Mat 13, 1893] 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
357 
about Castle Donnington and especially those near 
Trent station are not stocked with these fish in prefe¬ 
rence to the coarse fish which they at present contain. 
The ponds seem to me, one and all, to be admirably 
adapted for trout, though appearances in this respect are 
often deceptive. The question was once mooted, I 
believe, but allowed to drop. The only difficulty in such 
cases is the choice as to what variety of trout to put in, 
trout closely resembling sheep in this respect, that one 
breed succeeds admirably where another fails. “ Loch 
Leveners ” are put into most ponds and lakes in a very 
inconsiderate way, in the belief that because they are 
“Loch Leveners ” and a fine quality of fish that they 
must thrive, whereas the finer the fish the more suitable 
must be its surroundings if it is to thrive. I offer the 
above suggestion as to stocking these ponds for what it 
is worth. It might revolutionise to some extent angling 
by Trentside, and introduce more fly-fishing in the river. 
On the analogy of Linlithgow Loch at Falkirk in Scot¬ 
land, I think such an undertaking would probably be 
successful in every way. 
Coarse fish, with the possible exception of chub and 
barbel, have now to a large extent spawned, and, given 
a continuation of the present state of the weather and 
water, the spawning season will have been one of the 
most favourable possible. It seems a superfluous thing 
to tay, but most anglers on Trentside cannot help being 
struck by the immense number of water rats which 
frequent the banks. The rat is a rodent, and lam 
inclined to think that he would eat ova without muc h 
compunction, and welcome fish eggs as a pleasant varia¬ 
tion to his ordinary fare. The common rat, and, I presume, 
the water rat also, is a good scavenger, and omniverous, 
like the trout, when necessity compels him not to be 
fastidious, and I cannot help thinking that Trentside 
would be none the worse if it harboured fewer of these 
animals. I notice fair numbers of gulls on most of the 
shallows just now, partly, I fancy, after spawn, partly 
after the sticklebacks and minnows, &c., which love to 
lie buried in the weeds. In connection with the proposed 
licence to take coarse fish, about which we heard so 
much last year, I notice that the Wellington Angling 
Association regrets, as a body, that it was dropped. 
More than the society in question regret this. I am 
not going to open up this questio vexata, but merely 
to point out that, as matters now are, and in virtue 
of its present powers, the Trent board could 
reqrdre every angler fishing in the Trent, speak¬ 
ing generally, to take out a 2s. fid. (trout) licence, 
for though licences can be issued only ostensibly to 
allow the taking of salmon, treat, or char, and not 
“ fresh-water fish ” (within the meaning of the Acts) 
yet it has been decided in Hill v. George (44 J. P. 424) 
that anyone who fishes in waters where there are trout 
with a lure with which trout may be taken (whatever he 
may be angling for or intends to catch) must take out a 
licence to kill trout. This simply means that though 
boards have apparently no powers su& sponte, to issue, 
or demand payment for, licences to kill coarse fish, yet 
they can insist upon all anglers for coarse fish taking 
out trout licences, provided (1) such anglers use lines 
with which trout may be taken, and (2) there are trout, 
however few, in the water. The wilfulness does not 
consist in the accidental hooking of a trout, say, when 
chub fishing with worm, but in fishing with worm where 
there may be trout. 
The worse shots over the most poorly-stocked of 
countries have to take out game licences. The analogy 
need not be worked out, but the cases are identical. 
Every now and then one hears of a trout being taken 
in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire portions of the 
Trent, when the angler is fishing for coarse fish. I am 
certain there are many more one never hears of. In my 
opinion there are trout in the river, and that is suf¬ 
ficient. The argument gains in force when applied to 
salmon, and I am certain that there are many Trent 
anglers—not, of course, of the better class—who take 
out no salmon licence until success has crowned their 
efforts. I beg to call the attention of the Wellington 
Society to the above statement of the existing law, 
which I believe to be perfectly accurate. 
I should like here to say something on the present 
condition of the law as to eels, which seems to me to be 
in rather a curious position. Eels are no longer (since 
the 182fi Act) fresh-water fish within the meaning of the 
general Fresh-water Fisheries Act; but, though this is 
so, they cannot be angled for with rod and line, and the 
peculiar part of the matter is, so far as I can see, that 
boards have not the power to grant leave to angle for 
them even in public fisheries—a power which they 
possess with regard to fresh-water fish in the legal sense. 
I shall refer to this matter again as it is one of consider¬ 
able importance, but think it right at this season to 
sound the above note of warning. 
FROM HAMPSHIRE AND DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The cry all over is still the same—rain ! rain ! rain ! 
and the drought is really serious. 
There have only been a few trout taken on the Itohen, 
and no salmon. The other day I saw a tray of a dozen 
fine trout on a local fishmonger’s slab, but I can’t say 
whether they were taken legitimately or not. 
No news to hand from the Test. Last week a double- 
fronted shop was sold at Overton, with the fishing rights 
over the part of the Test which runs by the shop. It 
realised ^£705. 
