FROM SHROPSHIRE 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
e have experienced a welcome change in the weather, 
and the rainfalls of the past week, though hardly 
sufncient to rise the river and brooks, should prove 
Mvantageous. Several local anglers have been striving 
to emulate the success of Messrs. Fisher and Cox with 
the salmon, and one or two good captures have been 
recorded. Captain Scott, of Pimley, near Shrewsbury, 
IS reported to have taken some good salmon with the 
rod and line, and Mr. Fisher, of Cherrv Orchard, 
Shrewsbury, last week took a fine fish of aibout 121b. 
this making the seventh salmon that he has captured 
w landed two good trout. Mr. J. 
Williams, hon. sec. of the Shrewsbury Severn Angiing 
oociety, has also been on the war path, and, having* 
observed several good salmon below the Brewerv Ford 
he had several tries for them last week with the spinning 
bait. On Thursday evening he hooked a fine fish, which 
several onlookers, who watched the sport from the Grey- 
^ars Bridge, judged to be a clean fish of 141b. or 151b. 
He skiliiilly played it for nearly half an hour, but. at 
length, the beastie ” made for the boat from which the 
angler was fishing, and, in trying to prevent him from 
fouling the anchor line, Mr. Williams broke his rod, and 
afterwards his tackle, losing his fish. Subsequently, he 
was again unfortunate in losing a smaller salmon in the 
sarnie locality, but on the following day succeeded in 
landing a good fish of 111b. On Saturday Mr. Austin 
Cox took a salmon of 121b. from below the bridge above 
mentioned, which, after affording half an hour’s sport 
w^ gaffed by Mr. Wycherley and secured. ’ 
The principal matter discussed by the Shropshire 
Committee of the Severn Conservators, in view of 
Ihursday s meeting of that body at Birmingham, was 
the que.stion of Severn bailiffs and their duties. One or 
two held the opinion, and we think advisedly, that some 
sptem slmuld be adopted whereby the movements of 
the bailiffs should be controlled and their reports 
received week by week, as under the present circum¬ 
stances there is scarcely any means of knowing what 
work IS being accomplished by the watchers. Provision 
IS made by the rules of the board that the bailiffs should 
be subject to the control of the local committees, and it 
would undoubtedly be more satisfactory to the bailiff's 
themselves, as well as to the conservators, if the 
suggestions above referred to were put into operation. 
'T® I*°herstand that there is some opposition on the 
part of a tew gentlemen owning the fishing rights in the 
tributaries of the Severn to the proposed increase of the 
rod and line trout licence fee from Is. to 2s.; not, as it 
IS stated, because of the magnitude of the fee proposed 
to be enforced, but as a matter of principle. They con- 
tend that they should not be called upon to pay a 
licence fee to fish in their private water ; but, on the 
other hand, it must be remembered that their supply of 
hsh 18 derived in a great measure from the river, which 
will ultimately benefit by the additional revenue 
Obtained by the increaee in the fees. 
FROM YORK AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Within the past few days the Yorkshire Fishery 
wff'vfstockmg several of the local streams 
J- Conyers, of 
Ti -tK 1 j ®' ^^°ns^d yearling fish have been put into the 
Brifiield canal. The first batch was turned into the 
water just above Wmhill Lock, the second about half 
way between Wmhill and Wansford, and the third 
above the lock at the latter place. Mr. Conyers stated 
to a correspondent that the trout looked remarkably 
healthy, and that there was every prospect of their 
coming on rapidly, the canal at present affording good 
feeding. Although the Driffield streams are noted for 
their trout, the canal was getting rather scarce, owing to 
its waters having been hard fished. 
Under the superintendence of Mr. A. J. H Wood a 
thousand trout, which had been forwarded to Ripon by 
the fishery board, have been placed in the river Ure 
where, in course of time, they will materially add to the 
sport of local fishermen and others who visit the banks 
of this well-known stream. 
