THE PISHING GAZETTE 
[May G, 1893 
331< 
SALMOX AND FRESHWATEE FISHERIES 
(ENGLAND AND WALES). 
E.tttiact.s from a report by Lonl Monknvrell and Jlr. C. E. Fryer 
(Inspcelor of Fisheries) on an inquiry into a bye law nlterinp 
the ennuai close season for salmon in the Towy, Loughor and 
Tiif Fishery District. 
“ To the Secretary of the Board of Trade. 
“Board of Trade, April 17, 1893. 
“ Sib, —We have the honour to report, for the informa¬ 
tion of the Board of Trade, that, in accordance with 
our instructions, we held a public inquiry at the Guild¬ 
hall, Carmarthen, on the 21th ultimo into the following 
hye-law made by the Board of Conservators of the 
Towy, Tnf, and Loughor Fishery District:— 
“ That in the Towy Fishery District, the annual 
close season for fishing for salmon, except with rod 
and lino, shall commence on the Eighteenth day of 
September and end on the Fifteenth day of March 
following, both days inclusive. 
“ The effect of the bye-law would be to extend the 
season for net fishing from August 31 to September 17. 
The board as a body did not appear at the inquiry, but 
the case for the bye-law wag conducted by Mr. W. 
Howell, representing those members who approved of it, 
and certain fishermen of the district; while Mr. W. D. 
Benson, instructed by Mr. J. W. Nicholas, of Llandilo, 
appeared on behalf of the members of the board and 
others who opposed it. Mr. Horace Lyne, of Newport, 
represented the Board of Conservators of the Usk and 
Rhymney Fishery Districts in opposition to the bye¬ 
law. An objection had been also received from the 
Board of Conservators of the Severn District, who, 
however, were not represented before us, but whose 
objections are similar to those urged on behalf of the 
Usk and Rhymney Boards.” 
After giving their reasons very fully, the inspectors 
say : ^ 
“ We are of opinion, then, that no case has been made 
out for an extension of the fishing season in the Towy 
fishery district, and that the bye-law ought to be dis¬ 
allowed. Wo venture, indeed, to go beyond this recom¬ 
mendation, and to submit that it is worth the considera¬ 
tion of the Board of Conservators whether some steps 
should not be taken towards a reduction of the existing 
angling season. The anglers who appeared before us 
practically admitted that they did not consider that fish 
were in sufficiently good condition to justify angling in 
October, and they added that they did not themselves 
fish then for that reason. It was, however, urged that 
there were many working-men anglers who attached 
some importance to their chance of getting fish down to 
the latest day of the season, and who might resent any 
curtailment of their existing opportunity of fishing. 
We do not wish to go behind the principle which the 
Legislature has consistently maintained throughout a 
long series of statutes, and under which it is recognised 
that the peculiar circumstances of salmon legislation 
justify an extension of the salmon fishing season in the 
case of rods to a date later than that at which it is 
necessary that net-fishing should cease. We feel, how¬ 
ever, that the evidence before us points, not to an 
extension, but rather to a restriction, of the fishing 
season, and that it would be to the general interest if a 
fortnight were added to the close season for rods, and if 
a bye-law were made prohibiting the use of the gaff in 
connexion with rod and line after the end of September. 
“ We are aware that in making this recommendation 
we are somewhat out-stripping the limits of our 
authority, but we feel that, having regard to all the 
circumstances, we should not be justified in withholding 
this expression of the opinion which we have formed 
after careful consideration of the evidence which has 
been very fully brought before us. 
“ We have the honour to be. Sir, 
“ Your o edient Servants, 
(Signed) “ Monksvpell, 
( ,, ) “C.E. Fryer, 
“ Inspector of Fisheries. 
“ The Secretary, Board of Trade.” 
MAIDENHEAD, COOKHAM, AND BRAY THAMES 
ANGLING ASSOCIATION. 
