297 
April 22, 1893] 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
at last. The learned meteorologist told us last week 
that we might expect floods, storms, and even earth¬ 
quakes on Sunday, the IGth. The last-named is a 
commodity not much dealt in in England, and one with 
which we can at all times dispense ; fortunately this 
part of the prophecy is yet unfulfilled, but the rain 
came on the day indicated—gently at first, and more 
copiously afterwards, gladdening the face of the earth 
and the hearts cf anglers. Monday was a thoroughly 
wet day, but on Tuesday it toned down to little more 
than a “ Scotch mist.” As a consequence, much of the 
moisture was absorbed by the parched ground, and no 
very marked impression has been made on the rivers. 
Still, a few fishermen have turned out with varying 
success—generally indifferent—and we have heard of no 
captures calling for special mention. Our Tebay corre¬ 
spondent writes that “ there has not been much fishing 
going on lately in this part of the I.une, as the water 
has been so low; but, as the weather is inclined to 
change, it will set anglers at liberty.” Much the same 
in effect is reported from the Eden, and also from the 
Kent, Mint, and Sprint district, though a few fish have 
been obtained in the last-named stream. 
At the monthly meeting of the West Cumberland 
Fishery Board, held at the end of last week, the chair¬ 
man (Mr. J. Musgrave) referred to the loss the board 
had sustained in the sudden death of Mr. Burns-Lindow, 
one of the oldest conservators, and paid a fitting tribute 
to the zeal and practical knowledge displayed by the 
deceased gentleman in all matters relating to fisheries. 
The question of the suggested increased facilities 
for enabling fish to ascend the Ehen, and particularly 
the weir at the Cleator Mills, was also introduced, it 
being stated that Mr. Ainsworth, who was interested 
in the weir, had seen Mr. Berrington at the Board of 
Trade on the matter, and it was adjourned pending a 
report by the inspector on the proposed construction of 
a fish pass. 
At the same meeting a serious case of fish poisoning 
was reported. The head watcher stated that large 
numbers of young trout and salmon fry had been 
destroyed through the discharge into the river of 
sewerage by the Cleator Moor Local Board. One of his 
assistants had taken out ninety-six dead trout and 
salmon fry ; and two days afterwards he had himself 
taken from the river sixteen others, while there were 
many more lying dead amongst the discharge. Such 
are the admirable methods adopted for the depopulation 
of our fishing streams ! However, the Board instructed 
their clerk to inform the offenders that they could not 
tolerate such a state of things, and it is hoped the pro¬ 
test will meet with the speedy attention it deserves. 
Another and much more serious case of poisoning than 
the above has occurred in the Bela, which is probably 
the best fishing river in South Westmoreland. On Thurs¬ 
day and Friday last large quantities of fish of every 
description—trout, smelts, sea-trout, &c.—were found 
dead or floating helpless from the neighbourhood of the 
village of Beetham down to where the river flows into 
Morecambe Bay ; and it is alleged that this grand 
stretch of water, upwards of a mile in length, has been 
entirely depopulated. Even the eels in the mud at the 
estuary were killed, so virulent had been the agent 
employed. Amongst the fish taken from the river were 
some of large growth, one weighing nearly 51b. ; but 
perhaps the destruction of younger fish and fry may be 
regarded as more serious then the loss of a few of good 
dimensions. Great indignation has been expressed 
amongst anglers in the district, and the matter is to be 
thoroughly investigated, as the local angling association 
comprises in its membership gentlemen of influence and 
social standing. We understand that the head watcher 
of the fishery board was communicated with and was 
early on the scene. _ 
FROM LANCASHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Considerable improvement has taken place during the 
past week in the success attending trout fishing. The 
weather has generally been fine, but one or two dull 
days have to some extent minimised the scarcity of 
water, and enabled the fly fisher at some parts of the 
day to rise and kill a good fish. Situations like the 
present bring out all the resources of a fisherman, and 
force him to try all his finest tackle and most tempting 
flies, and it is only the man of resources that succeeds 
under existing circumstances. 
