174 
THE FISHING GAZETTE 
[]March 11, 1893 
Jirovincial Botes 
FROM BIRMINGHAM AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
A meeting of the Birmingham Angling Committee 
was held at the headquarters on Thursday evening, 
March 2. Mr. T. Coles presided, and Mr. j. Hughes 
occupied the vice-chair. Mr. AV. Yardley of the Manor 
Club brought before the committee the advisability of 
having Market Bosworth and Stoke Golding placed on 
the Midland travelling cards. Mr. Yardley in making 
the application, said that his society rented two miles of 
the Myra canal at Stoke Golding from the Midland 
Railway Company, and the nearest station on the card 
was Stockin^ord, and their members had to pay the 
excess fare, and have the trouble to book a second time, 
which was very annoying. The Midland had fifteen 
miles of the canal mentioned, and if the stations were 
placed upon the cards, it would enable other clubs to 
rent portions of the canal for the use of their members. 
Other gentlemen also spoke in favour of Mr. Yardley’s 
suggestion, and it was decided to place the matter in the 
hands of the secretary. 
Mr. Rabone, of the Fruitful Vine Society, brought 
before the committee the question of all societies under 
thirty-five members strong being visited by the visiting 
committee. This brought about a lengthy discussion, 
but finally it was resolved ; That any society wishing 
to be visited shall notify the general secretary to that 
effect, when he will appoint a deputation, and that the 
deputation shall receive the ordinary visiting fee. This 
concluded the business. 
The St. George’s Society held the bye contest on the 
5th inst., at Tamworth, in the River Anker. The con¬ 
test, which was of two hours’ duration, was fished under 
very unfavourable circumstances, as it rained through¬ 
out the whole of the time. This, combined with a cold 
east wind, made matters very uncomfortable. The water, 
considering the heavy rains that we have had of late, 
was in very fair condition. Twenty-two members took 
part in the proceedings ; no fish under 2oz. were weighed- 
in, according to rule. The I’esult of the contest was : 
Mr. E. Tallis, first; Mr. J. Jones, second ; and Mr. 
J. Moore, third. The prizes will be distributed on 
Monday next, March 13. 
The Rose and Crown Society fished their bye contest 
on the 5th inst., at Fradley, near Alrewas, in which 
forty-two members competed for some very nice prizes, 
which included a marble timepiece, with bronze orna¬ 
ments to match (this was the gift of Mr. H. Hodgets, 
the host of the clubhouse), dinner and tea services, 
table-lamp, clock, and pictures, &c. The contest (like 
the St. George’s) was fished under very unfavourable 
circumstances. The result was as follows :—First, Mr. 
Samuel Mill: second, Mr. A. Jesson; third. Mr. H. 
Bryant: fourth, Mr. A. Phelps ; fifth, Mr. E. Cockbill; 
sixth. Mr. T. Callaghan; seventh, Mr. S. Morris; 
eighth, Mr. G. Kinder ; ninth, Mr. J. Bryant; tenth, 
Mr. C. Bevan, <tc. Notwithstanding the bad state of 
the weather a largo quantity of fish were taken, but 
they ran of rather a small size. Mr. A. Shortland, of 
the Highgate Park, acted as referee. 
The members of the Hearts of Oak Society have 
been taking some very nice roach and chub from 
their portion of the river Mease at Haslour, although 
the river has not been in that condition the members 
could have wished for, still they have been able to 
secure some first-class catches of roach. Some of the 
members fished the water a few days ago and secured 
roach up to l^lb. each, together with chub up to 
21b. 6Joz. The fish seem well on the feed, and the mem¬ 
bers should lose no time in making up for the dull 
season they have just passed through. 
The fishing in the canal on Sundays has been stopped 
at Colwich, and I hope the members will take note of 
this to prevent disappointment. The West-end Society 
intended fishing their bye contest at this place, but have 
been obliged to select another place. Good fishing may 
be obtained any week-day, and I should advise my 
readers to go direct after leaving the railway-station to 
Mr. Fisher’s, Clifford Arms Inn, who rents several 
meadows on the off side of the canal. This gentleman 
will give anyone permission to fish upon application. 
