Mat G, 1893] 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
337 
year. Whiting, also, hare giren much sport, and 
anglers after them have had large hampers at different 
points. At Portmagee, the ling and cod fishery con¬ 
tinues good, and hundreds of the former fish have been 
had daily. Some of those weighed as high as 231b. The 
mackerel fishing is still very successful, and prices con¬ 
tinue good. At Fenit, the Manx, English, French, and 
Irish boats, have made large hauls during the week. 
Some of the boats despatched their fish by steamers to 
the English markets, while others landed theirs at Fenit 
pier, whence it was carried on several occasions by 
special train to Tralee en route to the E^nglish markets. 
The lobster fishing has commenced, but the takes have 
not been as good as usual on this coast. Trawlers have 
done fairly well at Dingle, Ballinskellig, and Kenmare, 
while the local yawls have been very successful among 
mackerel at Portmagee, Valentia, Westcove, Killimly, 
and Darrynane. _ 
ULSTER.—There is not much of a change in the 
weather, which threatens rain. Some intermittent 
showers fell from Saturday till Tuesday, but not in suffi¬ 
cient quantities to be of any service. 
A number of English tourists, includingafew anglers, 
have arrived at the King’s Arms, Larne, co. Antrim. 
The most convenient stream to Larne is the Glenwherry, 
which gives pretty good brown trout fishing after floods. 
The trout do not run heavy. 
Through the kindness of Mr. Charles Playfair, the 
courteous manager of Messrs. Braddell’s (Belfast) firm, 
I have just to hand the new catalogue issued by the firm. 
In addition to the usual object of the catalogue, there is 
attached a comprehensive map of Ireland, with the 
sporting rivers and lakes marked in red, and a salmon¬ 
fishing calendar for the various districts in Ireland. 
A local syndicate recently purchased Lord Lurgan’s 
demesne near Lurgan, co. Armagh, at ^615,000, for 
building purposes. Inside the demesne is an artificially 
made lake, some 100 acres in extent, and well stocked 
with coarse fish. The demesne has been in the posses¬ 
sion of the Lurgan family since James I., while “ plant¬ 
ing ” Ulster made a grant of .£4000 to William Brown- 
low, the founder of the family. 
I witnessed a heart-breaking piece of work last Friday 
evening while fishing the Ballinderry, below Coagh. A 
young fellow a few yards from me was making rather 
clumsy attempts at spinning an artificial minnow over 
“ Given’s Wrack,” a weedy portion of the river. A trout 
at least 41b. rose and took the minnow. The fellow was 
almost paralysed, but, recovering himself, with one 
tremendous haul he pulled the trout clear of the water, 
but just then “crack” went the rod, and away went 
the trout with the minnow and a piece of the line, which 
was like a rope, before I conld call out to him 
to play the fish. Then, with a longface, he told me that 
it was almost his first attempt at fishing. I felt like 
throwing him into the stream. “ Not my luck to get a 
rise like that,” I sadly murmured, viewing my brace for 
which I had fished seven mortal hours. 
Angling affairs are in a rather complicated state, to 
say the least, in the Dundalk Conservancy district, 
which includes all the streams and their tributaries 
entering the Irish Sea between Ballaghan Point and 
Donaghadee, but the matter to which I refer affects alone 
the Pane and Castletown rivers. Some months ago the 
inspectors of Irish fisheries sat in court at Castle Welling- 
ham,to hear an application from the licensed fisher¬ 
men on the Fane and Castletown rivers, to have the 
open season extended so as to embrace from April 1 to 
Sept. 1, instead of Feb. 12 to Sept. 19. This application 
was opposed by the fishers on the Annagassen river. The 
full evidence for against the application will be found in 
the Fishing Gazette of the 12th Nov. last. 
