins. 
Plymouth. — Sea Fishing. —There is not much 
being done now in shore fishing, the weather being too 
unsettled, but in the bays or estuaries, where there is a 
muddy bottom, dabs and flounders can now be taken, as 
they are in best condition in this month, March, and 
April. They spawn in May or June and should not then 
be taken. Mackerel will now soon begin to make their 
appearance, and they are in fine condition. Formerly it 
was not the practice to look for these fish much before 
March or April on the south-west coasts, but of late 
years the mackerel seiners have commenced their opera¬ 
tions much earlier, and they have been w'ell rewarded 
for their pains. According to the new Salmon Fisheries 
Act, the fishing for salmon an 1 trout now commences. 
The list of edible fish for this month include the smelt, 
sprat, anchovy, ling, whiting, pouting, dab, mackerel, 
eel, tub, piper, red gurnard, trout, salmon, and all kinds 
of shell fish. There is an attempt in London to start a 
sea fishing club, which will be something on the same 
principle as the Cycling Tourists’ Club. Their idea is to 
appoint hon. secs, at various seaport towns, who will 
not only give information as regards the fishing to be 
had, but who will send reports to the London head¬ 
quarters of any fish that are taking. The club will 
endeavour to got reduced railway fares and a regular 
tariff from hotels ; also will appoint certain boatmen who 
make fair charges. In some ports, however, they will 
have boats of their own. A very influential committee 
has been appointed, and I wish the club all success. I 
attended, by invitation, the inaugural meeting in Picca¬ 
dilly, London, last week, when some 200 lovers of the 
sport were present, and 1 need hardly say that, coming 
from the west and a famed seaport town, I had a hearty 
reception.— William Heardeb. 
Severn, Vyrnwy, Tanat, and Cain (Llanymy- 
nech.). —(3 wing to the heavy rain we have had all these 
rivers during the past week have been flooded, and all 
are now much too high for angling purposes. The 
weather still continues very unsettled with frequent and 
heavy showers, and amongst the Welsh hills there must 
have been continuous rain for some days at the end of 
last week, as the Severn has risen higher than at any 
time during the winter, as well as the Vyrnwy and 
Tanat.— Vybnwt. 
Stour (Bures), —Water in prime order. A roach of 
lib. 9oz., was caught here on Wednesday.— Goosequill. 
Sussex Rivers. —The weather during the week 
has been dull and uninviting, and rain has fallen almost 
daily, yet notin sufficient volume to seriously affect the 
