March 25, 1893] 
TILE ITSIIING GAZETTE 
215 
elements are highly favourable for angling. The 
favourite bait of local anglers for trout is divided between 
the fly and the worm, and an old angler on Saturday 
informed me that the latter is the moat killing.— 
J. E. W. _ 
FROM MONTGOMERYSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
An association has recently been formed having for 
its object the preservation of trout and grayling in the 
river Severn, within the boundaries of the county of 
Salop, and is expected to commence its operations 
next month. It is a matter for great congratu¬ 
lation amongst all anglers in the vicinity that 
such an association is formed, and a very great 
pity that it could not be extended to include the 
county of Montgomery also, and extend to the 
Vyrnwy as well as the Severn, as all the arguments as 
to the urgent want of such an association for the 
Severn, in the county of Salop, apply with quite as 
much force to the Severn and its principal tributary, 
the Vyrnwy, in the adjacent county of Montgomery, 
and it would be a great boon to all anglers resident in 
the county if a similar association, having the same 
objects in view, could be formed for Montgomery ; and 
there is not the least doubt that the principal land- 
owners interested, if properly approached, would follow 
the good example of those in Shropshire, and in so 
doing render both the Severn and the Vyrnwy the 
protection they now so much need, and which is all they 
require to make them second to none in the country for 
angling imrposes. The chief reason why these fine 
rivers do not contain more trout and grayling is that at 
the present time next to nothing has been done in the 
way of re-stocking them, as is proposed to be done by 
this association. As far as grayling are concerned, they 
are said to be rather more plentiful than in former 
years in the Vyrnwy in the neighbourhood of 
Llanymynech, but in all other parts of the Vyrnwy 
and Severn they are very scarce indeed, and the 
same with regard to trout, and unless some general efforts 
are made to increase the number of these fish they 
will continue to get scarcer year by year, and it is indeed 
high time that some determined and combined attempts 
should be made in this direction, and it is to be hoped 
that Montgomeryshire will follow the good example set 
by Shropshire, and that such associations will prosper 
and also make their influence felt in other ways, not 
excepting on the Severn Fishery Board, which, at 
present, has the sole control of these rivers; and it is 
not too much to say that very little attention is paid by 
them to anything excepting the interests of the sea and 
estuary salmon-netters, and for which class, as is 
abundantly proved by results, they have done every¬ 
thing, whilst entirely neglecting the interests of all the 
remainder of those who look’to them for protection. So 
that, as far as the upper waters are concerned, it 
appears useless to expect any improvement in the rivers, 
and, therefore, all who really have the welfare of angling 
at heart, will cordially wish success to associations 
such as the one above mentioned. 
All our rivers are now at their proper level, and the 
beautiful weather of the past week has totally 
obliterated all traces of snow from the hills, and the 
water is now in very good condition, and anglers are 
enjoying some capital sport with trout, and some very 
good baskets of these have been taken during the past 
few days. Nothing has yet been done with rod and lino 
amongst the salmon, and very little with the nets, 
owing to the rivers, since the commencement of the 
season, being more or less flooded, but now they are 
nearly at their average level. Our local fishermen have 
been busily engaged of late, but with very poor results, 
as up to the present in the Severn, above Shrewsbnry, 
only seven salmon have been secured, ranging in 
weight from 201b. to 111b. In the Vyrnwy only two 
have as yet been taken, one of which weighed a little 
over 181b., and the other about lOlbs. It seems to be 
the general impression amongst the fishermen that, 
owing to the recent floods, the fish have contrived to 
reach the upper part of the Vyrnwy and Severn, where 
operations have not yet commenced, but in a few days 
we expect to hoar of some good takes of salmon in those 
localities ; but should it prove otherwise it will be the 
old, old story of all the fish being taken in the lower 
waters. In this neighbourhood very few old fish have 
been observed in the rivers alive, but more than the 
average quantities of the dead bodies of the old kelts 
have been seen in different parts of the rivers since the 
waters have lowered, but how they meet with their 
deaths in this manner is not satisfactorily accounted for. 
FROM NORFOLK. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The annual dinner of the Yare and Bure Preservation 
Society was held on Wednesday evening, March 15, at 
the Maid’s Head Hotel, Norwich, Sir Edward Birkbeck, 
Bart., presided, and was supported by the Deputy Mayor 
(Mr. G. M. Chamberlin), Sir E. Beauchamp, Colonel 
Sturgeon, Councillors King, Loveday, Cubitt, Everett, 
and Grimmer, Messrs. E. Wild, E. G. Buxton, F. Cozens- 
Hardy, E. W. H. Keith, G. C. Davis, Spencer Bix,H. R. 
Downes, C. J. Greene (secretary), C- Daniels, G. Daniels, 
G. Diggens, G. West, T. E. Gunn, S. F. Howitt, A. J. 
Rudd, (bon. assistant secretary;, and others. 
A first-class dinner was provided by Mr. Pomeroy in 
the large dining-room which was beautifully decorated 
with tiophies of flags and cases of stuffed fish lent by 
Mr. T. E. Gunn. 
