140 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
[Eebruary 25, 1893 
FROM NOTTINGHAM. 
To the Euitor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Coarse fish anglers in onr district are again severely 
handicapped by the changeable state of the weather. 
On Sunday and part of Monday the sun shone with the 
warmth and delight of June, and a soft wind blew gently 
from the south, but on Tuesday a hurricane sprang up 
from the north-east, and on Wednesday sleet and snow 
fell with a vengeance. Angling, in these circumstances, 
has been truly trying, and, with the exception of the fore¬ 
noon of Monday, the patrons of the various reaches have 
scarcely been able to wet a line. The river on Monday 
night wa« running into condition for chub fishing—we 
will say nothing about pike, as the season is, or should 
be, over—and the frequenters of the chub swims were 
hopeful of again enjoying sport. Some few ardent souls 
had, in fact, prepared their supplies of greaves and pith 
and brains, but, unfortunately for their prospects, they 
were doomed to disappointment through the sudden in¬ 
tervention of high winds, combined with the downpour 
of sleet and snow mentioned. On Wednesday the waters 
were again rising, and indications were not wanting that 
we might yet encounter another flood on a small scale. 
News is extremely scarce. On Monday, the only 
favourable day, a number of the subscribers to the 
Wilford and Clifton fishery were out betimes, and moat, 
if not all, returned with a fair sprinkling of roach, dace, 
chub, and perch. Perch are scarce, but a brace of 21b. 
fell to the rod of Mr. J. Taylor, whose friend, Mr. A. 
Widdowson, killed sundry large chub and dace with the 
cockspur worm. 
_ A pot-hunter had, on the 19th inst., three pike about the 
size of the common sprat, from the free waters opposite 
Wilford trees, and pike of medium size were taken in 
one of the upper waters. It is a shame to interfere at 
all with Fsox Indus after Feb. 1. Some anglers are 
always crying out about the degeneracy of pike fishing 
in the waters of the Trent, and yet they are the first to 
boast of what “ doughty deeds ” they have done amongst 
poor miserable specimens right up to the middle of 
February. Give the fish a chance. 
Several of our leading winter anglers are down with 
the influenza, and the complaint is said to be fashion¬ 
able. Whether this is so or not is a matter of fancy ; 
but certain it is the complaint is most infectious. I am 
sorry to say I have been prostrated with it for a fort¬ 
night, and of course my wife attributes the sole cause to 
my going a-fishing. Pos.sibly I may have caught it on 
the banks of the river, but I toll her friend.s I know I 
caught it through making a call for her. '‘Women's 
rights and men’s wrongs’" is a social problem that 
appears coming to the front, and the fair sex have just 
now amongst them, as their champion, the celebrated 
American authoress. Miss Willard, who the other day 
was telling one of ber numerous staff of interviewers 
how, when she was a girl, she used to take delight in 
accompanying her brother on all his fishing and shooting 
excursions. Unfortunately she told him nothing about 
the influenza, and, until she is able to explain how it 
ever got into merry England in the guise of a new name, 
I shall not readily believe that I am a martyr to the 
mixed joys of angling pursuits. To have the complaint 
is bad enouffh ; but to be worried and pestered in the 
family circle, especially when one’s lingers are itching 
to renew acquaintance with the game, resolute chub, is 
ten times worse. If Miss Willard has ; brought the 
influenza to this fickle country of ours all anglers must 
wish she had stayed at home. 
At the Nottingham Shire Hall, on Wednesday, two 
labourers of Nottingham, named Chas. Birch and Harry 
Cutts, w'ere each convicted in a penalty of 15s. for 
illegally taking fish from the Colwick stretch of the 
river Trent on the night of Jan. 21. The justices told 
the defendants they were liable to a penalty of ,£5 each. 
At the Nottingham summons court, on the same day, 
another labourer of Nottingham, named Jas. Clements, 
was fined 403. or fourteen days, with forfeiture of a net, 
for illegally fishing in the Trent in the parish of Lenton 
on Jan. 19. 