Matters as regards the waters at Whaley Bridge are 
now for the time s^ttled so far as concerns the Man¬ 
chester District Anglers’ Association. The verbal 
arrangement entered into at the March meeting has 
been reduced to writing, and all the members of this 
district will be admitted to full privilege on payment of 
Is. fid. each ; clubs outside the district will be charged 
3s., so that it will be a direct advantage for all clubs 
to become affiliated, and should conduce to once rnore 
consolidate the Manchester clubs under one executive. 
Mr. Pendrigh is to be congratulated on this item, so 
quickly following his election to the presidential chair. 
All information and tickets can be obtained from 
Mr. John Peacock, 185, City-road, Manchester. 
From Staleybridge, again, comes the report of pro¬ 
gress. That indefatigaWe angler, Mr. J. H. Hall, has 
been successful in transferring to the society’s pre¬ 
serves a fine lot of roach, numbering from 350 to 400, 
and averaging Goz. to 8oz., and there yet remains other 
places to net. and other fish to be transferred. 
From Salford also comes gratifying intelligence, as the 
Tatton Anglers are now in a flourishing condition. 
They possess the privilege of fishing in a good trout 
stream, and several lodges containing coa,rse fish, and, 
in addition, find their finances once more in a satisfac¬ 
tory condition. 
The Hampton Court Anglers are now fairly going, and, 
although a recent organisation, are rapidly perfecting 
their arrangements, and in a few weeks will be fully 
e(inipped. 
From Chowbent cheering news is to hand, Mr. 
Greenough having added a very large consignment of 
various fish to his lodges, which are retained for the 
use of his club ; there appears to be no end to Mr. 
Greenough’s generosity. 
During the week 2000 more fish have been added to the 
stock of the Worsley canal, so that, by the time the waters 
are opened in June, there should be no scarcity of sport; 
the fish may probably be small, but will be plentiful, 
and, if fairly treated by those fishing, by another season 
should be up to size. It would be useful to know who 
is the proper anthority to take action when the fishery 
laws are broken. It is almost a daily occurrence for 
grayling to be exposed for sale in some of the very^ best 
fishmongers’ shops in Manchester, and yet no notice is 
taken. How can we expect fishermen to obey the law 
when things like this go unchallenged. Fishermen 
appear to be blind to their own interests in this case, as 
in many others, for ever since the close season com¬ 
menced we hear daily, almost hourly, of large quantities 
of coarse fish being taken, and secretaries unblushingly 
send in reports of matches for publicationin the columns 
of our newspapers. ___ 
FROM MONMOUTHSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
During the whole of the week before last there were 
plenty of fish in the lower pools of the Wye, but they 
would not look at a fly or bait of any description. How¬ 
ever, last week there was a high spring tide, and several 
fish have been caught on the lowest pools, mostly with 
fly and prawn. On the 10th, Mr. Bradshaw killed one, 
121b., and another gentleman one, 221b. On the 12th, 
Mr. Marsh got one, 271b., and Mr. Turner one (said to 
be), 331b. Mr. Hooke had four or flve altogether. The 
Usk is very low and clear, and I hear terrible accounts 
from it. The Monnow is in the same state, and the 
results have been, so far as 1 can hear, nil. Rain is 
wanted badly both for fishing and for the land. Mr. 
Crompton-Roberts has been netting his water for coarse 
fish, and has got chub up to 31b. and 41b. These fish are 
the ruination of the trout fishing in these extreme lower 
waters—not only destroying an immense amount of fry 
and spawn, but taking much food that inight go to feed 
the trout and grayling. I never saw a river of that size 
where they grew so large. I have several instances of 
chub nearer 51b. than 41b. The dace also run an excep¬ 
tional size. The trout fishing ought to be magnificent 
when we get rid of them.— Douglas Guaham. 
FROM NORFOLK. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The exceptionally fine weather continues, and, strange 
to say, there seems no sign of a change. This makes 
about seven weeks of grand summer-like weather—quite 
a record for this time of year. In some parts of the 
county, a slight shower or two have occurred, but none 
worth mentioning near Norwich. As a consequence, the 
rivers are very low and clear—quite unfit for fishing, and 
very little has been done. 