After dinner the President read letters of apology 
from the Mayor, Sheriff, the Hon. Harbord Harbord, 
Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P., Mr. S. Hoare, M.P., Hon. A. E. 
Fellowes, M.P., and other gentlemen. 
The loyal toasts having been duly honoured, the 
Deputy Mayor gave the “ Regular and Reserve Forces” 
which was responded to by Col. Sturgeon. 
Mr. Chas. Daniels, in a felicitous speech, gave the 
“ Mayor, Sheriff, and Corporation of Norwich,” coupled 
with the health of the Deputy Mayor. 
Angling in this district is almost at a standstill, for 
though we have no close season for rod and lino fishing, 
yet most sportsmen give up about the middle of March. 
A few are holding out till the end of the month, as pike 
are not very forward, though they are not feeding well 
now. 
One gentleman, angling in private water, had a fine 
lot last Thursday, the fish, to the number of ten, running 
up to 111b. 
The bream which last week were in the neighbourhood 
of Trowso Hythe are now high up the river, quite 
within the boundary of the river (Norwich), and are 
still biting fairly well, catches of from two to five 
stone being of daily occurrence.—A. J. Rudd. 
FROM NOTTINGHAM. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
There is no doubt that a fair number of salmon have 
now reached the middle and upper reaches of the Trent, 
and holders of licences have, at present, nothing to com¬ 
plain of in the matter of the condition of the river. At 
the time of writing it was low and clear, and suitable 
for either trolling or worming. We say trolling and 
worming advisedly, for as yet no salmon inhabiting the 
Trent has ever been known to accept the fly. Why they 
will not we cannot tell, but the fact is established, and we 
shall be glad to hear when it can be controverted. The 
favourite runs of the fish are unquestionably those 
associated with the Shardlow and King’s Mills’ stretches, 
and in the latter, on Monday, Mr. T. Wood, the lessee, 
scored his first success with one of the Devon artificials. 
Mr. Wood had previously hooked one, but the hooks 
came out after a long fight. Monday’s fish weighed 
151b., and, being fresh run, it was as handsome as paint. 
Six or seven others were seen on Tuesday, and three 
or four have been observed in the “Long Swim,” at 
Shardlow. 
Salmon anglers have been out at Holme Pierrepont, 
below Nottingham, but up to the time of writing no 
successes had been reported. Subscribers to the water 
should, however, bear in mind that the season is yet 
early. 
On the closing day of the ordinary season six pike, 
largest 61b., were, I understand, caught with the live- 
bait in the Beeston private fishery- The angler landed 
nine—nine too many in March—and returned three. 
Eels are running upwards, and, just before the Mun- 
dolla Act came into operation, several were caught with 
the worm. In the close season angling for them with 
the rod is illegal, except by special permission, and the 
night-lining fraternity in our district ought to be closely 
watched. Fishermen who go in for eel fishing on any 
waters in the close time are a class of men who, as a 
rule, take all fish that come to the hook. 
Last week the landlord of the Cliff Inn, at Weston, 
who is leaving the house, had arranged to net the 
famous “ Blackpool ” below the Cliff. 'The pool is fed 
by the Trent, and in it most of the pike inhabiting the 
river in the district deposit their spawn. Information 
of the proposed netting reached the ears of Mr. Wood, 
the lessee of the Weston waters, and that gentleman 
without delay communicated with the owner of the 
land-'jSir Robert Wilmot), the tenant of the shooting 
(Mr. T. Eastwood, of Derby), and others. The result 
was that the “ sport ” was nipped in the bud, and Mr. 
Wood deserves the cordial thanks of his subscribers for 
the prompt action thus adopted. Had the netting taken 
place there is no doubt a terrific slaughter of jiiko, 
roach, and bream would have been recorded. 
Many local anglers have asked me what society or 
club in Nottingham was the first to take over waters on 
the Trent for angling purposes. My answer is that for 
thirty years, at least, the Thrumpton waters have been 
rented by Nottingham gentlemen, the hon. secretary of 
the club being Mr. H. H. Carter, solicitor ; and that the 
Kelham length has for years been in the hands of a 
party of Nottingham gentlemen, headed by Mr. R. 
Toone. Two seasons ago the Nottingham Shoulder of 
Mutton Society took over a piece of water above Trent 
lock, and this season the Shardlow Fishery (the best for 
barbel on the whole length of the Trent) is in the hands 
of the popular Nottingham Wellington Society. 
FROM SHEFFIELD. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Angling for coarse fish being now illegal, I would 
vtntu -e to suggest that the Sheffield Association should, 
durin; the close season, mske an effort towards placing 
be. ora its mo mber.s instructions in the art they follow. 