FROM SHEFFIELD. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The annual ball in connection with the Bother Ang¬ 
ling Club, which came off on Wednesday week, was as 
successful as any of the similar functions that have 
preceded it in bygone years. Known throughout the 
district of Eskington as the “ Fishermen’s Ball ” it has 
every year been largely patronised by the great number 
of a,nglers living in the valley of the Bother, who have 
rallied round it as an institution to be preserved. 
Anglers are. without doubt, pleasure-loving people. 
They inherit the faculty from genial Isaac, the patron 
saint of the sport, who, if his book and contemporaries 
are to be relied upon, was as full of quaint humour as 
an egg of meat, and as appreciative of mirth and fun as 
a frollicking school boy. It is not to be wondered at, 
therefore, that every institution that seeks to beguile 
away a few pleasant hours in genial company, should 
receive the support of the angling fraternity. Thus it 
came about that the Bother Club ball was so great a 
success. It was attended by over 4<.K) persons, and 
dancing was kept up until the very small hours of 
Thursday morning to the strains of Messrs. Cook’s 
quadrille band. The M.C.'s were Messrs. Godden and 
Clark, the general arrangements being carried out by 
Mr. T. Tyson, president, and Mr. C. Bobinson, secre¬ 
tary, to whom the thanks of all were due. 
The Bother people are a sterling lot. They inhabita 
portion of the country made famous by Scott in his 
“Ivauhoe, ” and watered by that once excellent river, 
the Bother. Although the country has been denuded 
of much that was beautiful—although the landscape has 
been disfigured by unsightly pits, smoking chimneys, 
and burning refuse heaps, the character of the people 
has undergone no material change. They are still the 
hardy, fearless, sport-loving people so graphically 
depicted by the “ Wizard of the North,” among whom 
the ancient art of angling has many latter-day exponents. 
Their club, which is one of the best in the district, is 
presided over by Mr. T. Tyson, a fisherman of the right 
calibre — as earnest with the rod as with the pen — pos¬ 
sesses some very good waters ; and the interests of sport 
are keenly looked after by an energetic committee. 
They have had many good seasons in the past, and are 
deserving of even better in the future. 
FROM SHROPSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
There have been occasional opportunities afforded pike 
anglers during the past fortnight of obtaining good sport, 
and during such time, as the river has been fairly clear, 
some good captures have been made with the live bait ; 
notably between Uffington and Atcham. Dealing with 
live bait fishing for pike, it was last week stated on, 
we fear, reliable authority, that one or two anglers and 
other persons, who shall be nameless, were guilty of 
conduct which all good sportsmen will agree in charac¬ 
terizing highly reprehensible. In short, it was said that 
a number of grayling fry were actually sold, and used as 
pike bait in the neighbourhood of Shrewsbury. Although 
such a proceeding is not strictly illegal, as far as the 
Severn is concerned, we cannot imagine anyone deserving 
of the name of sportsman, encouraging the capture and 
use of the fry of so grand a sporting fish as the grayling 
for this purpose, more especially when anglers know 
full well that this fish is becoming more and more scarce 
in the Severn. In years gone by grayling were fairly 
plentiful in the upper parts of the river, but, alas, they 
are gradually disappearing, and at the present time it is 
almost an exceptional occurrence to capture one. What 
is to become of the fishing of the Severn, already 
impoverished by poaching and various other evils, if 
anglers themselves encourage such a proceeding as that 
alluded to, will be easily foreseen. One fact we are 
pretty well assured of, and that is, that the men who do 
not scruple to capture fry of this kind for this purpose 
are the very persons who, with coracle and an innocent¬ 
looking rod as a guarantee of good faith, but 
withal probably having all the implements of 
the poacher within reach, scour the river 
for miles, clearing the fords and destroying game. So 
crafty are these idle characters, cf which Shropshire has 
more than its share, that they carry on their destructive 
operations year after year practically unchecked, setting 
at defiance the one or two bailiffs to whom the Severn 
Board of Conservators allot the thankless task of watch¬ 
ing over some seventy miles of Severn, and who have 
absolutely no chance of achieving a capture, even though 
they might be brave enough to venture to tackle a gang 
single-handed. One of the wiles of the poaching fra¬ 
ternity is to send one of their number with coracle and 
tackle as a decoy, and if the bailiff is innocent enough to 
follow his trail the remainder of the gang will 
industriously sweep the river with their nets in a totally 
different direction. 
