39G 
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PISHING GAZETTE 
[May 27, 1893 
The annual meeting of the Worsley Canal Fishery 
Hoard took place on the 19th, Mr. E. Burn, president, 
in the chair. Mr. B. J. Pickering, treasurer, presented 
his financial statement, which was passed as read. It 
is a matter for congratulation that from every quarter 
comes a good report of the conduct of ticket-holders, and 
the proprietors and neighbouring farmers are satisfied 
that it was not the fishermen who did damage in past 
years. Prejudices die hard usually, but in the ease of 
this fishery all opposition seems quietly and surely 
withdrawn. This is encouraging. The following were 
elected to form the executive for the ensuing year ; 
President, Mr. E. Burn ; treasurer, Mr. B. J. Pickering; 
consultative committee, Messrs. Johnson and Prescott. 
Amongst other business down for consideration was that 
of the annual championship, which event is to take 
place on Sept. 2, at Worsley, from 4 to 6.30 o’clock. 
The sub-committee to make all the necessary arrange¬ 
ments are Messrs Johnson, Slatter, Prescott, and the 
secretary. Many valuable prizes will be added to the 
usual championship medals. Will club secretaries 
please note this, and keep the date open from club 
fixtures ? 
The coming season is likely to bo marked by a revolu¬ 
tion in club programmes, the working-man angler is at 
last seeing that angling is not winning gewgaws and 
kettles, and this year is spending his money on enter¬ 
prises likely to provide him with better sport in the future. 
It is astounding the rapid strides angling is making, 
and to deal with the undertakings so far is beyond the 
limits of these notes. When the close season terminates, 
Lancashire men may do worse than pay a visit to Acton 
Bridge and fish the Weaver ; fish are present in large 
numbers. The trains certainly are not very convenient, 
but this is only a slight inconvenience when good fish¬ 
ing accrues. All particulars can be had from the Leigh 
Arms Inn. Since writing the foregoing, many reports 
are to hand from various places visited by our locals. 
It can be said without fear of serious contradiction that 
the past Whitsuntide has been the best we have had for 
everal years. 
For a really enjoyable and economical fishing excur¬ 
sion to waters worth visiting the knowing ones say 
Llanymynech. 
FROM NORFOLK. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
We had a splendid rain on Sunday and Monday, and 
this has put the rivers of the district in very good 
order. Fly-fishermen, of whom there are but few in 
this district, will now be out in the north part of the 
country, and bottom fishers will be trying to tempt the 
roach and bream. The roach are now busy spawning 
all along the Yare, while the banks of the river at 
Wroxham are all alive with fish. Bream and perch 
have well nigh finished. 
FROM NOTTINGHAM. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
The heavy rains which fell during the latter part of 
last week have done considerable good. They caused 
the Trent to rise something like three feet, and, besides 
washing downwards huge masses of rubbish, they have 
scoured the tributaries and brooks in a manner which 
had not been experienced for the past ten weeks. 
Coarse fish were set moving in all directions, and there 
is no doubt the early portion of the legitimate season 
will command a greater number of votaries than in 
previous years. Prospects are full of promise, and 
there is certain to be a keen demand for such favourite 
bottom lures as the caddis ^nb and maggot. Eoach 
and chub have done spawning, and the recent rise 
appears to have left very few fish on the shallows. The 
extra water set eels running upwards, and plenty were 
taken by the night-lining fraternity on Thursday, 
Friday, and Saturday. 
During the holidays a few gentlemen have patronised 
the King’s Mills private fishery, hoping, by a judicious 
use of the artificial minnow, to hook a salmon. No fish 
were, however, seen, and every effort put forth for their 
capture was futile. Only very few are up, and maybe 
they are not spring-run fish. 
Trout anglers were out in force on Monday and Tues¬ 
day, and in the Hilton Brook Mr. Wadhamand Mr. Hoe, 
of West Bridgford, killed three brace of splendid fish 
with the May-fly. The “ fly ” is still on the stream 
which flows into the Dove at or near Egginton village. 
