336 SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE [May G, 1893 
Sunday’s rain streams would be freshened up and 
revivified. Local dams have yielded fairly well, as has 
the Thornton dam at Matlock, Sheffields again being to the 
fore in that part of the country. On Thursday week A. 
Waddington got 5^ brace of good fish there with the 
maggot. The Forge dam at Fulwood was drawn a blank 
on Saturday. I don’t wonder at this. It is a piece of 
water that has been considerably over estimated. A 
few fish came down from a preserved dam higher up, 
and that is all. If the proprietor wishes to people to 
have their money’s worth, he ought, in common fairness, 
to be at the expense to secure the few fish the water 
contains and to see that their number is added to. 
The question of river pollution is being taken up with 
great earnestness in Sheffield. Local anglers have long 
been disgusted that a fine moorland stream like the Don 
should enter the town in fit condition to support trout, 
and should leave it little better than the contents of the 
city sewer. Of late years a great improvement has 
come over the Don in this respect. Those above Shef¬ 
field who polluted it most have, with one or two excep¬ 
tions, seen the error of their ways and amended their 
habits; the offenders now being practically confined to 
the city. Recently the Corporation have taken part with 
other county authorities in making application for the 
creation of a Conservancy Board, in the belief that by 
sncb means greater good could be done than at present, 
while in the town anglers have been endeavouring to 
form a society for the prevention of pollution. The 
prime mover in this latter idea has been Mr. Arthur 
Stacey, a well-known angler, who on Wednesday week 
had the gratification of being present at a meeting 
(called by himself) at which the suggested association 
became an actuality. The meeting was attended by the 
president of the Sheffield Anglers’ Association (Mr. 
C. W. Styring), Mr. G. E. Branson, Mr. J. MacLachlan, 
and many prominent local fishermen. It was a 
very hearty and unanimous gathering. The opinion of 
all present was that the Don, the Eivelin, and the 
Loxley, could be made habitable for fish in a year’s 
time from now. Manufacturers who polluted would be 
warned, and if they persisted they would be prosecuted. 
They would then find it cheaper to take their boiler 
washings and other refuse away than to turn them into 
the rivers and pay a heavy monetary penalty. If this 
crusade were carried on for a year the streams could then 
be stocked with fish, and Sheffielders have a few hours’ 
angling without consuming half the day in journey¬ 
ing to and from the water, as is at present the 
case. The new association was called “ The West 
Riding Anglers’ Pollution of Streams (Prevention) 
Association.” Mr. J. MacLachlan was made chairman ; 
Messrs. Arthur Stacey, C. W. Styring, and G. E. 
Branson, vice-chairmen; and T. Mannifield and S. 
Duckinfield, secretaries. I wish the organisation every 
success. It has my sympathy, and may count upon 
whatever assistance I can render it. I only hope it 
means business, and will have the courage to “ go ” for 
offenders in high places, irrespective of party influence 
or class privilege, 
A step in the right direction ! At a meeting of the 
angling club held at the Brunswick Arms, Grimesthorpe- 
oad, the other evening, a resolution was passed pledging 
the members, when fishing in association waters, to 
return all undersized fish, and expressing the opinion 
that if all clubs would only do likewise there would be a 
g’eneral i improvement in sport. With this sportsman¬ 
like resolution, as well as the opinion, I cordially agree, 
and trust the lesson will not be lost on other clubs. 
I am compelled to leave over till next week my pro¬ 
mised remarks about the Sheaf. A misprint occurred 
in my notes last week which has given rise to much 
humorous speculation, the Cosley valley being unknown 
locally. The word should have been Loxley. The 
mistake was probably due to my bad caligraphy. 
FROM SHROPSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
So low and bright are the streams that satisfactory 
sport has been unobtainable, and, although the charming 
weather we have experienced has tempted many an 
angler out, it has been in the majority of cases only to 
return with an empty creel. One or two salmon have 
been taken, and the last capture recorded was that of a 
heavy fish, which was landed at Shrewsbury by Mr. 
Austin Cox, who has also recently taken two heavy 
trout. These, together with a pair landed by Mr. 
Fisher, also of Shrewsbury, appear to have been 
perhaps the only good trout that have been captured 
this season, so that the re-stocking experiments of the 
Shrewsbury Severn Angling Society do not appear 
to have been as fruitful as could have been 
wished. One or two authorities have arrived at the 
conclusion that the fry from German ova, which the 
society has of late years turned into the river, have not 
thriven, and the executive are now using none but ova 
from the hatchery of Col. Masefield—the common brown 
trout—which it is believed will produce far better results 
than the imported ova. The result of this new experi¬ 
ment, however, remains to be seen. The fry at the 
hatchery is now in a very healthy state, and the per¬ 
centage of losses has been very small. 
Mr. Jeffrey Poole, a prominent member of the Shrop¬ 
shire County Council, appears to be animated by a laud¬ 
able determination not to rest content until he has in¬ 
duced that influential body to take some practical steps 
to improve the salmon fishing of the Upper Severn. 