From Hnngerford I hear that the Fly Fishers Club 
have given up the fishing, and it will make it better for 
the commoners. I don’t advise strangers to visit this 
p^e, however. The best take I have heard is one of 
nine trout with rod one day. 
FROM THE LAKE DISTRICT. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
My Staveley correspondent reports that on Wednes¬ 
day, the 3rd inst., Messrs. Storey and Anson, of Kendal, 
fishing the upper reaches of the Kent, succeeded in 
taking a combined basket of fifty trout; but my corre¬ 
spondents in other parts of the district are altogether 
silent as to actual angling, which may be accepted as 
proof that operations have been so limited as to call for 
no special mention. _ 
FROM LANCASHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Water is still very scarce, and to all appearances we 
are threatened with a water famine deficient in quantity. 
Several reports are to hand of depredations on our 
stock of fish ; the scarcity of water is taken advantage 
of to practise the art of “ tickling trout,” and one 
stream in Derbyshire is heavily poached in this way. 
Good reports continue to arrive of glorious sport 
amongst the trout. One water in particular within easy 
reach of Manchester is fishing remarkably well, although 
proverbially noted for not being worth a visit until July, 
and then being at its very best in August and Sep¬ 
tember. One local angler of an inquisitive nature has 
opened several trout within the last few days, and 
found that the fish had been feeding freely on the 
larvae of the May-fly. Should this be the case this popu¬ 
lar lure will be strongly in evidence in a few days. 
The Manchester anglers have noted the various clubs 
in the district for a meeting to be held at the head¬ 
quarters of the Merry Anglers, to consider a suggested 
monster gathering at the Whaley Bridge fishery. The 
circular convening the meeting does not plainly set 
forth the entire ideas of the committee, but Mr. Pen- 
drigh kindly explained to us that although only a match 
was mentioned, it was the intention of the promoters 
to make the movement of a social character, in 
which the contest for prizes would form a promi¬ 
nent feature. The Tatton Anglers, who so recently 
by an united effort placed their society in a sound 
position, both numerically and financially, intend 
following out their spirited policy by liberally sup¬ 
porting the various efforts made locally to find fishing 
for working men. Already they have decided to take 
tickets for each member for the Worsley Canal Fishery, 
and in all probability this step will be supplemented by 
others of a similar character. The Hampton Court 
anglers held a meeting on the 8th, and disposed of a 
fair amount of business. They cannot, however, yet 
decide upon casting in their lot with any of the existing 
associations, and a special meeting will be snmmoned 
shortly to take this question, and also that of joining 
the Worsley Canal Fishery, into consideration. 
The Middleton anglers are bestirring- themselves, 
and, not to be left behind, have at present the satis¬ 
faction of having some really good fishing under their 
control. 
It is gratifying to learn that a satisfactory settlement 
is arrived at between the Silver Grid Angling Society 
and the Brookfield Anglers. Apparently common sense 
prevailed during the dispute, and as a result no sting is 
left, and both sides are likely to be good friends for the 
future. This course of action may be adopted to 
advantage by other societies. 
FROM NORFOLK. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The weather is still as bright and fine as ever. Every¬ 
where one hears the complaint, “ Water too low and 
clear.” 
Several anglers have been out after roach and perch, 
and have been fairly successful all round. The best 
catch that I have seen during the week was one made 
by two anglers on Saturday of forty roach, all good 
fish, the five largest weighing 71b. ; largest two, Ijlb. 
each. 
On Wednesday an angler at Horning, on the Bure, 
had a roach of 21b., and a rudd of Hlb., besides others 
smaller, and some fair bream, while another angler at 
Ban worth had 2st. of nice roach and bream. 
A few trout have been taken with fly, but the waters 
of this district are very low, and clear as crystal. One 
gentleman had some nice fish, largest just over 21b., one 
day last week. 
A gentleman, angling at Yarmouth, caught a flounder 
18in. long, lOin. wide on Saturday, with a shrimp for 
a bait. ’This is rather an unusual size for this time of 
the year. __ 
FROM NOTTINGHAM. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
There is still a blank record amongst our salmon 
fishermen, and as the Trent is lower and clearer than 
ever, the spring season may now be regarded as at an 
end. Our prophecy is early, but we think it is fully 
justified. Not for two months has the river undergone 
any appreciable change, and during the last fortnight the 
bottom weed has grown and spread at a truly alarming 
rate. This affords excellent shelter for all kinds of 
coarse fish, including eels, but the expansion is not 
likely to impress the coarse fish angler very favourably. 
The various weirs have recently teemed with barbel, 
chub, and roach, especially the last-named, and these fish 
shonld be found in good condition when the legitimate 
campaign commences on June 16. 