The evidence was mainly in favour of the application 
and the Board of Conservators were practically unani¬ 
mous in supporting the application. The application 
was not acceded to, and writing me, a correspondent 
says, “ The board has been legally advised to permit 
fishing same as before the new close season order— 
(this I presume refers to the curtailment of the open 
season a few years ago)—in the Fane and Castletown, 
and to defend any proceedings taken to inforce the new 
close season order.” The Castletown is a late river, no 
clean salmon appearing in it sooner than July. The 
river is formed by the junction of the Phillipstown, 
Dangooley, andForkhill mountain streams, which unite 
in the parish of Castletown from whence the river runs 
into Dundalk Bay. The Fane is also a late river, fresh 
fish not being taken in it sooner than the latter end of 
May. It has its source in Lake Muckno in Co. Monaghan, 
from where it flows south to Candleford, then eastward, 
l^assing by Ring Castle, Clarmont, and Grange, finally 
falling into the sea near Lurgangreen. 
The Season’s Angling on Loch Leven. —The 
season up to the end of April here has been a very 
successful one, notwithstanding the very bright and un¬ 
favourable angling weather experienced throughout, 
while we are also glad to note that nearly all the fish 
have been landed with fly. During April and March 
181 boats (including those engaged by clubs) were out, 
and captured 1338 trout, which weighed 13291b., or an 
average of TUb. per boat. This exceeds the average per 
boat obtained during the corresponding period of last 
year by' 11b., while the average weight per trout this 
year is 1.5voz., as against 12iiOz. last year. The follow¬ 
ing table will show at a glance the number of private 
boats out, with the weights obtained, contrasted with 
the corresponding period last year; — 
511). to lolb. to 1.51b. to 2011). and Total 
To .ilb. 1011). Lilb. 201b. upwards, boats. 
Lsio:. 40 . (12 . 20 . 0 . r, . us 
1S02. 40 . .5.1 . 17 . 7 . 4 . 121 
NOTES FOR CLUB ANGLERS. 
Mat is with us once more—lovely, beautiful May I 
ought to call it—and the long-looked-for 16th of June is 
nearing. Now, then, is the time for anglers to overhaul 
their fishing-tackle, and prepare lor the ensuing season. 
The past month, so meteorologists tell us, has been 
the driest April for eighty years. Speaking as an angler, 
I quite agree with that opinion, it has been very dry— 
parching, in fact'. * 
The London and South-Western Railway have, I am 
pleased to hear, resolved not to proceed any farther in 
connection with their idea of issuing vouchers to anglers, 
the management having come to the conclusion that it 
would be unworkable. The objections to the vouchers 
have also been pointed out to the South-Eastern Rail¬ 
way, and I hope to be in a position next week to 
announce that they too have dropped the matter. 
V 
The London and North-Western Railway have granted 
the London anglers, during the past few days, the 
concessions they withdrew between seven and eight 
years ago. Bedford and Blunham (for the Gt. Ouse and 
Ivel) can now be reached from Euston for fis. 3d. return. 
A COWARDLY assault was committed, on Sunday 
night, on a member of the Anglers’ Association, who was 
attacked by two men, outside Finsbury Park, and 
severely kicked in the back. The angler heard them 
say, “Let’s have his watch,” and the next instant he 
received a blow in the face. He retaliated with another 
on the lip of one of the ruffians, but they knocked him 
down and kicked him savagely in the back whilst he lay 
helpless on the ground. The police are making an 
active search for this latest couple of highwaymen, and 
I hope the scoundrels will speedily be captured. 
*** 
I HEAR on good authority that the Rodney Piscatorials, 
or some of them, have left their old clubhouse and sought 
another home. The others have started a new club as a 
result. I am sorry there should have been a split. 
# # 
# 
The first book on angling (so a correspondent writes) 
was published on July 2, 1296, in the reign of Edward I. 
The Central Association has taken some new fishing 
at Amberley, on the River Arun. Concerning it Mr. 