While the facts which I chronicle will be read with 
pleasure by many fishermen in Yorkshire, regret will be 
experienced, especially by the members of the Thirsk 
Angling Society, that the supply of trout with which ifc 
was intended to stock the water of the Codbeck, and to 
which reference was previously made in these notes, will 
not now be received until next season. It was originally 
intended to procure 1500 fish from Lunesdale Hatehery 
Lancas^r, and 400 from Burghley Park, Lincolnshire 
but, owing to the temperature of the water at the time— 
ago—they could not be transferred. 
At the time of writing, fishing is practically at a 
standstill in this district. Rain is what is wanted, and 
until that comes little can be done. We had a few 
showers in the early part of the week, but not nearly 
sufiicient to produce a decent fresh. 
low records of sport appearing in the Gazette and other 
papers. 
On the Iniiy brown trout anglers have enjoyed fair 
sport, but only a few heavy ones were had. The best 
baskets were obtained by Mr. J. P. Sullivan Mr P P 
Kelly, Mr O’Shea, and Mr. Cournane. The heaviest 
trout weigh^ ffjlb., and was got by Mr. O’Shea with 
the worm. This river is now in fine ply, and good sport 
IS anticipated. Salmon do not come up the Inny, as a 
rule, before June. White trout put in an appearance 
about the same time. Good sport is usually had from 
June upwards after a flood. The river, however, is 
badly poached, and there is not a sufficient staff of 
watchers employed. 
On VVaterville river the brown trout angling has been 
fair. The favourite haunts of the anglers on the free 
‘"''® “Tile Bridge” and the 
Whit® Wall. At the latter place a brown trout of 
31b. was had on Monday by a local angler, who was 
worm-nahing. Salmon are now coming up in larger 
numbers, but the run is still small for April. Those hsh 
are reported numerous on the tidal waters, and will, no 
doubt, come up in increased numbers after Sunday’s 
and Monday a rain. I may mention here, for the in¬ 
formation of intending angling visitors to Waterville 
that the private or preserved portion of this river is 
considered one of the best pieces of salmon fishino" in 
Ireland for its size. It is the property of J E Butler 
Esq.—late high sheriff of Kerry—who seldom or never 
refuses a gentleman a day’s fishing, when that gentle¬ 
man makes a polite application. 
From South Kerry I learn that trout fishing has been 
good in the rivers in the Sueem and Kenmare districts. 
I have not heard that any salmon have been got by 
anglers in this direction. '' 
Sport at Killarney and Glencar appears to have fallen 
off considerably, and very little has been done at those 
places durmg the past week. Of course I refer to 
salmon fishing. I have heard, however, that the trout 
fishing has been pretty good. 
At Rossbeigh matter.s are quite as bad, and anglers 
have been complaining very much of the lowness of the 
waters at this latter place. 
Th® brown trout angling on the minor waters in the 
VVaterville district has been well up to the average on 
the whole on the lakes, but on the rivers sport has been 
rather slack owing to the continued hot weather and 
the consequent lowness of the waters. 
Since Monday sport among brown trout has improved 
considerably on the Reenrae. Mr. O’Gonnor caught a 
two-pounder on the principal pool on Monday. This has 
been the heaviest taken on this water for a long time. 
On Coppal lake anglers from the banks have had 
average sport among brown trout during the past week 
especially in the evenings. White trout arrive here 
generally about June, but they afford, as a rule, but 
little sport before July. Salmon also are found here 
but they rise badly to the fly. 
On the mountain lakes of Cummeravanig and Drenane 
the records for the week are encouraging; but the fish 
generally speaking, were small, only a few reaching lib’ 
in weight. 
The sea-fishing for the past week has been of a first- 
class kind. At VVaterville Bay anglers after whiting 
met with much success, and one angler on Thursday 
caught to his own line 120 whiting. At Portmagee, the 
ling and cod fishing continues good, and several laro^e 
takes have been reported. ° 
NOTES FOR CLUB ANGLERS. 