Mr. G. Drury and Mr. T. Wood have tried the King’s 
Mills section for salmon, but, although odd fish are occa¬ 
sionally seen, they cannot be tempted to accept any kind 
of lure, however attractively it is brought under their 
notice. There is nothing doing also on any of the waters 
below Nottingham, and the outlook all round is cer¬ 
tainly most disheartening. What at one period augured 
well for an excellent season has resulted in general dis¬ 
comfiture. But we must not grumble, as on more famous 
rivers than the Trent, the wielders of the salmon rod are 
fnll of complaints. Rain is greatly needed, and would, 
indeed, prove most acceptable to more people than fisher¬ 
men. 
As the local manager for the Midland and Great 
Northern Railway Companies in the issue of the 
privilege ticket cards to anglers’ club members, I 
have just succeeded in inducing the Midland Company 
to add to the cards the station of Whatstandwell on the 
banks of the Derwent between Matlock and Ambergate. 
The river there may, I learn, be fished for the modest 
snm of 6d. per rod per day, and I have no doubt the 
concession will he much appreciated by our trout and 
grayling fishers as a body. Both these fish are extremely 
scarce in the Trent, and a visit to Whatstandwell should 
vary the monotony of coarse fishing. The cards are 
already in force, having come into operation on Monday. 
As to this charming spot, one of the very best anglers 
in Derbyshire writes me as follows : —“ It is well worthy 
of a trial after heavy rain, which will bring on a good 
flush. The water holds a lot of large sized trout, both 
Loch Leven and brown, besides barbel, chub, eels, 
roach, dace, pike, and grayling. 'The fly-fishing, when 
wading was allowed, was first class.” 
FROM SHEFFIELD. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette, 
There have been several good fish caught in the dams 
Loxley way this week, while, on the other hand, stream 
fishing has been at low ebb. The Derwent is running 
very low and fine, and the Pheasant Inn party, who tried 
it at Yorkshire Bridge last Thursday week, met with no 
success at all. In several places the stream could be 
crossed without wetting the boots. A good fish was 
caught in Dam Flask by Mr. J. Fairburn, a regular fre¬ 
quenter of the water. It weighed lib. O^oz., and was 
one of the best caught here this season. 
I am glad to be able to record the fact that the 
Sheffield Anglers’ Association has joined the new 
Prevention of Pollution Society en hloc. We shall now 
expect, and with confidence, to hear of something being 
done. An association formed for the express purpose of 
cleansing the local rivers, with a membership of eleven 
thousand, consisting of the very cream of the angling 
community, ought, at any rate, to accomplish something 
of the work to which it has set its hand. The first joint 
committee meeting was held on Thursday week, and 
was a very harmonious gathering. Two committees 
were appointed, one to report on the present state of 
the rivers, and the other to make arrangements for 
carrying out the projected work, and to see if two mem¬ 
bers of the society could be got to sit on the proposed 
new conservancy board. The society hopes to complete 
its programme in a couple of years : that is to say, to 
so cleanse and stock the Don and the Sheaf that hy that 
time fishing may be indulged in at home. By then the 
water will be so purified, that those who use it for 
manufacturing purposes may do so with safety and 
without injury to their boilers, the society hoping that 
in return for this the manufacturers will avoid turning 
polluted matter into the streams. This is only a fair 
stipulation, and one that most fair-minded men will 
agree with. 
Complaints having been made about angling in the 
close season by members of the Rother Association, I 
have received from an official a copy of the rules to 
enable me to set forth the attitude the association takes 
on the question. From a perusal of these rules it 
certainly appears that so far from the association con¬ 
niving at illegal fishing every attempt is made to sup¬ 
press it, and to secure fair and honest sport. One of 
the rules says that the society condemns ail unfair 
methods of taking fish, while another stipulates that 
the Freshwater Fisheries Act, 1878, is to be adhered to 
by every member, anyone fishing in the canal during 
the close season being subject to a fine of fis In the 
face of this, I do not see how the charge holds good, 
although, as there is certain to be further correspond¬ 
ence, I may refer to the matter again later. 
Just a word about the Sheaf. The best way to fish 
now is to do so without a float, bait with a single maggot, 
and go gently down stream, the bait nearly at the 
bottom. By this means nearly all the fish caught this 
season have been secured. After a fresh, which, hy 
the way, is very much needed to enliven matters, there 
are plenty of nice holes in which the float may be used 
to advantage, as at the bottom of a weir. If this river 
were only kept free from pollution, in a couple of seasons 
it would be the best trout stream within a dozen miles 
of Sheffield. It is one of the first rivers to which the 
attention of the newly-formed Pollution Prevention 
Society should be directed. 
FROM SHROPSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The Shropshire committee of the Severn Conservators 
met at Shrewsbury on Saturday to consider the appoint¬ 
ment of a new water bailiff for this district, and a number 
of applications were considered. Three candidates 
appeared to be good men, and from these one was 
selected for recommendation to the board. It has, we 
understand, been decided, and wisely so, that in future 
the Shropshire committee or its secretary, Mr. J. 
Williams, shall have more direct control over the bailiff 
than has been the custom hitherto, and that he shall 
weekly report matters which come under his notice. 
This should be far more satisfactory to the bailiff himself 
and to the committee. There are many ways in which 