One of the fish caught by Mr. Wadham weighed lib. 
Several heavy fellows have also been got in the Trent 
where it is joined by the waters of the little Eiver Greet 
at Eokerton. Mr. S. Pogson, of Nottingham, secured 
three over lib. each, and he is reported to have lost one 
above 3Hb. During a rise like the one we have just 
passed through the big fish leave the Greet in search of 
fresh food coming down the Trent, and in recent years 
many fine fellow's have been taken by the aid of the worm. 
The Nottingham Wellington Angling Society will 
hold its annual dinner on June 15, on the eve of the all 
eventful “ opening day.” A proposition is on foot to 
present Mr. Harry Spray, the courteous and enterpris¬ 
ing honorary secretary of the society, with a testimonial. 
If ever the hon. sec. of an influential angling society 
deserved recognition Mr. Spray is the one. He has for 
several years worked like a veritable Trojan for the 
club, and has the satisfaction of knowing it is second 
to none in the Midland counties. The testimonial will 
be handed over on the night of the annual banquet. 
The Notts Anglers’ Association have just received a 
well-merited rebuff at the hands of the Midland Eailway 
Companj’. For many y ears past the privilege cards to 
ocal anglers have been issued, in the company’s behalf 
by Mr. H. Coxon, of Nottingham. When the Notts 
Anglers’ Association sprang into existence last summer 
it was mainly owing to the attempt made by the Trent 
Fishery Board to impose a licence on the rods of coarse 
fish anglers. The question was thoroughly discussed, 
and in order that the association might not consider 
themselves “left out of the running,” Mr. Coxon sent, 
with his compliments, to the secretary, or hon. sec. 
of the association a list of the local angling clubs 
travelling, in order that, by calling supplementary 
meetings, the whole of the members would be the 
better consulted. But no sooner was the information 
gratuitously given than the association called a debate 
meeting, and adopted the following extraordinary 
resolution unanimously: “That this association sha,ll 
use its utmost endeavours to oppose the rod tax as laid 
down by the Trent Fishery Board, and shall also appoint 
officers to take over the entire charge of the issuing o/ the 
railwag privilege tickets to the association.’’ Ever since 
that time the officers have resorted to every move 
on the board to get control over the tickets, for the 
purposes of building up their own body, and at length 
they have discovered, to their own cost, who really is 
the manager and who is likely to be. 
FROM SHEFFIELD. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
It was only to be expected that after the grand rain 
of the week previous to last, things piscatorial would 
look up ; nor was the expectation in the least unrealised. 
Commencing on Thursday week, the day after the last 
great shower, we have had in this district a record of 
good and highly successful datches. On that day there 
was shown at the Crown Inn, a display of trout such as 
never before has been exhibited there within the com¬ 
pass of one day. Six of the most proficient bottom 
anglers we have in the city, namely: W. Thompson, 
F. Thompson, E, Waddington, A. Eobinson, T. Eobin- 
son, and T. Wilkinson, went out that day with quarts 
of maggots and stern resolution to bring something 
home. And they did. Meeting at night at the Crown 
Inn, they compared successes and exhibited their 
catches, with the result that there were soon on view 
115 fine trout. None were less than |lb. in weight, and 
some reached up to IJlb. They were all caught with 
the maggot, and were from the Derwent, Dam Flask, 
and other local waters. The same day the Pheasant 
Inn party fished the river at Yorkshire Bridge, but 
amongst them only creeled four and a-half brace. 
In that part of the country the rain had not 
had any appreciable effect upon the watercourses. On 
Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday rods were out in all 
directions, and in most of the cases I hear of good sport. 
At Dumford Bridge Eeservoir, near Penistone, a closely 
preserved water, Mr. Eeynolds, manager of one of the 
Church-street banks, had four brace of good fish on 
Monday with the maggot. On the same day Mr. A. 