The Dudley Association, through the Provincial 
Angling Association, have just received the concession 
to travel on the London and North-Western Railway 
Company’s lines at the reduced fares. 
FROM THE FEN DISTRICT (LINCOLNSHIRE). 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Angling operations have been pursued under very 
favourable conditions this week, the weather, in con- 
tiast to that experienced during the last fortnight, 
having been fine and springlike. Sportsmen say the fish 
are now very easy to take, a feature which is always 
noticeable just before the close of the season. Although 
I have heard of nothing very extraordinary in the shape 
of single fish weights from the Forty-foot, yet moat 
sportsmen have done well, and their aggregates come out 
better than might have been expected considering that 
the river has been very much over-fished this season. 
Mr. Kitchen captured a pike of 81b. near Crawley’s 
Mill, on Tuesday, which is the heaviest single fish 
reported this week, and Mr. AVinter landed one of fijlb. 
and another just under 51b. near the same spot. Other 
anglers who have met with satisfactory sport are Messrs. 
Dawson, Pear.son, 'I’aylor, Fanconrt, and Smith, the 
1 vtter securing six fish in two days weighing over 251b. 
Messrs. Hall and Green have been out on the AA'elland 
and its tributaries, and both have followed up their pre¬ 
vious successes by taking several splendid fish. 
The Stamford Angling Association has just held its 
annual meeting under the presidency of Mr. M. S. Young. 
The committee’s report was as follows ; “ The number of 
members at the present time is—honorary, seven ; annual, 
for angling in the Gwash and Welland, forty ; for angling 
in the AVelland only, fifty-four. During the year thir¬ 
teen new members have joined, and six weekly and 
fifteen daily tickets have been issued. In the previous 
year thirty-two daily tickets were taken out- The fall¬ 
ing off in these may probably be accounted for by the 
prolonged unfavourable season for angling in this dis¬ 
trict. The receipts amounted to ^33 123., and the ex¬ 
penditure to £21 5s. 10Jd., and the association has now 
in hand a balance of ^36 28. 7Jd. This balance' is 
£12 6s. IJd. more than at the close of the previous year, 
owing to there having been no expenditure in 1892 in re¬ 
gard to the purchase of yearling trout. The committee 
report with pleasure that upwards of 250 trout were 
caught in the Gwash during the season, the heaviest 
weighing 41b.; [also that some very fine grayling were 
taken weighing upwards of IJlb. each, while several were 
caught 5in. and Cin. in length, showing that the stream 
is eminently suitable for this sport-giving fish. Arrange¬ 
ments have been made between Mr. Bromley, of Ash- 
well, and Mr. Clode, the master of the Buckingham¬ 
shire, for a joint pack of otter hounds to hunt 
the Stamford district during the forthcoming spring.” 
The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the 
Marquis of Exeter was re-elected president, all the vice- 
presidents were re-appointed, and the name of Mr. N. 
Day, of Easton, was added to the list. Mr. Young re¬ 
marked that during the year Mr. Day had taken steps 
to stop indiscriminate fishing on that part of the Gwash 
that was under his control, and this would be a great 
advantage to the association. A special vote of thanks 
was passed to the Marquis of Exeter for the great kind¬ 
ness he had shown to the association since its formation. 
Mr. Young was re-elected treasurer, and Mr. H. N. 
Fisher was re-appointed secretary for the seventh year 
in succession. Messrs. J. E. Savill, E. Phillips, and 
J. S. Loweth having resigned their seats on the com¬ 
mittee, Messrs. AV. Hender, J. T. AVard, and George 
Gilbert were elected in their place. An alteration was 
made in Rule 0 to the effect that in future no other bait 
than the artificial fly be used between the AVhite Bridge 
at Great Casterton and the brick hovel above Little 
Casterton. The following rule was also adopted: “No 
member shall be allowed to use a net in the association 
waters for the purpose of catching baits, unless 
appointed to do so by the committee.” 