The presentation of prizes in connection with the 
recent Bye House competition in aid of the Anglers’ 
Benevolent Society, will take place on Monday night, 
at the Hoxton Brothers’ club-house, the Spread Eagle, 
Kingsland-road, Shoreditch, next door to the North 
London Railway station. The proceedings will also 
include a grand smoker, and I am informed that Mr. 
W. H. Beckett, of the Anglers’ Association, will take 
the chair. I hope to give a look in. 
*** 
Mk. C. H. Woodall, of the Friendly Anglers’ Club, 
caught a nice trout on the Ifith inst., at Shepperton, 
fishing with George Bosewell. It weighed 41b. 
# # 
The trout anglers are getting hold of numerous coarse 
fish. And, as it generally happens, because it is the 
close time, many of them have been specimens. For 
instance, a barbel of 101b. has been taken at Hampton 
Court, and a Weybridge angler has hooked and landed a 
monster chub of 71b. 
The Hounsfield Otters had a very successful evening 
on Tuesday, when Mr, Hoyle read his paper under the 
auspices of the S.P.R.P.A.C., entitled “Trout and 
Trout Pishing.” Mr. H. J. Tibbatts presided, and there 
was also a capital smoking concert. 
* .. # 
* 
The reading and smoking concert at the North London 
Angling Society, on Monday night, attracted a crowded 
audience, and Mr. Howard’s amusing paper was much 
enjoyed. It was entitled “A Still Alarm; or, a Day 
amongst the Jack.” Mr. G. Hoyle occupied the chair, 
and in the course cf the evening Mr. Thorling opened the 
benevolent box, which was found to contain £1 6s. 
The “Fisheries’ Exhibition” closed on Saturday 
night. It is to be succeeded by the Sportsman’s Exhi¬ 
bition, and I hear that several of the fishing tackle 
manufacturers are going to stay on. As for “The 
Fisheries,” it hardly justified its title, and many club 
anglers were disappointed upon their arrival at West¬ 
minster. I heard of one angler who travelled over 20(> 
miles purposely to see the fish ! In regard to the show 
of fly tackle it was all that could be desired, and during 
the past three weeks many trout and salmon anglers 
were in evidence at the Aquarium. The visitors also 
included a number of M.P.’s fond of angling, who 
dropped in from the House. 
.*** 
A story is told in connection with the above 
exhibition. ^ One day a young lady was taken to Mr. 
Richardson’s stand to see the trout flies, but no sooner 
had Mrs. Richardson opened the first box than the young 
lady gave utterance to a suppressed scream, and, re¬ 
treating quickly, exclaimed, “ Oh! do take those horrid 
little creatures away!” The young lady evidently 
thought the flies were alive, and Mrs. Richardson in¬ 
formed me that she felt none the less complimented. 
FROM IRELAND- 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
On Sunday it rained heavily for the 
g eater part of the day, and on Monday also there were 
freijnent heavy showers. 
and I hope next week 
to be able to give a good account of many waters. 
On Waterville Lake (the principle water in Kerry as 
IS concerned) the angling returns for the 
hrnnJlf k®"! “®,^'’®’ "“‘y a fcw Salmon were 
,0“ly ^ry few gentlemen have come 
down this spring for the fishing, owing, no doubt to the 
ULSTER. The devoutly-prayed-for rain came on 
bunday last, and the noble army of anglers is jubilant, 
iirom every hand comes reports of great improvement in 
angling. 
A. recent issue of the Times (London) credits Mr. 
O. W. W olff, M.P. (The Den, Belfast), with having last 
season killed a 31|lb. salmon on a Devon bait on the 
Low'p Bann. I hope in the next issue to be able to give 
particulars of the capture of the noble fish. 