W. J. Wade writes me : “ There are two miles of water, 
and the bank fishing is stated by those who know to be 
the best stretch in the Arun. Many an angler has often 
longed to fish this water, but for the past eight or nine 
years it has been closed to piscatorial gentlemen. The 
fishing is within five minutes’ walk of Amberley Station. 
* ** 
A PIKE of 141b. has just been captured in a net in the 
Blackwater at Kelvedon (private water). 
The other day I saw a swan sitting up the Thames. 
The nest was fully exposed to view, and the boatman I 
was with said some wicked things about the cygnets. 
Fish have now nearly done spawning in the Thames, but 
I hope and trust that the swans will not be allowed out 
next season, as there is no question about their not 
destroying immense quantities of ova. I have often 
witnessed (with intense disgust) these notorious fish 
poachers trumpeting with delight as they stuck their 
bills into the ova and gobbled it down, and I have also 
seen them, on more than one occasion, catch and swallow 
dace quite 7 inches long. On the Colne, only last 
March, I saw a swan there catch a roach of about 6oz., 
and, having disabled it, play with it like a cat does a 
mouse, and then devour it. I thinkthat if the Vintners’, 
Fishmongers’, and other great City companies owning 
swans on the Thames, were approached in the proper 
spirit, the evil of allowing these destructive birds to be 
at large during the spawning time would be speedily 
dealt with, to the satisfaction of the angling fraternity 
and those who take an interest in maintaining a good 
stock of fish in the Thames. 
* * *” 
From George Rosewell, of Shepperton-on-Thames: 
“ Mr. Gerrard, fishing with me on the 28th ult., caught a 
trout of Jib., and Mr. C. Wilson, on Tuesday, took 
another weighing 5^1b.” * i- 
The Richmond fishermen say the fish have all done 
spawning in tideway, and, if that is the case, I should 
think they will be in excellent condition by June 16 
next. Large quantities of roach, barbel, bream, chub, 
and dace have been seen cleaning themselves on the 
shallows lately, and dace are now rising freely at 
the fly. # * 
* 
The Czar has just been pitched out of his carriage 
into a river. I wonder whether he was going fishing, as 
I believe he is rather fond of the rod and line. 
V 
Anglers will find several fishing tackle stands at the 
Sportsman’s Exhibition, Royal Aquarium. By-the-bye, 
Mr. G. C. Cooper told me, when 1 spoke to him there 
the other evening, that ho was going to have a stand there 
all the year round. That sounds like good business I 
* * 
Trout anglers wishing to fish between Monkey Island 
and Bray Lock need not fear the post “ Private 
Fishery ” stuck up on Pigeon Hill Eyot. The riparian 
owner, I here, will not interfere with them. 
Mr. W. Bainbridge, the Bures (Suffolk) water 
bailiff, sent me the following interesting item from the 
Stour: “ The pike and perch spawned about the first 
week in April here, but as you know this is a very lata 
river in all respects for roach, and I have not seen any 
on the move at present. As a rule they spawn in the 
Stour about June 6, and I see no signs of their being 
any earlier this season.” * ^ * 
Trout fishing opened on the Lea on Monday, but at 
the time of writing I have not heard of any fish being 
taken. The water is all against the angler, who, how¬ 
ever, might stand a chance in the evening when the 
glare of the sun is off the river ; then weir streams, 
(ieep gravel holes, and “houghs ” should be tried, for 
in such spots the Lea trout loves to linger, and I hope 
he will want his supper very hadly wlien I make an 
evening call at Eye House shortly. 
*** 
The Thames Conservators were summoned on Wed¬ 
nesday for permitting a nuisance, both “ dangerous to 
health and persons,” to exist at Limekiln Creek, down 
the river. # ^ # 
Evert week the Thames in the upper reaches grows 
staler, and the river is sadly in need of a refreshing 
shower. The water continues, of course, to be out of 
condition for trout fishing, and there is little doing. 