The nineteenth annual meeting of this association 
was held at Skindle’s Hotel, Maidenhead Bridge, on 
Saturday afternoon last, under the presidency of its 
respected chairman. Mr. H. W. Russell. The annual 
report having referred to the last fishing season as being 
satisfactory, took occasion to notice “ a most satis¬ 
factory feature of the past year is the re-appearance of 
the perch, which fish had been almost entirely destroyed 
by an epidemic some few years back.” Reference was 
made to the proposed new bye-laws, and it was 
hoped the Thames Conservancy would not make them 
injurious to the angling public. The statement of 
accounts was considered most satisfactory, with a 
balance in hand of ^644 23. 8d. The various officers were 
all re-elected, and the meeting closed with a vote of 
thanks to the chairman. 
After the meeting, the anniversary banquet was 
served in an adjoining room, with a frontage to the 
river, and was presided over liy the Mayor of Maiden¬ 
head (Mr. E. Gardner, J.P.), with Mr. H. W. Russell 
in the vice-chair. There were also present, Messrs. W. 
Goulden (Town Clerk), W. H. Brougham (T.A.P.S.), 
S'. G. Baylis, A. Pallant, J. C. Mackay, W. Naylor, 
.Toseph Bussell, J. J. Jonas, R. Nicholson, and C. H. 
Ricks (sec.). A most elegant repast was placed on the 
table by the host, Mr. H. Hoare, who is a member of 
the association, and was thoroughly enjoyed. After the 
usual loyal toast had been given, the chairman then 
gave the toast of the evening, “ Success to the Maiden¬ 
head, Cookham, andBray Thames Angling Association,” 
which, he remarked, was in active operation, and pro¬ 
viding for the anglers the best of sport, both as regards 
protection and increasing the stock of fish. Since its 
establishment it had spent in protection the sum of 
.£1,900, and £300 in the purchase of fine trout. It had 
gone through some trying periods, but its financial 
position was now in a most satisfactory position, 
and, under the guidance of its present chairman, Mr. 
H. W. Russell, he was well satisfied it would go forward 
with extended usefulness; and, in giving the toast, 
he would couple that gentleman’s name with it.—Mr. 
H. W. Russell, in reply, remarked the report of this 
year was fairly satisfactory, and there was one gratify¬ 
ing circumstance in the fact the perch were coming on 
again. He then referred to the recent County Council 
meeting at Reading, a notice of which appeared in the 
Fishing Gazette last week ; and, in reference to their 
objections to the proposed new bye-laws, he felt satisfied 
there would be a satisfactory solution, and no increased 
powers would be given to the riparian owners. There 
would be a chance of their purchasing some more trout 
to place in the river. He then gave the next toast, 
that of “ Kindred Associations,” and it was a great 
pleasure to see amongst them their old and valued 
friend, Mr. W. H. Brougham, to respond to the toast. 
His name was universally known and respected, and 
there was no one who knew more about the preservation 
of the river, in which he had spent a great portion of 
his life.—Mr. W. H. Brougham, in expressing his best 
thanks to Mr. Bussell for the kind words he had said 
about him, stated that he had now been engaged with 
river duties for over thirty-five years, and the work he 
had performed in connection with those duties had been 
a great pleasure to him for the benefit of all classes of 
anglers. He had also been described in the Fishing 
Gazette as the hero of five hundred dinners, which he 
thought was not under the mark, and if he had to make 
a speech on each occasion—for they would not let him 
off without it—there would be a corresponding total of 
five hundred speeches. Mr. Brougham, in the course of 
his remarks, referred to various matters connected with 
the river, and replied to several questions that had 
been proposed to him.^—Mr. J. J. Jonas gave “The 
Visitors,” coupling with it the names of Mr. W. G. 
Goulden and Mr. J. C. Mackay, which was followed by 
“ The Chairman.” “ The Vice-Chairman,” “ The Press,” 
and “The Host,” the latter being highly complimented on 
the character of his catering, and his personal attention 
and courtesy to all. 
NOTTINGHAM WELLINGTON ANGLING 
SOCIETY. 
The annual general meeting of the Nottingham 
Wellington Angling Society, which is one of the beat 
societies in Ihe Midlands, was held at the Wellington 
Hotel, Station-street, Nottingham, on Thursday in last 
week. Mr. W. Gaskell, the president, presided, and 
the company included a large number of well-known 
anglers on the Trent. 
