196 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
[March IS, 1898 
FROM SHROPSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fvthuig Gazette. 
The river haa been in better condition this week, and 
trout fishers who have felt so minded have had several 
opportnnities of using the minnow. Trout fishing 
licences are now obtainable from local tackle dealers, 
issued at the usual fee of Is. These convey to their 
holders, however, no right to fish water where they 
would not otherwise be entitled to; that is to say, no 
right to fish from the land of the riparian owners, 
except where the towpaths exist, or from a boat. The 
question mooted at the recent meeting of the Board to 
increase these licence fees to 2s. remains in abeyance. 
The river cannot be fished without the possession of these 
licences, which are issued for trout and char only ; but 
with them is practically given permission to catch rough 
fish also. 
Severn anglers have scarcely had time to realise the 
full import of the announcement which appeared in the 
local papers last week to the effect that the association 
of county gentlemen and riparian owners generally, 
whose formation we have occasionally commented upon 
in these columns, contemplate commencing their arduous 
work next month. The following letter which appeared 
in the last issue of the Shrewsbury Chronicle will 
explain the line of action which it is proposed to take, 
and it remains for anglers generally to decide whether 
they will accord their support or otherwise. We can¬ 
not, however, but express the opinion that the associa¬ 
tion would have acted wisely in seeking to obtain the 
co-operation of local angling societies in the very first 
instance, and, more especially, the aid of the Shrews¬ 
bury Severn Angling Society which has been striving 
for many years to improve the Severn fisheries in the 
neighbourhood of the county town by restocking, pre¬ 
venting netting and poaching, and generally working 
much on the same lines as the new body now proposes 
to act upon. It is understood, however, that the 
association does not contemplate including that portion 
of the Severn within the limits of the borough of 
Shrewsbury within their area. The letter referred to 
reads as under:— 
Angling in the Severn. 
Sir, —An association has been formed having for its 
object the preservation of trout and grayling in the 
Severn within the boundaries of the county of Salop. 
It is the intention of the association to stock the river 
with both trout and grayling, and to put a stop to the 
poaching and netting which have rendered the Severn 
almost valueless as an angling river. It is not the wish 
of those gentlemen who have taken this scheme in hand 
to interfere in any way with persona who may be found 
bottom-fishing with rod, line, and float for “ coarse ” 
fish ; but from all such persons as may fish for trout, 
grayling, or salmon, with fly, minnow, or other bait, 
natural or artificial, in those portions of the river 
Severn which are leased by the Shropshire Severn 
Angling Association the production of the association’s 
fishing ticket will be demanded. The price of the 
annual ticket to be thus issued will be Cs., and this will 
include the Is. licence claimed by the Conservancy 
Board. Another ticket at a higher price will also be 
obtainable ; the holder of such a ticket will be admitted 
to the general meetings of the association, and thus 
have a voice in the management. It is hoped that it 
may be found possible to open the association on 
April 1, 1893. 
The under-mentioned landowners on the banks of the 
Severn have consented to grant a lease of their several 
lengths of the Severn to the association, and the 
portions of the river thus leased will be preserved by 
the Shropshire Severn Angling Association, with the 
assistance of the keepers, foresters, watchers, and other 
servants of the lessees. 
Signed on behalf of the association, 
F. A. WoLRYCHE Whitmore, Hon. Sec. 
Shrewsbury, March 8, 1893. 
List of landowners on banks of the Severn who have 
joined the association ;—The Earl of Powis ; Mr. J. 
Watson, Berwick; Mr. A. P. Lloyd, Leaton Knolls; 
Mr. C. J. Morris, Oxon; Mr. H. Sandford, The Isle; 
Mr. J. E. Severne, Wallop ; Mr. John Burton, Longner ; 
Mr. J. T. Pelham, Connd ; the Lord Barnard; Mr. J. T. 
Brooke, Haughton Hall ; Mr. T. F. Kynnersley, 
Leighton; the Lord Forester, Willey ; Sir Henry 
Tyrwhitt, Stanley ; Rev. F. H. Wolryche Whitmore, 
Dudmaston; Dr. Weir, Malvern; Mr. C. B. Childe, 
Kinlet; Mr. Beddard, Highley ; Mr. B. Butcher, The 
Hay, Bridgnorth. 