A few anglers out on Saturday and Monday, took 
some fair roach and bream at Brundall and Buckenham, 
some of the bream ranging 51b. to Gib. each. 
Mr. Miles, of Birmingham, who is again fishing at 
Sa'house, had some nice perch to day. 
The Norwich Town Council, who are now getting well 
on with their Sewerage Scheme, which should make some 
difference to the condition of the Ya,re in its upper 
reaches, had a discussion to-day relative to the desir¬ 
ability of taking over the sewerage of Thorpe Village, 
situate on “the old liver ” just below the City. The 
village sewage up to now has been emptied into this 
river, which is the old channel of the Yare, where it 
flowed previously to the cut being made by the G. E. 
Railway. This quiet bye-stream would give any amount 
of sport to local anglers, particularly in the winter 
months, were it in a clean condition. This is very 
desirable, to say nothing of the improvements frona a 
sanitary point of view, which is the point from which 
the local authorities look at it. . , ,. 
I am sure that this will g'ive great satisfaction to all 
local anglers, if successfully carried through, which it 
is hoped it will be. __ 
FROM NOTTINGHAM. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Although rain fell on Sunday and Monday, there 
not sufflcient to make anv appreciable difference in the 
height of the Trent, which consequently remains in very 
low and bright condition. Unless a substantial rise 
speedily occurs, salmon fishing will be a failure so far as 
the spring is concerned. Some fish are up, but, owing to 
the staleness of the water, they do not seem disposed to 
look at any sort of bait. A few gentlemen have again 
patronised the King's Mills and Shardlow sections 
during the week, but without hooking a fish. In the 
former reach I gave, the new Serpentanic bait brought 
out by Messrs. Birtleet and Sons a fairly good trial on 
the 13th, and I confess I was much struck by its 
brilliancy and working powers in the water. Under more 
favourable conditions I have little doubt it will be found 
a sure killer, and salmon anglers who have not yet seen 
the pattern would do well to secure one. The hook 
arrangements are admirable, and a.re certain to stop 
every fish that may come at the bait. 
Coarse fish are still heading up the shallows, and are 
clearly more forward than last season. Many gulls 
may be noticed on the river, especially in the vicinity 
of Gunthorpe, Barton Joyce, and Shardlow, and it is an 
old saying that, so long as these visitors are with us, we 
have not yet done with severe weather. But it is fine 
enough at present. 
Trouting has occupied a fair amount of attention 
since Monday, but anglers have been disappointed. It 
was thought that the rain would swell the brooks and 
other tributaries of the river, but it has not done so. A 
few brace of nice fish were taken on the Dover beck on 
Tuesday with the worm and caddis grub. 
The annual dinner of the Victoria Hotel Angling 
Society, Beeston, was held on the night of the 15th, 
when the following awards were made :—Barbel, Ist, 
Mr. G. R. 'Wilford, 31b. lljoz. ; chub, Ist, Mr. G. 
Hewitt, lib. lioz. ; roach, 1st, Mr. W. H. Whitehead, 
lib. 9ioz. ; dace, 1st, Mr. J. Luntley, O^oz. ; perch, Ist, 
Mr. J. B. Ward, lljoz. ; pike, 1st, Mr. A. Hethering- 
ham, 131b. 5inz. Special prizes were awarded as 
follows : Mr. John Luntley for the three heaviest roach, 
Mr. W. Luntley for the heaviest take of fish, Mr. G. R- 
Wilford for the heaviest take of barbel, and Mr. A. 
Hetheringham for the heaviest fish of any class. The 
last-named gentleman is the hon. secretary of the 
society, which is in a most flourishing position. 