Lest my remarks be misunderstood, I will at once state 
that I mean no offence, neither do I wish to cast a slight 
up' n any of my Sheffield brethren. But, all the same, 
one c n’t be an angler without noticing the large number 
of ’nompetent noodles who year after year ply the rod 
over some of our best wat'-rs, occasionally to the discom- 
foit aud annoyance of others better versed in the technics 
of the art, who may chance to be fishing in their 
immediate vicinity. In the case of a large town like 
Sheffield, this is inevitably the case. We have artisans, 
clerks, shopkeepers, and labourers by the thousand, who, 
as far as they have light, are devoted followers of the 
craft. But these men have never received any instruc¬ 
tions |in the principles of the art, either from reading 
or from the association. They have taken to the sport 
because they liked it. They have seen others go away 
into the country with their tackle, and come back re¬ 
freshed, and they have followed their example, becoming 
members of clubs and anglers in name, but not in 
heart. Many of them, as time goes on, get deeper 
into the real spirit of the thing, and finally become 
habitual fishermen, practical and expert, although self 
taught. Others there are who never attain this stage. 
They fish during the summer, because they enjoy the 
change from the smoke, filth, and grime of the city to 
the exhilarating and refreshing influence of the country 
air. Then, when the summer wanes, they put away 
their tackle until the return of genial weather, never 
thinking of making themselves proficient in the sport 
by reading. Now, what is to be done with these people? 
I should be the last person in the world to suggest auy- 
thing that would deprive them of the privileges they 
so much esteem. On the contrary, I would do everything 
I could to increase their interest and ardour for the 
sport. I hold it the duty of an angling association not only 
to work for the securing and conserving of waters and the 
vindication of the rights of its members, but to instruct 
those who need instruction, and to help those who need 
helping. Then I would suggest to the association that it 
should take this matter in hand during the close season, 
aud aim at giving the instruction I recommend by means 
of papers and lectures and practical discourses upon the 
art. There are numberless anglers in the city who are 
really skilled and well versed men, brimming over with 
information, who would be glad to take this matter u;) 
and give their younger brethren the benefit of their advice 
and experience,and if they hung back, then the London 
society with the long name—as one of your staff speaks 
of it—would give the necessary help at a very nominal 
figure, I believe. I cannot help thinking that this idea, 
if carried out, would be of immense benefit to Sheffield 
anglers, and in the long run would repay the small 
expense incurred. 
There were other matters about which I wished to 
say something this week—the departure for the North of 
many well-known salmon anglers; the forthcomiiig 
exhibition of articles of sport at the Sheffield Drill 
Hall, sure to be an enjoyable affair; and a few 
suggestions I had to make to those of my brethren who 
would like to take up a little trout fishing during the 
next three months, informing them where they might 
get an afternoon’s sport, and recommending them to 
give it a turn. After coarse fishing they would find it 
an enjoyable change. However, I must leave these 
matters to another week. 
FROM SHROPSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Bright sunny days have favoured angling, and, the 
streams being in good order, some good trout fishing has 
been obtainable. Few anglers have yet put on the fly, 
the majority using the natural or artificial minnow with 
fair results. The streams, however, are quite clear 
enough for all methods of angling. 
Anglers generally in this county do not appear to be 
in favour of the scheme put forth by the Shropshire 
Severn Angling Association, deeming their proposals, 
coming as they do from riparian owners, unsatisfactory. 
They do not relish the idea of paying the new body a 
licence fee of 5s. for the continuance of the privileges 
they have hitherto enjoyed, viz., of fishing the river 
almost without interruption'at anypoint. Theylclaimthat 
they have the right to fish the Severn without payment to 
any private body, as the river is in the first place navi¬ 
gable, and, secondly, that the ancient public towing 
path rights enable them to fish from the banks, where 
they exist without interference from the landowners, 
ami we think that these arguments constitute a pretty 
strong ease in the event of the new body assuming a 
hostile position. The association does not purpose in¬ 
cluding that part of the river lying within the boun¬ 
daries of the borough of Shrewsbury within the area of 
its proposed action, but anglers in the county town do 
not by any means confine their sport to this water, and 
therefore we think they will not readily pay the 53. fee 
which the Severn Angling Association purposes demand¬ 
ing. Again, it will be several years before the new 
body, even under the most favourable circumstances, 
can make any appreciable improvement in the fishing, 
and during that time anglers will be required to pay this 
licence fee for no greater privileges than they have 
hitherto enjoyed by the small payment of Is. to the 
Severn Conservators. 
FROM YORK AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
One of the questions uppermost in the mind of a York 
angler at the present time is, “ Will the Corporation 
grant the application of the Amalgamated Angler’s 
Association re the fishing rights in the River Foss ?” All 
are anxious that the answer shall be in the affirmative, 
yet all are not equally sanguine that it will be so. In 
the opinion of one or two of the prominent fishermen 
interested in the matter, it is thought that the members 
of the Corporation—none of whom can lay claim to being 
practical anglers—do not thoroughly understand the 
question. That may be true, and, personally, I believe it 
is. Moreover, they are of the opinion that they will be 
parting with power in some way or otner. “ But how 
could this be P” I heard one gentleman argue, “ for if 
the Amalgamated Anglers’ Association paid a small 
rent, as they are prepared to do, their tenancy might 
terminate at a definite period at the will of the Corpora¬ 
tion.” Again the Anglers’ Association have no selfish 
motive in view, but an object which would be a boon to 
the citizlens. Their endeavour is merely to prevent the 