We have heard very little of late of this society, which 
was inaugurated a year or two ago, for the purpose of 
restocking and preserving the fisheries of the Mid- 
Severn. It will be remembered that a few county 
gentlemen founded the society for the purpose of re¬ 
stocking the river with game fish, regulating the fishing, 
and protecting the interests of salmon anglers. In 
order to do this, the promoters first set about securing 
the co-operation of the riparian owners, and obtaining 
from each of them a lease expiring annually, granting 
them the control of such fishing as they possessed. In 
this they were fairly successful, but it will be at once 
seen that the difficult nature of the programme under¬ 
taken required united and spirited action to carry it to 
a successful issue, and, handicapped as the association 
has been by the long illness and consequent death of 
Mr. Hawley Edwards, who had the whole of the 
business in hand, it cannot be wondered at that little 
practical work has until now been done. As we have 
before remarked, the project of the promoters is a 
good one if carried out in the manner primarily sug¬ 
gested, and for the benefit of anglers generally, rather 
than in the interests of the riparian owners alone. They 
seek to improve and protect the fishing, and, for that 
purpose, to make a charge of 6s. per annum (including 
the licence fee of Is. to the Board of Conservators), 
against anglers fishing for the better class of fish, promis¬ 
ing to devote the funds thus derived to restocking the river 
with trout and grayling, and to preventing the wholesale 
poaching which we have every reason to fear now 
exists. They do not, however, propose to interfere in 
any way with the genuine bottom fisher, or exact from 
him any fee so long as he obtains his sport in a legitimate 
manner. _ 
FROM WORCESTER AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Both the Teme and the Severn are down to a nice 
level and in capital order for fishing. During the last 
few days anglers have been very busy among the coarse 
fish, evidently determined to have all the sport possible 
before the close season commenced, which was on Wed¬ 
nesday last. The worm was the bait chiefly used, but 
paste among the roach, and pith and brains among the 
chub were very killing. Some very heavy baskets were 
taken, and some very fine fish among them, one angler, 
Mr. Payne, landing a fine chub 4.Ub., besides other 
good fish. Minton again had a good lot of fine roach, 
&c.; Mr. H. Smith some grand perch with the worm ; 
Mr. E. H. Bowen, Mr. H. Holland, and Mr. Wingfield 
have been busy among the pike, and have taken some 
fins perch also. A few trout have been taken in the 
Teme, but they are not fit yet—they want to rest 
another month ; those I saw were lank and almost 
black. I would not have liked to have brought them 
from the water. March Brown and the Blue Dun were 
the flies used, and both were successful. 
The “ Worcester United Angling Society,” which held 
its meetings at the Union Inn, and has been at a low ebb 
for some three years, ” have removed to the Turk’s Head, 
Lowesmoor, and are merged into what may be called a 
new club, under the title of the ‘ Worcester Working 
Man’s Angling Society.’ ” Mr. E. H. Bowen, who has 
done so much for anglers in this city, and whose 
sympathies are so largely with the working men, has 
consented to be their president, has promised some 
valuable prizes, and is using his powerful influence in 
the interests of the club. Mr. Hubert Holland and 
other gentlemed are following Mr. Bowen’s good 
example, and promise a good amount for prizes. Mr. 
Wingfield, who has had so much to do with the various 
angling societies, is doing his best to give the club a 
good start, and there is no doubt but it will become one 
of the best clubs in the Midlands. At their first meet¬ 
ing there was a large attendance, Mr. E. H. Bowen in 
the chair, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. The 
title of the new club was agreed to. Mr. Bowen was 
unanimously elected president; Mr. Seth Robinson, 
treasurer; Mr. A. Glover, secretary l Messrs. Wingfield 
and Hallett, auditors ; and Messrs. Williams, Hallett, 
J. Glover, Slade, Burden, Deakin, Holder, Southam.and 
Mapp form the committee. Over seventy members 
have already joined. The president is doing his best to 
provide a good stretch of water for their use, and there 
is every promise of a great success. 
Notes from Ireland unavoidably held over on account 
of great pressicre on our space. 
Hepoxts from Clubs 
We beg to request Secretaries to post their Reports 
not later than Wednesday Night, addressed ‘^Editor, 
Fishing Gazette, St. Dunstan’s House, Fetter Lane, 
London,” and marked Club Report outside envelope. 