Anglers have had to put up with this sort of thing 
for a long iieriod, but when, in addition to these hard¬ 
ships they have to contend against their own people, who 
encourage the poacher by using grayling fry for bait, it 
is quite time they became more fully alive to their 
interests. 
As our Shrewsbury readers well know, all netting 
within the limits of the borough of Shrewsbury, except 
for was through a bye-law passed (at the instance of the 
Shrewsbury Severn Angling Society), by the board 
rendered illegal. This much having been accomplished, 
it now remains only for anglers to make netting not only 
illegal but impracticable, and perhaps the best means 
would be by carrying out the project they entertained 
some time back, of placing spiked and weighted barrels 
at the bottom of the fords, where the water is of 
sufficient depth to permit of these obstacles being placed 
without fear of hindrance to the traffic of the river. 
We would earnestly counsel local societies to discuss 
these questions at their forthcoming meetings. 
The story of a rather laughable practical joke is going 
the rounds this week. A gentleman occupying rooms 
over a local tackle dealer’s shop, over the doorway of 
which depends the sign of the craft, a rod, line, and imi¬ 
tation fish, was awakened one stormy night last week by 
a loud hammering at the door. On putting his head 
through the window to inquire the cause of the disturb¬ 
ance, the^ genial stranger below, excitedly pointing to 
the swinging fish, shouted ” Pull up, man ; you’ve got a 
bite.” It is perhaps unnecessary to add that the discom¬ 
fited householder made various observations appropriate 
to the occasion — cursory in their nature, terse, and to the 
point. _ 
FROM WORCESTER AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The almost continuous rain of the past few days has 
affected all the streams. The Severn has been nearly 
bankfull. 
One result of the high state of the Severn is, a large 
number of fresh run salmon have passed over the weirs 
with ease, and are heading up the river. Some fine fish 
have been caught here, the best as yet one of 49Jlh.— 
the shape and quality of which was Al. The fishermen 
higher up the river have done very well in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Lincoln ; they have taken twenty-seven fish. No 
doubt many salmon will reach the upper waters of the 
.Severn this year, and afford good sport to our Shrews¬ 
bury and Montgomery friends. I trust they may. 
There have been a good few pike taken from ]>rivate 
water during the la.st nine days, but they are getting very 
full of spawn now, and it seen s a pity to kill them. 
The Izaak Waltcn Angling Siciety hold their annual 
dinner on Thursday next, when a large muster is 
expected. _ 
FROM IRELAND- 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
KEBBY.—The weather still continues wild and wet, 
and the majority of anglers—especially those out on the 
lakes—met with little or no sport. 
At Killamey, a few anglers have done fairly well on 
the Flesk, but on the lakes sport has been poor. 
At Glencar, some average sport has been enjoyed 
amongst salmon on the rivers there by gentlemen who- 
are staying at the Glencar Hotel. 
The angling returns on 'VVaterville lake so far have 
been the poorest for many a year at this season. Only 
two salmon were caught during the p.xst week, though 
six boats went out whenever the weather got any way 
favourable. The trout fishing, too, has been poor since 
the opening, though a few heavy brown trout are taken 
occasionally. 
Salmon, however, are running up from the sea in 
fair numbers. Twenty-five were caught last week at 
the weir. One of those was a splendid fish of 311b. 
Only two heavier salmon are known to have been got at 
Waterville, and they were had last season—one in the 
weir which weighed Sljlb , and the other, by a local 
professional on the lake, which weighed 3211b. 
The Cummeragh river continues in fine trim. This is 
a private water, and no anglers have been out on it up 
to the present. Spring salmon are now fairly numerous 
in the deep pools in this river, and brown trout are 
plentiful, but of an inferior size. 
Trout anglers have had average sport on the free 
portion of ’\Vaterville river, and a few fish weighing 
over lib. were had. 
On the Inny, brown trout anglers did fairly well on 
a couple of evenings. No heavy trout were taken, 
however, on this water. 
