April 1, 1893] 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
243 
Lune until late in the season, the season for fishing should 
he prolonged for at least two weeks. The season for the 
lower reaches should bo curtailed by a week, and the 
nets taken off at stated times to allow fish an opportunity 
of ascending the river. It was also stated that the cost 
of a licence was ^24 if the net used did not exceed 
200 yards in length. As a net this length could not be 
worked in the upper portions, it is thought that a 
reduction should be made for those who used much 
shorter nets, generally about 50 yards in length. 
A licence to net trout costs ^£1, and a rod licence 
2s. 6d. It was stated that the conservators would 
confer a great boon on fishermen if the net licence was 
made to include both. The question of the da,mago to 
gates and fences done by watchers was also discussed. 
It was suggested that an action in the County Court 
would have a salutary effect on the watchers and make 
them more careful than they now are. The chairman 
stated that when the trout licence was imposed the con¬ 
servators agreed to spend every penny on restocking the 
river. A large amount has been made by rod licences 
(last year ^£35), but s*ill not a single fish had been 
turned into the river in that district. The following 
resolution, drafted by the chairman, was carried 
unanimously: “That, in the opinion of this meeting, the 
bye-laws of the Lune, Wyne, Keer, and Cocker Fishing 
Board, now in force, are most grievous and unsatis¬ 
factory to the fishermen in the upper reaches of the 
Lune and its tributaries, and that a deputation should 
be appointed to meet the board, with a view to a modi¬ 
fication of such bye-laws.” A deputation was chosen to 
represent the district, and it was agreed that, in 
addition to the matters before mentioned, the depu¬ 
tation should ask for the concession of the night tides. 
A meeting with a similar object was also held at Tebay, 
on Thursday. Two persons were appointed to act in 
conjunction with the Sedbergh deputation. 
The annual meeting of the Kent Angling Association 
was held on Tuesday evening, in the library of the 
Kendal Museum, Mr. C. Pollitt presiding. There was a 
good attendance of members and others interested in 
angling, and the report of the committee, though con¬ 
taining nothing of a sensational character, was on the 
whole satisfactory. The past spawning season, except 
for unusually high waters, had been favourable, and 
among trout there was practically no disease. Several 
salmon, badly diseased, had been brought to Mr. Watson, 
the hon. secretary, but only two of these had been taken 
from the Kent. They were all of large size, the smallest 
being 121b. The report concluded with a hope that the 
County Council would keep up a jealous supervision 
over the streams and rivers in the district. The 
association has a balance in the bank of nearly ,£50. 
Mr. Watson is to continue as secretary, with Mr. C. 
Hutchinson (of the firm of Hutchinson and Son, the 
noted fish-hook manufacturers) as assistant secretary. 
On Derwentwater. despite the low temperature, the 
season has commenced favourably. On this lakeTMr. J. 
Lowther had 251b. of trout (fifteen fish, the best of which 
weighed 3Jib.); other single fish have been taken of 
2.jlb. and 41b., the most successful anglers with running 
minnow being Mr. H. Beadle, 121b. ; Mr. H. Dixon, 
Mr. W. Netrton, Mr. J. Banks (61b.), and Mr. T. 
Hodgson. On the river Derwent Messrs. Melvin, 
J. Musgrave (101b.), T. and J. Thwaites, and J. Eugar, 
have been to the fore. Not much sport has been 
obtained yet on other streams in the district. 
Brilliant sunny weather continues to hold its own in 
this county ; bright days are succeeded by frosty nights, 
and the proverbial “oldest inhabitant” declares that 
never was such warmth and brightness experienced 
before in the month of March. All this, however, con¬ 
duces not to Successful angling ; and the state of the 
weather, coupled with the fact that most people are this 
week preparing for the holidays, may account for the 
small number of anglers who have been out. At any 
rate, reports to hand are almost nil, partially accounted 
for, perhaps, by the early date of despatching our notes. 
Mr. J. Whitehead and Mr. H. Mann had each a few fish 
from the upper portion of the Kent on Monday. We 
hoar tha t during the week end many trout were poisoned 
below the paper-mills at Bowston, through what agency 
may easily be inferred. 
Fly-fishing on the lakes is at a standstill, but a few 
nice trout are taken by trolling. On Derwentwater Mr. 
H. Dixon had six, the best weighing 21b.; Messrs. J. 
Bowe, nine ; J. Banks, three ; and T. Hodgson one of 
Clb., which are the best out of a number of others. In 
the River Derwent Mr. J. Musgrave had 4Jlb. of well 
fed fish. 
FROM LANCASHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Up to the time of writing the weather for the past ten 
days has been delightful, and probably never during the 
late summer had we such a corresponding long spell of 
fine weather. This makes it all the worse to bear from 
an antler’s point of view, considering that we cannot go 
forth to our local waters, which are principally noted for 
coarse fish. Many and complete arrangements have 
been made for excursions to Scotland, Wales, and even 
Ireland, in search of sport, and if suitable weather con¬ 
tinues, Lancashire will for a few days at Easter be 
represented fully at many distant fishing resorts. In the 
district of Manchester great satisfaction is felt at the 
termination of the cotton struggle, and just when our 
distressed brother anglers have got to work again, we 
are threatened with another bother (this time over some 
fishing),which ought nevertohave occurred. Without for 
a minute entering into the merits of the crisis in the camp 
of the Central Anglers, we feel sure that had a little for¬ 
bearance been exercised the existing unpleasantness 
might have been avoided : as it is, good feeling has been 
thrown overboard and the interests of hundreds of 
fishermen jeopardised. 