Stacey and Mr. Gulliver fished Dale Dyke Eeservoir, 
owned by Lord Fitzwilliam, and did well. The water 
was low, but of good colour. Between them they 
basketed nine and a half brace, most of the fish weighing 
over ilb. and one turning the beam at lib. They were 
in the proverbial pink of condition. There were other 
anglers out, but these two did the best of any. One 
party, including a number of ladies, brought a dog with 
them and pitched a tent, but, sad to relate, not one of 
them landed a single fish. Another angler got a nice 
fish with the Eed Spinner, and another, who angled all 
day with a worm, drew a blank. The Alder and Black 
Gnat were out freely. The same two anglers were at 
Hollow Meadows Dam on Saturday. This water, which 
is now lower than for several years past, contains 
some fine fish, and Mr. Stacey secured two brace. Some 
nice trout have been caught in the stream below the 
alum mills. No permission is required for fishing this 
stream, but a trout licence is necessary. I heard of 
three Sheffielders fishing the mill dam at Low Bradfield 
from 2.30 a.m. on Monday to 9 n.m. and never securing 
a fish, although they paid a shilling for the privilege of 
swimming their maggots. This beats the exploit I 
mentioned last week at the Forge Dam, Fulwood, where 
another of the ilk angled exactly twelve hours and never 
saw a fish. 
It is cause for congratulation that we have secured 
the proposed Conservancy Board for the rivers of the 
West Eiding. A provisional order has been granted, 
and the board will probably come into existence about 
August. There is great need of such an authority. It 
will have ample material upon which to work, and 
ample scope for whatever energies it may possess. If 
the work of cleansing our rivers is now taken in hand, 
we may reasonably hope that, as the result of the efforts 
of the Conservancy Board and the Prevention of Pollu¬ 
tion Society, grand successes will be achieved, and that 
the scathing condemnation of the novelist Eeade will 
no longer apply to our local waters. 
FROM SHROPSHIRE. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
Salopian anglers were out in full force during the 
holiday season, and wind and water being favourable, 
fair sport was obtainable. The river has greatly 
benefited by the rain, although the thirsty land has 
absorbed the greater portion, and prevented any con¬ 
siderable increase in the volume of water. A few trout 
have been taken here and there, but they are not abun¬ 
dant, and many anglers have had to be content with 
coarse fish, which are plentiful, and are rising freely. 
Morning and evening fishing have proved the most suc¬ 
cessful, and during the last week or two the fish have 
been rising well. During the day time, however, the 
trout have stubbornly refused to move, but, directly the 
dusk comes on, the heads of the fords have been alive with 
rising fish. 'The May-fly has been on, but not in groat 
abundance, and anglers will do well to use a yellov- 
bodied March Brown, and one of the Duns in preference. 
The members of the Shrewsbury Severn Angling 
Society held an adjourned meeting on Tuesday, and 
agreed to accept the offer made to them by the Shrop¬ 
shire Angling Society in respect to allowing the anglers 
connected with the former body to fish in the water 
now claimed by the county association, free of charge, 
on the production of membership tickets. It is satis¬ 
factory to observe that the new association of riparian 
owners has thus recognised the good work that has been 
accomplished in the past by Shrewsbury anglers, and 
that the privileges the members of the society of that 
town have enjoyed for so many years of fishing in any 
part of the river will not be interfered with. We are 
assured that the Shropshire Association does not, by 
any means, desire to place undue restrictions in the 
way of anglers, but desire simply to better the fishing 
and protect it from the ravages of the poacher. We 
have before stated the opinion that, so long as the 
association carries out its work in co-operation with 
local angling societies, and does not adopt arbitrary 
measures, nothing but good to the angling fraternity 
can result from its formation : and now that the pro¬ 
moters have satisfactorily and liberally met the Shrews¬ 
bury Society, there is no cause for fear that the forma¬ 
tion of the association means the appropriation of the 
fisheries by a select few. Their proposals are liberal 
and thoroughly well considered, and if they can be 
carried out fully there will be a good time before Shrop¬ 
shire anglers, who will be fully compensated for the 
licence fee that will be exacted from them, by the 
increased protection of the river and the betterment 
of the trout, grayling, and salmon fisheries. It is 
whispered that at some future time local angling 
societies may be asked to co-operate with the new 
Shropshire Association in bringing their scheme to a 
successful issue. _ 
FROM IRELAND. 