Ihe Belfast Angling Association, despite many vacan- 
ci^es caused by unavoidable resignations, officers leaving 
the garrison, &c., now musters 160 members. At the 
last committee meeting thirteen new names were added 
to the list. I he association has taken further steps to 
put down poaching on the streams of Antrim and D jwn 
and in offering handsome rewards for the detect.on of 
dynamiters (an offence which is now punishable by two 
months) and the users of mango, lime, and other poisons 
A. system of private and special watches to detect these 
offenders has been arranged for this season on the Clady, 
Isix-mill water, Braid, Maine, Quaile, and other streams. 
Angling IS reviving all over Tyrone. Donegal 
r ermanagh, and Covan, and bids fair for the next fort¬ 
night at least. English gentlemen who purpcse visiting 
the angling resorts of these counties should do so as soon 
as convenient. With occasional showers the streams 
, A-ntrim, Down, Tyrone, and Derry should give excel¬ 
lent sport till the latter end of August, when the ria,'' 
water comes into season. 
remember rightly, in a few issues ago of the 
risking Gazette, there was an article on an exhibition 
in London, in which it was said that all the exhibition 
wanted was a pair of “ fighting pikes ” set up. Recently, 
while a countryman was wending his way along the bank 
of a mill race, which is fed from the Balliuarny (co. 
lyrone), he noticed a pair of pikes, a smaller and a 
larger one, struggling desperately in the race. The big 
short work of the smaller one, and would 
probably have eaten it, but the countryman, stooping* 
down, lifted the smaller one out of the water, and the 
Dig chap slowly went away. On Monday your corre¬ 
spondent saw the big pike—it was about 41b.—in the 
race, and it had several bites or wounds on its back It 
would not look at my bait. 
The annual dinner of the Gresham Angling Society 
passed ofP very successfully on Tuesday night. Mr. 
-H. S. Foster, as M.P. for Lowestoft, in which district 
there is a great field for anglers, both salt and fresh 
water, fittingly occupied the chair, and in the course of 
the evening he said he should feel honoured if they 
would elect him as one of their vice-presidents. Of 
course it was only natural that during the evening there 
should be several allusions to the Land of the Broads, 
and the hon. member’s attention was drawn to the fact 
that there was no close time for coarse fish over the 
greater portion of Norfolk and Suffolk, and that fishing 
was carried on right through the spawning season, 
whereby countless millions of fish were destroyed. I 
had the honour, in responding for the Press, to first 
bring those facts under Mr. Foster’s notice, and Mr. 
1. Crumplen and Dr. Ladell supported me in rsy 
remarks, and 1 have no doubt that the member for 
who seemed very surprised at the statements, 
will bear this most important matter in mind. Fvery 
year the anglers increase in the distri'sts referred to, 
and it is qu.ta time that the same fi^h’ng regulations 
existed there as are to be found up the Thames. 
Mr. J. Tayler, the respected secretary of the Gres¬ 
ham, made an important announcement in the course of 
the evening to the effect that another piece of private 
water had been taken for the use ot the members. The 
water is situated witbin half-au-hour of tUe Metropolis, 
and I believe is principally noted for its trout. Just 
now, when private waters are in such demand, the 
Gresham Angling Society have done a good stroke of 
business in securing the u«w fishery 
# . * 
^ (Hants) correspondent writes to 
ffie : The Stour here is closed for all fishing this year.” 
rrom Kingwood another correspondent also advises me 
that the river 8tour at Christchurch has been let to a 
gentleman who does not issue tickets.” Some time ago 
a report reached me that the river mentioned would be 
closed, and that no clubs would be allowed to fish it. I 
am now atraid that the rumour is only too true, judging 
from the communicatic ns the two local correspondents 
have sent mo. So we must say good-bye to the Stour 
^ time. Next season, perhaps, we shall be 
able to renew our acquaintance with the river; but, if 
we are never permitted to fish it again, those of us who 
have strolled, rod in hand, along its charming banks, will 
not easily forget the red-letter days and pleasant times 
we have had at Christchurch, 
! 
I 