Mr. H. Spray, hon. secretary, read the prize-list for 
the winter season as follow :—Chub : 1st, Mr. E. West, 
21b. ISjoz. Pike : 1st, Mr. J. Tomlinson, 211b. ; 2nd, 
Mr. A. Fewkes, 131b. 14oz.; 3rd, Mr. J. H. Bradwell, 
12ilb. Roach : 1st, Mr. H. Coxon, lib. 5Joz.; 2nd, Mr. 
H. Baker, lib. 4ioz.; 3rd, Mr. F. Baker, lib. SJoz. 
Dace: 1st, Mr. J. Clayton, Sjoz. Bream: 1st, Mr. 
F. Gamble, 41b. 2Joz. ; 2nd, Mr. J. H. Baker, 41b. ; 3rd, 
J. Greaves, 31b. 15oz. 
Mr. H. Spray also read the yearly report, which stated 
that the past year had been a very eventful one in the 
history of the society. Chiefly through the untiring 
efforts of the president, the committee were now in 
possession of the Shardlow fishery, which extended for 
upwards of four miles, and which was, without doubt, 
one of the choicest stretches of the Trent, and one 
which, as a club water, was unequalled by any angling 
society in the kingdom. The Trent Fishery Board had 
kindly granted water bailiff’s warrants to six of their 
members, and the fishery would be strictly watched and 
otherwise cared for. The society deeply regretted that 
the rod licence had fallen through owing to the great 
opposition brought to bear against it. Angling during 
the year had been disappointing to members generally. 
The summer and winter seasons compared unfavourably 
with those of 1891. There had, however, been some 
remarkably fine specimen fish brought to the scales, 
notably the barbel of 91b. 12ioz., caught by Mr. Hall, 
the pike of 211b., caught by Mr. Tomlinson, and the 
roach of 21b. 3ioz., caught with the fly by Mr. Wilford. 
In the forthcoming season the committee hoped to 
organise monthly competitions amongst members. 
Mr. E. Horton, non. treasurer, presented the 
balance-sheet, which showed that the receipts for the 
year had amounted to £135 18s. 2d., and that after pay¬ 
ment of all liabilities there remained a balance in hand 
of £69 Os. 6d. (Applause.) 
Mr. H. Baker moved, and Mr. Hunt seconded, the 
adoption of the report and balance-sheet. 
Mr. C. Jackson asked whether the society enjoyed the 
exclusive right of the Shardlow fishing. 
The Chairman replied in the affirmative. 
Mr. Armitage said the fishery would require constant 
watching. Not so long ago 13owt. of coarse fish were 
consigned from Castle Donington to Derby. fShame.) 
The fish had evidently been netted in the Trent. 
The Chairman said he was pleased to know that the 
society was in a moat prosperous condition, and he 
hoped it would be found an exemplary society in the 
future. They had always tried to make it one. 'They 
had sometimes been regarded as aristocrats, but in the 
future people would be admitted without distinction, so 
long as their names were first approved by the com¬ 
mittee. The Shardlow fishery was capable of consider¬ 
able improvement, and after they had improved it—it 
would take three or four years—there would be ample 
room on the banks for the accommodation of between 
three and four hundred members. (Hear, hear.) The 
waters contained plenty of fish, notably barbel, but they 
must keep a strict eye upon them. (Applause.) 
The report and balance-sheet were then unanimously 
passed. 
The officers for the ensuing year were next appointed, 
Mr. Gaskell being unanimously re-elected the president, 
Mr. J. Tomlinson the vice-president, Mr. E. Horton the 
treasurer, Mr. E. Sagwell the hon. auditor, and Mr. H. 
Spray the hon. secretary. The following were elected 
on the committee : Messrs. Wilford. J. H. Bradwell, F. 
Baker, W. Marshall, T. Burgoyne, B. Toone, E. West, 
H. R. Wilkins, and A. Hunt. 
Mr. H. Coxon said he should endeavour, as the local 
manager of the railway privilege cards, to get added to 
the card the station of Whatstandwell, on the banks of 
the Derwent, in which good fishing was to be obtained 
at a moderate sum per rod per day. The privilege card 
rested with him and not with any other body. He had 
nothing to do with a local organisation, known as the 
Notts Anglers’ Association, whose officers were making 
it appear to anglers that they possessed authority. 