It is matter for congratulation that the subscribers to 
the Worsley canal Have so far loyally submitted to the 
regulation closing the waters until June 15. But the 
working-man angler, although credited with many bad 
practices, is not slow to see the benefit to be derived 
from such a step, and is assisting the board to enforce 
the regulation. 
The sub-committee of the Manchester associated 
clubs met last week, and transacted a lot of useful 
business, amongst other important items, that of suit¬ 
able waters for the association. It is also gratifying to 
learn that the Kingfisher, Exchange, and Old Persever¬ 
ance Societies were admitted as members of the dis¬ 
trict. If wise councils prevail this district will in the 
future be a tower of strength, and may be trusted to 
give a very good account of itself in its way of legislat¬ 
ing on angling questions. 
On the 27th a further consignment of roach was 
received from Mr. Greenough, and turned into the 
Worsley Canal Fishery at Monton Green. The fish were 
not large, on an average four inches, but, being of a good 
breed and young, should develope in the new water in a 
very short time. This makes the third thousand, leav¬ 
ing seven thousand to be delivered. The Bolton anglers 
are still alive to the importance of stocking, and lately 
purchased 2000 yearling trout for their waters, this 
makes about d£50 spent on trout stocking alone in a very 
short time. 
By the time these notes are in print two very impor¬ 
tant events will have been decided in Lancashire, one at 
Moses Gate and the other at Howebridge. Although 
this is the legal close time for coarse fish, yet the owners 
of these waters are strictly within their rights in allow¬ 
ing contests, but at the same time on the face of it there 
appears this fact, that fish may be killed which in the 
future would assist in making these waters attractive, 
yes, and remunerative as well to the respective owners. 
River reports generally show a scarcity of water, and 
if ever an angler needed to keep out of sight, now is 
the time when most streams are gin-clear. Disease is 
prevalent in a popular stream near to Manchester, and 
only last Saturday a good trout of IJlb. was taken out 
gasping and dying. The appearance of the fish was 
peculiar, being of a bronze green with white furry 
spots, and generally repulsive to look at. We forbear 
to locate the water further than to say it is in Derby¬ 
shire. 
The secretaries of the Northern Anglers’ Association 
have sent out an urgent whip for a meeting of the 
general council, to be held at the Grand Hotel, 
Manchester, on Tuesday, April 4, at seven o’clock. 
Business—Special and important, re anglers’ travelling 
facilities and privileges. 
FROM MONMOUTHSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
This has been an exceptionally early trout season in 
this district. The Monnow is a very late river, as a 
rule, probably owing to the extreme coldness of its 
waters, the fish rarely rising much before April, and, 
when they do, not being in good condition. 
This year, however, there was not only a capital rise 
in the middle of March, but the fish were in capital 
order. This was caused by the mildness of the season, 
which made the fish rise, and the heavy rain floods, in 
the beginning of March, which brought down food and 
put them into condition. The March brown hatched 
out earlier than usual, and there was a splendid rise 
about the 14th and 15th. I got twenty-seven trout, 
weighing i4.Vlb., with it and the Early Blue Dun, one 
day at that time on private water. 
Of course, as a matter of fact, practically all this 
beautiful little stream is private, and this year arrange¬ 
ments have been made by which it will be more strictly 
preserved than ever. 
Now it has fallen too low, and from this cause, and 
the cold nights, no fish have been taken just lately. 
A start can hardly be said to have been made with 
the Wye yet. This river must be low and clear to fish 
well down here, and as this is now the case, and 
happening after heavy floods, which might have been 
expected to have brought the fish up, I should have 
expected better sport. However, it is full early yet, 
and probably the heavy fioods took most of the few 
springers already run right up to the head of the river. 
Several anglers have been out, but without success, 
except in one case, that of Mr. Bradshaw, who landed 
what, as far as I can hear, is the first fieh of the season, 
at Redbrook—a fine clean fish of 211b. This was taken 
with artificial minnow. Neither fly nor prawn have 
done any good, although both have been well tried. 
The river still swarms with kelts, and several have been 
landed. . . 
The Wye here is a poor trout river, but such as it is 
it has done pretty well, the March Brown being out 
thick. 
The risk has done very well with trout. I had one 
day on it about the middle of the month on the race¬ 
course at Abergavenny, and although such a gale was 
blowing as made it hard to keep a fly on the water, 
especially with the little 10ft. rod I was using, I 
managed to get twelve in lovely condition. It is a 
wonderfully early river, but it was difficult to believe 
that it was only the,middle of March to look at them. 
One thing that struck me was the apparent absence of 
kelts. It was a fine day for seeing salmon rise, but I 
never saw the sign of a fish. I hope this means that 
the heavy floods took most of them down early. The 
“ Cockwing ” should soon be on now. 