At the quarterly meeting of this body last week 
he expressed surprise that there had been no report 
presented to the council from its representatives on the 
Severn Board of Conservators, and asked whether any 
united action had been taken with regard to stopping 
the excessive fishing of the estuary and tidal waters. 
The cause of anglers in the upper Severn is one which 
we have long upheld, but we have watched in vain for 
any practical attempt on the part of the conservators to 
take thorough measures for remedying the present con¬ 
dition of things, and allowing those who breed the fish 
in the upper parts of the river to reap some portion of 
the golden harvest of fish which is annually gathered in 
by the representatives of the netting industry of the tidal 
waters. True it is that one or two slight concessions have 
been made, such as the inspection and alteration of one or 
two of the weirs, but as yet the matter has not been 
taken in hand with anything approaching energetic 
action by the board, and it therefore remains for those 
conservators who represent the upper waters to agitate 
until something like justice is done to those anglers and 
others interested in the fishing of the river in and above 
the county of Shropshire. So strong is the feeling 
among riparian owners and others on this question, that 
it has even been threatened that if the board does not 
take steps to insure a better passage of salmon to the 
Upper Severn and Vyrnwy, they will introduce an impor¬ 
tation of lively black bass into the streams to provide 
the sport that is denied them with the salmon, and it is 
darkly hinted that these fish are very voracious and 
bound to swallow everything before them. Mr. Jeffrey 
Poole, however, has the cause of anglers thoroughly at 
heart, and his voice should not be allowed to be dis¬ 
regarded. He points out that so bad is the salmon 
fishing of the Upper Severn compared with that of the 
tidal waters, that while in Shropshire and Worcester¬ 
shire there only exists fifty licensed instruments for the 
capture of salmon, in Gloucestershire there are 5879. 
Salmon, he states, used to be the staple food of people in 
the Shrewsbury district—now the only time the poor saw 
it was when it was labelled 28. fid. per pound in the shop 
windows. In his opinion the time had arrived when the 
greatest pressure should be brought to bear on the 
Board of 'Trade to prevail upon them to take over the 
control of the inland fisheries. 
FROM WORCESTER AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The water in this district is very low and fine. 
Refreshing showers fell to-day, but until we have a con¬ 
siderable downfall, angling will yield but poor sport. 
Salmon and trout are in quantities under the weirs, and 
the coarse fish in thousands, unable to proceed further 
up the river, and fellows—they are not worthy to be 
called anglers—are taking them in large quantities, 
though they are full of spawn. I am glad to hear there 
is a prospect of these disgraceful proceedings being put 
a stop to, and some of them being prosecuted. 
A few nice trout have been caught in the Severn with 
both minnow and fly. 
There have been some very moderate catches of trout 
in the Teme, chiefly with the fly, Red Tag, Light Blue, 
Hare’s Ear, and Cowdung killing best; but some capital 
baskets of chub and dace have been taken with maggot 
and fly. The samlets are still very numerous and 
troublesome to the angler. 
On the Avon some large baskets of from 101b. to 251b. 
of roach and chub have been taken with stewed wheat 
and paste. If the fish in this river were protected 
during the close season, it would be the best river for 
coarse fish in the world. I trust it will soon be under 
the control of the Severn Fishery Board, and the obser¬ 
vance of the close season enforced. 
On the banks of this river, I met with a veteran angler 
of about eighty years. He has fished the river for 
seventy years, and is apparently as fond of the sport as 
ever. He has donned ‘‘ the Red,” and seen many a fox 
killed, and, it may be said, has seen better days ; tall and 
commanding in figure, strongly marked in features, hair 
reaching to his shoulders ; from these grey locks he culls 
the hair, on which, when twisted, he ties his hooks and 
takes his fish—surely he is without a rival in the pisca¬ 
torial world. William Parker is his name. He lives at 
Eckington. 
FROM YORK AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
“ More rain ” is the cry of the angler in this district. 
It is true we had a shower or two on Tuesday evening, 
but so far as the fishermen is benefited the weather 
might have remained fine. The fact is that the ground 
has become so thoroughly dry that it will take a more 
than ordinary downfall to saturate it sufficiently to 
cause a fresh in the rivers. It is some time since such a 
long drought has been experienced in Swaledale—or for 
that matter in other parts of Yorkshire—especially at 
this period of the year. But, despite the clear and low 
state of the Swale, and the fact that some of its tribu¬ 
taries have been poisoned, numerous anglers have 
presented themselves on the banks of the river. Of 
course the panniers have been small. Mr. Oha’les 
Musgrave, I learn, has been about the most successful, 
taking over forty during one day’s fishing. Mr. George 
Harrison, Mr. Spencer, jun., Mr. J. Doherty, and others, 
have tried their luck, and, considering the unfavourable 
circumstances, have done fairly well. Matters, how¬ 
ever, are not improving, and the Swale is extremely low 
in places. Reports from the other streams disclose a 
pretty similar state of affairs, and there is generally but 
one reply to inquiries—“ Nothing doing.” 