To the Editor of the Fishing Gazette. 
DUBLIN.—Anglers over here are just now having a 
jolly time of it, and any amount of good sport. This 
week has, perhaps, been the most favourable, from a 
weather point of view, since the season commenced. 
The rivers are nearly all reported in fine fishing order, , 
and during the Whitsuntide holidays sport was in great ■. 
demand. Numbers of anglers betook themselves to the 
innumerable trout rivers around Dublin, whilst the 
Glendalough, the Woodenbridge, the Dargle, the Eoss- 
anagh waters, &c. (County Wicklow) were all thoroughly 
thrashed, and with satisfactory results. Mr. Oscar 
May and two or three of the Star Angling Club fished 
two days on the Clash river (Eathdrum) and took full 
baskets each day. From all reports which have reached 
me I gather that sport is good all round. On Whit 
Monday the King’s Gardens at Chapelizod (Dublin) were 
opened for the first time as a pleasure resort with a 
grand/tTe and gala. These gardens have been laid oat 
at enormous cost, and just now present a picture of 
extreme loveliness. They lie only two miles from the 
General Post Office, and not the least of the numerous 
attractions is the undoubted facilities afforded to trout 
fishers for a good day’s sport in the Eiver Liffey, which 
flows right past. On Monday last many could be 
observed casting lines at this favourite resort, ^and 
indeed all along the stretch into the Lucan Salmon Leap 
preserves many rods were busy. 
A lad named James Knowles, aged fourteen, while 
fishing in the Tolka river (North Dublin) fell into the 
river, and had a narrow escape from drowning ; he was 
rescued, however, by two men named John and Francis 
Brady, of Fairglass, who jumped in after him. The 
boy was detained in the Mater Hospital. I wouldn’t 
like to suggest that any of the trout could be capable of 
pulling the lad in, but mind you the Tolka holds some 
heavy fish. ^ . 
A smart controversy anent the salmon fisheries of 
Ireland and the mill-owners is just now running through 
the Dublin paper.s. A very capable letter from Mr. 
W^ebb, on behalf of the mill-owners, which appeped in 
the Freemall’s Journal on the 27th ult., has elicited a 
powerful and admirable reply from Mr. Alfred Moore 
Nunn, on behalf of the salmon fisheries. To those 
interested in the subject both the letters referred to are 
really worth reading. 
The appeal made by Sir Thomas F. Brady on behalf of 
the fisherman Cottrell, whose vessel and gear were 
recently entirely destroyed by fire, has met with 
generous recognition on all sides, and although the 
fund is not yet closed, it has reached a substantial sum. 
KEEEY.—The welcome rain has come at last, and 
sport has improved throughout the country. On Water- 
ville lake salmon angling has been practically aban¬ 
doned for the present, as anglers are now turning their 
attention to the white trout fishing which has commenced 
rather early this year. On Saturday two local profes¬ 
sionals had a dozen fine white trout weighing in the 
aggregate 241b. and 251b. respectively, besides several 
large brown trout. I do not remember such heavy 
baskets of white trout being got on this water at such 
an early date heretofore, and the fact should augur well 
for the coming season. White trout continue to arrive 
from the sea in large shoals. One hundred and eighty 
were taken in the weir on W^atcrville Eiver on Friday,, 
and when the weir was lifted at noon on that day they 
were still ascending freely. On WaterviUe Eiver sport 
at brown trout has been well up to the average, but 