Post Card Reports preferred, unless for special meetings. 
Anglers’ Association. — The general committee 
met at Foresters’ Hall, on Monday, the 6th inst. Mr. 
G. H. Field was called to the chair, as the vice-president 
was unable to remain the whole evening. The seeretary 
read a letter from the Bermondsey Brothers’ Angling 
Society, conveying its thanks 1o the committee of this 
association for its energy and perseverance in obtaining 
the late concessions on the Great Eastern Railway Co. 
Mr. Ghurney informed the meeting that the Central 
Association had agreed to the publication of a balance- 
sheet of the Preservation Fund, and had promised to 
bear its proportion of the expense. A discussion en¬ 
sued regarding mixed angling and gun_ clubs, during 
which it was clearly shown that railway privilege tickets 
could not be issued to same. A printed letter was read 
from Mr. R. B. Marston, editor of the Fishing Gazette, 
asking us to send a deputation to a public meeting to be 
held at Foresters’ Hall, on Wednesday, at 7 p.m., with the 
object of discussing the amended proposed new bye-laws 
in their relation to riparian owners. It was unanimously 
decided to send a deputation, consisting of the members 
of the general committee and the gentlemen who formed 
the deputation to the Conservators. A letter from our 
bailiff at Langley was read, conveying information that 
he had found two members of the Central Association 
fishing in our waters, and that upon his warning them 
they desisted. The secretary stated one of these anglers 
called and apologised verbally, and that he had requested 
him and his friend to put same in writing. The matter 
was consequently referred to the next delegate meeting 
of the association. Our bailiff at St. Margaret’s re¬ 
ported he had detected an angler fishing with a bank 
runner, and that he had confiscated same. Mr. R. Laws 
reported that at a meeting of the Thames Angling 
Preservation Society, the amended proposed bye-laws 
were discussed, and that they were considered satisfac¬ 
tory, excepting with regard to the increased powers to bo 
given riparian owners. The secretary reported that, 
owing to the recent wet weather, the proposed netting of 
one of the East London reservoirs had been unavoidably 
postponed for a time.— Hon. Reporter 
Anglers’ Association, Foresters’ Hall, Clerken- 
well-road, E.C. — The monthly delegate meeting will teke- 
place on Monday evening next, March 20, at 8.30. 
Trout fishing in the River Lee will commence on May 1. 
—R. Ghurney, sec. 
Anglers’ Association. — Western District.— A 
successful visit was paid to the Jubilee on the 7th inst., 
twelve clubs being represented. The A. B. box was 
opened and found to contain 11s. 6d. The next visit 
will be paid to the Independent Brothers at the Three 
Greyhounds, 25, Greek-street, Soho, on Monday next, 
March 20.—J. Jennings. 
Anglers’ Benevolent Society, Foresters’ Hall, 
Clerkenwell-road, E.C.—Since my last report, I beg to- 
acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of ^£1 Is from 
the Gresham Angling Society; 10s. t>d., E. Allen, 9, 
Cavendish-row, St. John’s Wood. (Annual subscrip¬ 
tions), ifil 5s., Golden Barbel, collected at their smoking 
coneert; 11s. 6d. from the donation box of the Jubilee 
Angling Society ; 5s. donation from the Shepherd s Bush 
Angling Association; and .£1 Is., H. Gough, secretary, 
Thames Conservancy (life member). The next meeting 
of the committee will take place on Friday evening, 
March 24, at 8.30.—R. Ghurney, sec. 
Alma Angling Society, Crown Distillery, Vere- 
street, Clare Market.—Since last report, the following 
members have weighed-in ; J. Windsor, roach and dace, 
41b. 9oz. ; J. Scott, roach and dace, 21b. Soz. ; Sid Cut- 
bush, roach, 21b. 5oz.; S. Masters, perch; J. Pailes, 
roach, 111b., best roach lib. lloz. The following officers 
were elected at our meeting on the 14th, H. Seymour 
and A. Hill, chairman and vice for the ensuing quarter -. 