As I desire to be impartial in my notes, I beg tc 
correct an error into which I was led last week. I stated 
that the secretary of the Bowling Green Society^ 
Nottingham, had severed his ofiicial connection with 
that body. He tendered, it seems, his resignation, and 
Mr. Towers, a well-known member, at once rose and 
proposed that it be accepted. Other members, however, 
interceded, and finally it was understood (there was no 
voting on the matter at all) there would be no change, 
at least for the present. Seven new members were 
admitted into the society, as against three retiring, one 
of these being the chairman of the Notts Association. 
FROM SHEFFIELD. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The rain of last Sunday and Monday would be 
welcomed no less by anglers than by agriculturists. It 
was sorely needed. During the previous week I was out 
S6V6r£tl ftnd., in wti3it6V6r pa.rfc of tho country I 
found myself, I came across anglers grumbling at the 
fineness of the streams, many of which were as low and 
clear as though we had had a drought of at least three 
months. We had hardly sufficient rain to make much of 
an improvement in this respect, although sufficient to do 
something towards making the conditions under which 
local angling has recently been done more conducive to 
successful results. On Thursday week a rema,rkabla 
capture of trout was made in the Sheaf, right in the city 
of Sheffield, by Mr. A. Crofts, a well-known local angler, 
who, fishing with maggot, took three trout, of nearly 
fib. each, directly beneath the bridge by which London- 
road is carried over the stream. The feat was witMssed 
by nearly a hundred spectators. From where Mr. Crofts 
stood he could cast a stone into a passing tramcar, into 
a manufactory, and also into a busy railway station. 
The fish were taken to the Sportsman’s Exhibition, and 
aroused much comment, more from the circumstances of 
their capture than their weight, although by no means 
were they fish to be despised. On Saturday I and a 
friend journeyed up to Dam Flask reservoir, for which 
Mr. Rimington Wilson had kindly given us permits. 
This is a very exclusive water, and one in which per¬ 
mission to fish is eagerly sought after, but rarely given. 
Measured from that standpoint, then, Mr. Wilson s 
kindness was appreciated to the full. The day was 
altogether unsuitable for fly-fishing, it being bitterly 
cold, with an easterly wind creating miniature waves, 
and blowing with an intensity almost sufficient to drive 
one into the water. With the maggot, I and the piend 
secured a brace and a half of half-pounders, although 
another couple, who are as familiar with the water as 
they are with their own bedrooms, gotten brace between 
them. Most of the fish were caught after dusk, and 
when the float was barely disocrnable. The previop 
day another angler secured seven brace of good fish in 
two hours with the maggot, in the afternoon, although 
a vastly different afternoon from that of Saturday. Gn 
the latter day some good fish were taken from several ot 
the other dams in the same locality, and at Redmires 1 
heard of a fair measure of sport being enjoyed. Mr. 
G. F. Bush and party have returned from Scotland, 
where they have had a fortnight’s fishing in the uppsr 
reaches of the Aberdeenshire Dee. They had fairly 
good sport, securing from two to seven salmon per day, 
the weights ranging from 51b. to 171b. S<hue were 
caught with the worm. The weather was brighL ^itha 
cold wind, and the river was low and clear. But tor 
that, even better things might have happened. 
The Sportsman’s Exhibition at the Drill Hall, which 
came to an end on Saturday, was a very successful 
affair From the first it was well patronised by local 
anglers, the exhibits of the Sheffield Anglers’ Associa¬ 
tion, consisting of stuffed fish of a size rarely seen in 
these parts, coming in for much praise, ihe exffibitora 
of tackle and rods, including Mr. Cardedge, of Campo- 
lane, and Mr. Booth, of Hull, had no reason to be dis¬ 
satisfied, both of them doing remarkably good business. 
Mr. Booth’s special fine-drawn gut was much admired 
and largely purchased, while Mr. Cartledge was success¬ 
ful in disposing of quite a number of rods. Ihe 
manager of the exhibition has handed over a consider¬ 
able sum to a local charity, and has also given AlO to 
the Sheffield Anglers’ Association for distribution 
amongst the exhibitors in the angling section. At the 
time of writing this has not been apportioned, but I hope 
next week to give further particulars. 