The mountain lakes of Drenane and Cummeravanig 
are now in first-class fishing trim, but no anglers have 
been out on either water. 
On the minor trout streams—the Farthe, Beenroe. 
and Ahatubrid—sport among brown trout has been of 
the usual kind. The trout of all those waters are small, 
but goodTor the table. _ 
ULSTEB.—Beoently the poaching fraternity in Co. 
Antrim very freely made use of threats to poison the 
rivers—a process at this time of the year, it is almost 
needless to say, would cause the wholesale slaughter of 
trout. Hotvever, the matter has been brought under the 
notice of the constabulary authorities, who have pro¬ 
mised to look into the matter carefully. The proper 
course—and the one which may be probably adopted— 
would be to have extra police stationed in the threatened 
localities, the extra cost of the maintaining of the force 
to be made chargeable to those particular districts. 
Something must be done. The weather is getting more 
favourable, and prospects of sport are most encouraging 
on the Bunn and its dozens of tributaries for the opening 
day—next Wednesday. As yet fishing on the Antrim 
waters—the majority of which opened the 1st inst.—is 
very poor, owing to tempestuous winds, heavy floods, and 
intermittent frosts. Tronting would seem to be improv¬ 
ing on the Donegal waters. 
“Imperial” Silver Cup Competition. -Fine 
weather favoured the angler on the 19th inst, and there 
were grand shows of fish at the Imperial Hotel, South- 
wark-street. Result to date ; Mr. J. W. Biggs (Funny 
Folks), Feb. 12, 118; Feb. 19, 62; total number of 
points, 170. Mr. E. H. Morris (Battersea Friendly), 
Feb. 12, 73 ; Pcb. 19, 55—128. Mr. A. Bichards (Burton 
Piscatorials), Feb. 12, 72; Feb. 19, 10—88. Mr. J. 
Osborne (Mildmay A.S.), Feb. 12, 11: Feb. 19, 08—79. 
Mr. G. W. Marsh (Dalston), Feb. 12, 58—-58. Mr. G. 
Lang (St. George’s), Feb. 12, 39—39. Mr. A. Dejonge 
(Battersea Friendly), Feb. 12, 27 ; Feb. 19, 5 -32. Mr. 
\y. Gordon (Wellington), Feb. 12, 29—‘29. Mr. J. 
Edwards (Dalston), Feb. 12, 15—15. Mr. Jas. Smith 
(Bermondsey Brothers), Feb. 12, 12—12. Mr. S. Hill 
(Funny Folks), Feb. 12, 7—7. Mr. J. Shelton (Black- 
friars) Feb. 12. 0—6. Mr. J. Wheelhouse (Blackfriars), 
Feb. 12, 0—0. Mr. J. E. Wighey (Rodney), Feb. 12,|4— 
4.— John Smith, hon. sec. 
Fifth Annual Angling Competition, in Aid ok 
THE Fi nds of the Anglers’ Benevolent Society 
AND Convalescent Home Funds.— Since my last 
report, I have much pleasure in acknowledging a prize 
from Messrs. Lever Brothers, of Sunlight fame ; a tackle 
book,, fitted, from Mr. Sowerbutts, of Commercial-street; 
a clock, from the Havelock Angling Society ; and a prize 
from the Dalston Angling Society, making up the total 
to twenty-one. The committee will meet on Friday, the 
24th, at 9.30, at the Forester’s Hall.—S. Malbt, sec. 
Holloway's Pills. —In eases of chronic iniligestion. ilisonicrt-il 
liver, and general dehility, these Pills are wonderfully efrective. 
They, indeed, have so general and powerful an effect on the 
whole system, that they clear away or ward off most of the ills 
that flesh is heir to. They cleanse the bowels, imrify the blood, 
correct the bile,give tone to the stomach, excite a lu-altby appetite, 
produce sound sleep, and impart increased energy to both miml 
and body. The admirable properties of these far-famed Pills are 
too highly appreciated to require any encomium here, as they arc 
resorted to by rich and poor of every nation. The cures they 
effect are not temporary or imperfect, but they bring about a 
marvellous and most beneficial change throughout the entire 
body, and enable it, with renovated powers, to resist the approach 
of all future attacks. 