FROM NORFOLK. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The lovely weather has tempted several anglers to 
have a last try at the pike, but their efforts have been 
well nigh useless ; in fact, all I can gather in the way of 
catches is one pike, 81b., and one grand perch of 3 Jib., 
that fell victims to a couple of angling gentlemen early 
this week. 
The big bream are still biting well in the vicinity of 
the swing bridge at Carrow, some very good hauls 
having been made by local piscators. 
FROM NOTTINGHAM- 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The fine weather continues, although since Saturday 
the wind has veered round into the east, and the nights 
are very cold. There is no alteration in the general con¬ 
dition of the river in our district, excepting it is a few 
inches lower than when I last wrote. Rain would do 
good generally, and until some falls and produces a 
temporary rise, we are not likely to hear of many salmon 
being got with the rod. Salmon, like other fish, prefer 
“freshes” occasionally, and a substantial rise of the 
Trent just now would doubtless bring up a large quantity 
of fresh run fish. Some of those that are up are not in 
the best of condition, although it is evident they are not 
kelts. 
At Colwick weir head the subscribers have been busy 
daily, but as yet not a single fish has been hooked. Very 
likely those seen in the swim above the weir in the pre¬ 
vious week have proceeded higher up the river. The fish 
do not appear to stay about Nottingham, and for several 
years past very few have been noticed above the weir at 
Beeston Rylands. The Soar they won’t face, and in the 
matter of pollution the Derwent is far worse than the 
main stream. 'The favourite haunts are unquestionably 
those associated with the Shardlow and King’s Mills 
sections of the Trent, and, with the water in its present 
low condition, it is extremely doubtful whether the fish 
can get over the long range of weirs at King’s Mills. 
Here, on Thursday, Mr. T. Wood, the lessee, killed his 
second fish of the season—one of 101b.—and on the 
same day, and in close proximity to the ferry chain, I 
hooked and landed one estimated at 141b. On Friday 
Mr. Wood scored another success, getting one of 121b., 
and others have been seen leaping in the deeps above 
Wenham hole. Sport has, however, fallen off, and 
little will, I apprehend, be met with until the river has 
undergone a change. 
I believe that one of the Thrumpton subscribers was 
out at the weirs there on Monday, andgentlemen living at 
Newark have tried the waters below those at Averham. 
None, however, appear to have run a fish. The season 
is, of course, full early, and holders of licences must 
exercise patience. 
There are plenty of fresh run eels in the river. 
FROM SHEFFIELD. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
By the time these lines are in print trout fishing will 
have become general throughout Yorkshire and the 
adjoining counties of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. 
Although Sheffield is in Yorkshire wo are very little 
interested in trout fishing within our own county, as it 
is all done miles away from Sheffield, and at places inac¬ 
cessible, unless the visitor is going to stay a few days. 
Therefore we have little to say about Yorkshire. With 
respect to Derbyshire and Lincolnshire the case is diffe¬ 
rent. Derbyshire is the home of trout fishing in this 
part of England—a circumstance by no means to be 
marvelled at when one rememcers that the county con¬ 
tains the Derwent, the Wye, and the Dove streams 
that have been renowned as trout waters from time 
immemorial. Lincolnshire is not so much of a trout 
fishing county, the greater portion of the waters being 
given over to the coarser species of fish, as pike, 
roach, perch, bream, eels, &c. The Witham 
contains a few trout in its upper reaches, as does 
the Ancholme, above Brigg, while there are 
several smaller streams in the Grantham and"Sleaford 
districts in which trout may also be found. It is to 
Derbyshire, therefore, that local rodsmen turn their 
attention, the rivers mentioned being fished by as many 
Sheffielders as anglers from any other part of the 
country. Already the Sheaf, near Sheffield, has been 
tried, and some fair-sized fish taken with the worm. 
This river joins the Don at Sheffield, but, previous to 
entering the city, runs through a very nice portion of 
Derbyshire. At one time fish were taken all a,long its 
course in abundance, right to the edge of the city ; but 
now its reputation an a trout steam is on the wane, and 
fish are few and far between. Hovvever, it i3,_ con¬ 
sidering its proximity to the town, still worth visiting, 
as witness the success of several local men, who have 
during this and last WGek takon fish of ^Ib. and upwards 
within four miles of Sheffield Permission to fish is, I 
believe, easily obtainable from the local millowners. 
At the time of writing the water is in good condition, 
and a friend who lives at Eccleshall assures me that 
those who are trying the river are, if they know any¬ 
thing at all about fishing, doing sufficiently well to 
reward them for their exertions. 
A matter of considerable importance to Sheffield trout 
anglers found its way into the columns of the Sheffield 
newspapers this week, in the shape of a voluminous cor¬ 
respondence between Mr. W. H. Lester, of Upperthorpe, 
and Mr. J. H. Phillips, secretary to the Yorkshire 
Fishery Board. It may be remembered that the Queen’s 
Bench recently decided that the Severn Board of Con¬ 
servators have no authority over their water in the 
Vyrnwy lake and river above. On this decision being 