FROM HAMPSHIRE AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
There has been a rise of flies on the Itchin lately, and 
the t'-out are taking them pretty freely. However, they 
are hardly in ripe condition as yet, and anglers would 
do well to let the present month pass before they get in 
earnest and make periodical visits to the riverside. 
Some trout kelts have been seen on a fishmonger’s 
slab in AVinchester. Of a truth some people have 
peculiar tastes, and I suppose it’s a case of supply to 
meet the demand. 
Some few good salmon have been taken near South¬ 
ampton this week and the latter end of last. 
By the bye, I hear there is some good pike fishing to 
be obtained near the “ Liverpool of the South,” and I 
shall shortly try and and get full particulars of it, but 
I expect it is strictly preserved. 
There has been some good fishing at AYood Mill, which 
is whore the net fishing of the Itchen is carried on. The 
rains of last week brought plenty of fresh fish down, and 
has put them upon the move, so that I expect to hear of 
some good hauls if present weather holds long enough. 
From further afield I hear of good results. At New¬ 
bury the coarse fishing is resulting well, and some 
baskets have been the result. A pike of 141b. was taken 
last week, and many somewhat smaller have also been 
grassed. 
The roach fishing here is not receiving the attention 
it deserves. It would well repay closer notice from the 
angler, as some good ones are in the river. 
FROM THE LAKE DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
My prediction last week that a change in the weather 
prevailing at the hour of writing seemed imminent—was 
justified in the fulle.st possible manner, and by the time 
the Fishing Gazette was in the hands of its numerous 
readers, expectations of the most sanguine were realised. 
Bain fell with commendable persistency — the snow 
disappeared, and was hurried in its ‘ ‘ brothy ’ ’ state 
seawards; and still the rain came down, filling the 
river courses to flood height, and by making a “ worm 
water ” gave everyone who could handle a rod a chance 
on opening day. 'The chance was largely taken advantage 
of, particularly in South AVestmoreland, and the Kent, 
Mint, Sprint, Underbarrow, Beck, and Bela each had 
their votaries. As a rule the season has opened favour¬ 
ably, the fish being more plentiful, and in better con¬ 
dition than was expected. Amongst the most successful 
anglers were those favouring the Bela and Underbarrow 
Beck. From the former river Mr. P. Bheam, solicitor, 
had twenty-four and twenty-one good trout on Thursday 
and Friday respectively, and on Monday last Colonel 
Liston had a nice basket of fourteen, none of which, I 
hear, were under OJin. in length, and the best 31b. in 
weight; whilst from the last-named stream Mr. Aider- 
man AA'illison, of Kendal, secured a round dozen, and 
Joseph Taylor, a working man, had double that number 
and one over. Fishing at the latter place seems to have 
been commenced a day “ before the fair,” by one indi¬ 
vidual at least, though apparently under excusable 
misapprehension. Mr. T. B. AVright had four tront on 
Thursday from the Sprint; and in the neighbourhood of 
Kendal, Messrs. Potter, C. McDonald, J. AA’^hitehead, 
and others have had fair sport. 
The anglers in the Ambloside district have accom¬ 
plished their object in the formation of an association. 
Most of the farmers through whose land the rivers run 
have been interviewed with a satisfactory result, and 
will g:ive permits to members and visitors, ilr. B. Saller- 
thwaite is the first secretary of the new club, and will 
be ably backed by Mr. AV. D. Heelis (treasurer) and a 
small committee. _ 
FROM LANCASHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The annual meeting of the Palatine Angling Society, 
which for thirteen years has occupied a prominent 
position in all angling questions, was held a few days 
ago at the Lancaster Hotel. Mr. James Raeper 
occupied the chair. The balance-sheet again proved 
highly satisfactory and showed a substantial surplus. 
Mr. John Baldwin was unanimously elected president 
for the ensuing year, Mr. J. Raeper becomes vice-presi¬ 
dent, Mr. AV. Gartside was unanimously elected 
treasurer, and Mr. AValter Jennett was also re-elected 
secretary. The committee will consist of the officers 
and Messrs. J. Kershaw, sen., J. Kershaw, jun., and 
Dunbar-Murray. 