Just now let me recommend anglers to make a tour 
down the Old River to Wraysbury—a lovely spot for 
fish, whether it be trout or roach, chub or pike. They 
ought to get a trout there if they can anywhere. 
*** 
“Re-stocking the Lea with fish.” That sounds 
welcome news. Last Wednesday the officials of the 
London Anglers’ Association worked hard all day with 
that object in view, the scene of their labours being 
No. 1 reservoir of the East London Waterworks at 
Walthamstow. And, as a result, I am glad to say that 
the Lea anglers will benefit by the introduction of about 
8 owt. of roach, perch, pike, and bream into their 
favourite stream. Had the water in the reservoir been 
lower, however, the catch would have been much larger ; 
but, owing to the drought, the officials of the company 
were afraid to run any off. Consequently, great num¬ 
bers of fish must have escaped the net. 
*#* 
The permission to net the reservoir had been very 
kindly granted to Mr. Ghurney, on behalf of the 
Anglers’ Association, by Mr. W. Bryan, the engineer of 
the Waterworks, and Mr. J. Childs, of the Lea Con¬ 
servancy, had also done his best to secure the privilege. 
Everything satisfactorily settled, the Anglers’ Asso¬ 
ciation arranged with Mr. J. Hugman, of Hertford, to 
carry out the netting, and amongst those I saw on the 
bank on Wednesday morning were Messrs. Childs (Lea 
Conservancy), E. Ghurney (Anglers’ Association), G. H. 
Field, Geo. Chambers, Armstrong, Fiddes, Malby, J. 
Huntley, W. Hills, Williams, J. Carter, W. J. Talbot, 
A. Payne, Manning, &c. The net, I should explain, was 
SOyds. long and 7ft. deep, and was provided with a 
“ cod,” or purse. It was laid across the lake by means 
of a boat, and then worked into a circle. During the 
day it was worked at least a dozen times ; but, beyond 
the first haul, the other nettings turned out dis¬ 
appointing. * ^ * 
They were just carrying the first catch of fish to the 
steam-barge when I arrived, after a pleasant walk down 
Coppermill-lane, and a still pleasanter saunter along 
the banks of the reservoir. An examination of the 
carriers revealed many big bream, 31b. and 41b. each, 
and one very black old gentleman I saw must have 
scaled close on 61b. # ^ # 
The steam-barge Salisbury lay in the Lea, close by, 
and about three feet of water had been pumped into the 
hold for the reception of the fish. 
* * * 
Several nice jack were caught at one of the hauls, the 
largest fish going between 71b. and 81b., but the roach 
and perch ran small, especially the perch. They will, 
however. I trust, fatten up in the Lea, and provide 
some good sport at a future date. Mr. Ghurney ex¬ 
pected to get some tench, but not a single fish was taken. 
* # * 
The fish were turned into the Lea on Thursday, by 
Mr. Ghurney, not far from Broxbourne. 
* *f* 
The Anglers' Association netted the No. 1 reservoir 
seven years ago, when three tons of fish were caught. 
But for circumstances over which there was no control 
the performance might have been repeated on 
Wednesday. 
I FORGOT to mention that a number of fine eels were 
also caught, and that in the course of the day they 
were affectionately inquired after, and were finally 
reported as missing ! * ^ 
A WORD of praise is due to the members of the 
a.ssociation who assisted the netsman. Everyone worked 
hard, especially a picturesquely-attired angler, who was 
frequently referred to as “ Buffalo Bill,” and who, 
when assistance was needed at the net on the island, 
was humorously ordered to take his “ cow-boys ” over 
in the boat. He wore a tremendous soft felt hat, a blue 
flannel shirt, and a suit of brown corduroy, and looked 
more like a pirate captain or a brigand chief than a 
member of the Forest Gate Piscatorials. Nevertheless 
he remiered great service on Wednesday, and apparently 
there was no more popular man at the netting than 
“ Buffalo Bill.” 