J. Windsor and Sid Cutbush, auditors ; H. Seymour and 
A. Hill, delegates I wish to remind those member.s 
that were absent that we fish for prizes value 20s., 15s., 
Ss., and Ss., on the 19th inst., usual conditions fromi 
Eye House to Hereford. The next return visit on the 
Central Association list takes place to the above-named 
society on Monday the 20th. All those secretaries of 
societies that have not received notice, please accept 
this as such. — J. Pailes, sec. 
Amicable Waltonian Angling Society, The 
Sun, Great Sutton-street, Goswell-road.—On the 12tb 
inst. several members were out, being the last show of 
the season, and a very good show of fish was the result 
contributed by the following members, Messrs. Blatch- 
ley, Lambarth, Embleton, Hill, and Rowe, roach; and 
Mr. Tomkins, jack. Members are requested to attend 
next meeting-night to arrange about distribution of 
prizes, and to fix date for the annual supper.—E. E. 
Embleton, sec. 
Anchor and Hope Angling Society, Royal 
George, Rotherhithe New-road.—The members of the- 
above held a competition on the 12th inst., with the 
result that Mr. A. Glass (roach and dace, 5Jlb.), first- 
prize, 15s., and Mr. Bodell (roach), took second prize* 
'There are three prizes not taken, so that members can 
go “roving” on the 19th, when I hope they will be 
successful in taking some good shows of fish. Mr. Alf* 
Jardine will read a paper entitled “ Angling Ways and 
Angling Days ” to our society on Wednesday, April 
19th, Mr. J. P. Wheeldon in the chair, on which occasion, 
a smoking concert will be arranged.—A. G. Smith, sec. 
Battersea United Fiscatorials, Lord Ranelagh, 
Verona-street, S.W.—On Tuesday last we terminated, 
for a young society, a very successful season. On our 
usual quarterly meeting on 15th inst. the total weight of 
fish weighed-in during the season was gone into, when it 
was found that 5211b. 5Joz. had been taken, which, I 
think, is a fair average. On the last day of the season 
Mr. E. Wilson weighed-in a grand take of roach and 
chub, 301b. 8oz., largest chub 31b., and largest roach 11b- 
The principal weights of fish for the season are Mr. E. 
Wilson, 36llb. 3oz.; Mr. Mackrell, 481b. S^oz.; Mr. F. 
Robinson, .321b. 12ioz. ; Mr. Hinkley, 201b. 5Joz.; Mr. 
Ellis, 231b. 3oz. ; Mr. F. Wilson, 121b. '(ioz. The fol¬ 
lowing gentlemen take club prizes ; Mr. E. Wilson, first 
punt prize; Mr. Mackrell, second punt prize; Mr. 
Hinkley. first bank prize; Mr. F. Wilson, second bank 
prize. Private prizes : Mr. E. Wilson, four prizes, and 
one for largest chub, 31b.; Mr. Mackrell, three prizes ; 
Mr. F. Wilson, two prizes; Mr. Steele, two prizes; Mr. 
Trowbridge, one prize ; Mr. Aplin, one prize ; Mr. Ellis, 
one prize. With a view to assisting the executive,prize 
donors are requested to kindly forward their prizes as 
early as possible, in order that we may make a 
successful finish.—A. 'rROWBRiDOE. sec. 
Bermondsey Brothers Angling Society, Wool- 
pack Tavern, Bermondsey-street, S.E.—Most of our 
members were out on the 12th inst., and several of them 
met with fair success. Mr. J. Smith, roach and 
chub; Mr. Mann, jack ; G. Payne, jack and perch; 
P. Allum, jack ; H. Patman, roach ; W. Streeton, roach : 
J. Warman, jack; and A. Conn, perch and jack. Total 
gross weight 721b.—A. Conn, sec. 
Blackfriars Angling Society, Winchester Arms, 
Southwark-street.—Since my last report we have had 
some good shows of fish on our trays. Mr. Wheelhouse. 
roach and dace; Mr. Foster, ditto ; Mr. Hacker had ft 
splendid chub weighing 31b. 2oz., which, when opened by 
the preserver was found to contain two legs of a bird. 
I might inform you that that was not Mr. Hacker’s bait. 
I wish all members in arrears would settle up as soon as- 
possible.—J. Foster, sec. 
Bostonian Angling Society. —We have had some 
grand shows of fish since my last report. Mr. West, 