They were subjected to the authority of himself. 
There was no other business of public interest, and 
the proceedings closed with a hearty vote of thanks to 
the president. 
DERWENT (CUMBERLAND) FISHERY DISTRICT 
BOARD. 
The quarterly meeting of the conservators for the 
above district was held on Saturday at Workington, Mr. 
J. Clutton, Cockermouth Castle, presiding. 
The Clerk read a report of the bailiff at Greta, stating 
that on April 23rd, 1893, he took out of the river at 
Greta 1327 dead smelts and trout, which had been killed 
presumably by washings from the Threlkeld Gate Gill 
mines, while above the mines no dead fish were found. 
He had acquainted the solicitors for the company, 
Messrs Paisley and Falcon, with this fact, and they had 
replied that since the public inquiry into the alleged 
pollution at Keswick the company had taken every 
precaution to prevent the destruction of fish life. They 
did not admit that the fish had been killed by any 
poisonous substances proceeding from the works, but 
suggested that the destruction was due more to the long 
drought than anything else. It was decided that the 
correspondence be laid before the Cumberland County 
Council. 
The Clerk submitted a memorial from the Derwent- 
water Anglers’ Association, stating that netting as 
carried on in the upper parts of the district was very 
detrimental to the fishery, and resulted in the destruc¬ 
tion of stones of young trout, and suggesting that the 
mesh of the nets used above the Ouse Bridge be altered 
from a minimum of one inoh to two inches. The sugges¬ 
tion was adopted. 
The Clerk asked what was to be done with regard to j 
the dispute between Mr. E. T. Parker, of Penrith, and 4 
the board as to the amount ,to be paid for the general ♦ 
licence of Crummock, Buttermere, and Loweswater i 
lakes. Mr. Parker now only paid £12. It was resolved >' 
that Mr. Parker be requested to give £18 for the licence I 
—£6 for each lake. This was all the business. 
A Sturgeon Captured in the Solway.— Last ! 
week end a very fine specimen of the sturgeon was 
caught in the Solway, near Glencaple, at the month of ■ 
the Nith. The royal fish was secured by a haaf-fisher- • 
man while he was fishing for salmon. The haaf-net was, i 
as a matter of course, very much damaged in the 
encounter with such a huge fish before it was safely . 
brought to the shore. This is an unusually early date 
for the royal fish appearing in the waters of the Solway, 
and probably the extreme geniality of the season is 
affecting the denizens of the waters, as it has the in¬ 
habitants of the dry land. Six weeks or two months 
hence is about the ordinary period when sturgeons run 
towards the rivers to deposit their spawn. The fish in 
question was consigned to a Dumfries merchant. It 
measured 6ft. in length, and weighed 1131b. 
Mr. R. C. Foster’s Otter Hounds. —During the 
last week Mr. R. C. Foster’s pack of otter hounds have 
been busy in this district, and some excellent sport has 
been had. The hounds met at the Craven Arms on the 
24th ult., and there was a large attendance. They drew 
the River Ony up-hill and got upon a good drag, and, 
when near the Grove, the seat of H. D. Greene, Esq., 
Q.C., M.P., they found, and, after a good hunt, killed. 
The hounds got upon another drag and found and killed. 
Both being fair sized otters. On Saturday the 29th, the 
meet was at Leintwardine. There were present Mr. 
B. C. Foster (Master), Sir W. M. Curtis, Bart., Mr. 
G. B. and Miss Charlton, Mr. J. Charlton, Mr. B. A. 
Cunninghame, &c. The hounds were put on the water 
of the Little Teme and hunted up-hill and came upon a 
drag, and found just below Brampton Brian, and, after 
a fair hunt, the hounds killed. Went on up the river to 
nearly Knighton, but sport was blank, and returned to 
Leintwardine, and the hounds were put on the Teme and 
drew downhill, and found, near the Black Bridge, and 
hunted him for twenty minutes, when he got into heavy 
water and the hounds could do nothing with him. It 
coming on to rain, and turning very cold, the hounds 
were called off and sent home. On Monday there was a 
good meet at Tenbury, but the day proved a blank one. 
On Wednesday the meet was at fiurford, near Tenbury. 
The weather was beautiful and fine. 