The new executive for the Exchange Angling Society 
is as follows :—President, Mr. J. M'Convill; vice-presi¬ 
dent, Mr. Hall; treasurer, Mr. AV. Glover ; secretary, 
Mr. F. Taylor; committee, Messrs. J. L. Hampton, T. 
Harley, Isherwood, Riley, and Glover. AVith a new 
committee of management and fresh headquarters, a 
good season is anticipated by the members. 
The usual monthly meeting of the Kingfisher Angling 
Society was held on the 7th, Mr. B. J. Pickering, the 
president, in the chair. Previous to the meeting a few of 
the members took tea together,with the idea of instituting 
a new item in the social feature of the club, and it is 
hoped that at future meetings more of the members will 
avail themselves of this means of knowing one 
another more intimately. In addition to the ordinary 
routine business, it was unanimously decided to form 
a library in connection with the club, and the 
president contributed the first book. Other members 
at once intimated their intention of doing likewise. 
This is a good move, and will certainly be of service to 
the members. It was also decided to continue the sub¬ 
scription of lOs. Cd. to the Northern Anglers’ Associa¬ 
tion, and considering the fact that the society belongs 
to the Amalgamation and the N.A.A., it was resolved to 
apply for admission to the Manchester District Anglers’ 
Association at the usual meeting to be held at the Crown 
on the 10th. If every club were to hold the same views 
on angling matters as the Kingfisher does, things 
would progress more rapidly than they do at the present 
time. 
The newly-formed Mill Sawyers Society fished their 
first contest in the AVorsley Canal Fishery on the 4tli 
inst. The secretary reports very indifferent sport, and 
only one prize was awarded. This, however, is accounted 
for in the fact that this water is never in good order at 
this time of the year. Great efforts are being made to 
secure for the anglers of Lancashire increased railway 
privileges, and it is to be hoped that everyone will do his 
best to help forward the movement. 
FROM NORFOLK. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Anglers in this district have bten unusually busy this 
week, some after the lordly pike of our waters, others 
after the big bream which have swarmed, as is their 
wont at this time of the year, in the reaches of the 
AVensum and Yare, near their confluence at Trowse 
Hythe, and others yet are doing big things with the 
bouncing roach of Yare and AVensum immediately above 
Norwich. The weather is grand for the time of year, 
and anglers all round have taken advantage of it to 
make the short time that remains of the coarse fishing 
season remedy the bad beginning. 
Some fine pike have been taken, mostly on private 
waters. Since Thursday last one 201b. and two 
191b. fish have been taken, together with scores of 
fish of from 41b. to 151b. each. AVroxham broad fi.shed 
remarkably well last week. On 'fhursday, in two hours, 
two rods had seven fish, weighing 71b. toSlb. each, while 
a lot of other ijarties have had very good bags. 
The bream, as I have above stated, are taking well- 
scoured lobs and brandlings well in the neighbourhood 
of Thorpe and Trowse Hythe. On Thursday, one boat 
of two anglers, had 4 stone of good fish, while on other 
days since there have been as many as ten boats fishing, 
the top catch being G stone, best fish 41b. 14Joz. 
Some nice catches of roach have been made on the 
back river, i.e., the AVensum, above the new mills. One 
angler had some beauties on Friday, one fish Hb. 12oz., 
while another gentleman had four roach, weighing 61b. 
By Earlham and Colney, on the Yare, some lovely roach 
have been got with small red worm—one fish, 2lb. 2oz., 
on AVednesday last, was a beautiful specimen. 
The Yare and Bure Preservation Society’s annual 
dinner is fixed for AV’ednesday, the 15th inst., at the 
Maid’s Head Hotel, Norwich. Sir Edward Birkbeck, 
Bart., will preside, and it is hoped that the gathering 
will be a success. Tickets, 58. each, may be had of the 
secretary, Mr. C. J. Greene, Grove-road, Ipswich-road, 
Norwich, or the hon. assistant secretary, Mr. A. J. 
Rudd, 54, London-street, Norwich. 