The opening day of the season in connection with the 
Driffield Anglers’ Club, which preserves the well-known 
trout streams in that district, took place on Tuesday in 
last week. The day was very bright and sunny, and 
altogether unfavourable for fishing, with the result that 
the catches were small. One happy circumstance is open 
to congratul tion, and that is, there are plenty of trout 
in the streams. 
-A.t the time I despatch this, heavy clouds, foreboding 
rain, are hanging overhead. 
FROM IRELAND- 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
KERRY.—The weather since last notes has been, on 
the whole, very unfavourable for angling, and sport has 
been below the average throughout the county. 
On Waterville Lake a few salmon have been taken 
spinning, and one or two with the fly. White or sea 
trout are now coming up, and an odd one has been got 
now and again. Sea trout angling, however, is rarely 
good on this water before June. 
I may here state for the information of angling visitors 
to Waterville, who intend making the Lake Hotel their 
headquarters during the coming white trout season, 
that this establishment, which has been closed since 
Feb. 1, has been rented by Mr. Galvin, proprietor of the 
Bayview Hotel, Waterville, from the landlady. Miss 
Hartopp, of Dalby Hall, Melton Mowbray, England 
Mr. Galvin is at present having the place renovated 
and done up, and it will be opened for the reception of 
visitors on June 1, the commencement of the white trout 
season. Those gentlemen who have patronised Mr. 
Galvin’s Bayview Hotel, have spoken highly of the 
accommodation and cuisine there, and those who put up 
henceforward at the Lake Hotel may rest assured that 
no pains will be spared to make them comfortable. The 
Lake Hotel is very conveniently situated for anglers, 
being built on the shore of Waterville Lake, and there¬ 
fore quite close to the fishing grounds. 
From a sanitary point of view, also, its situation is 
perfect, being built upon an eminence, where the invigo¬ 
rating breeze from the Atlantic, laden with ozone, may 
be felt and appreciated. 
On the Inny, sport with brown trout has been good, 
and several white trout have been had by local anglers. 
The white trout have come up here unusually early this 
year. As a rule, they rarely arrive before June. Old 
anglers along the river attribute their early appearance 
this year to the great heat we have had during March 
and April, which raised the temperature of the water, 
even up to that of midsummer. 'This river, which used 
to be so badly poached in season and out of season, will 
be better protected henceforward, as Mr. Galvin, the 
proprietor of the Bayview and Lake Hotels, has acquired 
the fishing rights upon it, with the exception of a small 
portion of the northern bank, and he (Mr. Galvin) has 
employed additional keepers to look after his portion. In 
ordinary years, the angling here, both for salmon and 
white trout, used to be of a first-class kind from June 
upwards, and now that the water will be better pro¬ 
tected, the chances of sport will be considerably im¬ 
proved. 
Coppal lake has yielded good baskets of brown trout 
since last notes, but though white trout have come up, 
none have been taken. Coppal, however, is essentially 
a late summer and autumn water, and only a few 
anglers go out on it before July. 
On Cummeravanig lake brown trout have afforded 
much sport, the best basket that I heard of containing 
four dozen trout. The trout of this water are of a small 
size, but they give much play, being very game. They 
are considered very good for the table, and are of a 
very delicate flavour. No white trout can ascend into 
this lake, in consequence of natural obstructions, and 
the stream that carries off its superfluous waters is 
nothing more than a mere rivulet for the greater part of 
the year. 
On Lough Drenane, local anglers have had fair sport, 
but this water is getting too low for successful angling, 
and a few days’ rain is required to bring angling up to 
the average. 
The Cummeragh river is now running very low. 
Salmon are reported numerous in the deeper pools, but 
they rise badly to the fly except when a flood takes place. 
No anglers have been out on this water up to the 
present. On Waterville river, brown trout angling has 
been good but no salmon or white trout have been taken. 
Salmon are now ascending in increased numbers, but no 
grilse have arrived up to time of writing. Salmon seine 
boats have commenced hauling outside the mouth of 
this river, but I have not got details of their takes, 
which I heard have been large for the opening days. 
From Killamey I learn that sport has been very .slack 
among salmon, but that the brown trout Ashing 
continues pretty good. Several large brown trout were 
taken here last week. The Killarney waters appear to 
be the home of some of the finest and largest brown 
trout in Ireland. This season one of 111b. was taken, 
and even larger than this have been recorded in former 
years. 
In North Kerry matters piscatorial are at a low ebb, 
and sport has declined greatly recently. In this district 
there are several good salmon rivers, such as the Feale, 
Gale, Sinerlagh, and Cashan, but the bright and sultry 
weather we have had since March has reduced those 
waters very much, and the daily blazing sun put angling 
out of the question, except in the late evenings. Rain 
is much needed on all those waters, and when it comes, 
whenever that may be, angling is sure to show up con¬ 
siderably. 
In South Kerry angling has been quite as bad, and 
nothing beyond brown trout angling of a middling kind 
has been had since last notes. 
Sea angling, on the other hand, has been very good 
along the Kerry coast. At Waterville, Westcove, Castle- 
eove, Valentia, and a few other stations, pollack anglers 
have had from a dozen to twenty daily, and there appears 
to be an unlimited supply of this fish on the coast this 
