410 
THE PISHING GAZETTE 
[June 3, 1893 
only got about four rod-lengths of line altogether. 
Anyhow I manage to keep a little line in hand 
and follow him down. I am glad to say he does 
not run far, but jumps a lot. I get the line in 
bit by bit, but away he gees, but luckily there 
are no stones for him to rub against 
when he sulks. He is a game little chap, and 
gives me all I know to circumvent him, 
but at the last be gets tired and his silver side 
turns up.. I sing out to L. to bring the gaff, but 
he has mislaid it, and we must beach him. I 
gradually pull him in, and L. chucks him up on 
the bank. He has taken thelittle “Jenny Lind” 
(a claret hackle, gold body, and bright bluewings), 
and is a grilse, a little better than 31b. This is, 
indeed, a surprise, so I give the place a rest and 
go down stream, intending to try back. In the 
shallows I pick up a good many trout; they are 
game and fight well. Whilst we are resting 
some one else tries our pool, but without success. 
Soon I go back and try again. I see a nice fish 
of about 61b. jump out; be has a red patch on 
his body, due to a net perhaps. By Jove ! he has 
come at me the next cast, and I am fast. Off he 
goes, jump after jump; I have to follow him 
i nto the stream. He gives me ten minutes’ very 
good fun, and the same fish for 1 see the scar. 
He has taken a little grey fly with gold body; a 
very killing fly out here. He is getting done 
now, and 1 bring him in. He has only a few 
flaps left in him, but, alas ! flaps off. I don’t 
knOT? why; 1 think the hook is too small and has 
worked out. I manage to rise another, but do 
not hook him, and then it is time to leave. Thus 
closed a very pleasant afternoon’s fishing ; my 
basket containing one grilse and about five 
dozen trout, fine fat little fellows, and excellent 
eating. 
A FEW WOEDS ON THE OTTEE. 
FkOM “ roACHEKS AND Po.\ClIING,” BY JOIIN 
Watson. 
Otters are still abundant on the banks of most 
northern streams, as also among the rocks and 
boulders of the coast line. On the margins of 
the more secluded tarns of the fells, otters, too, 
are yet found. Fitted for an aquatic existence, 
the structure of the otter beautifully exhibits the 
provisions suitable to its mode of life. On land 
it can travel swiftly, though the water is its best 
element. 
Immersed in this, its coat appears smooth and 
glossy. In pursuing its prey it performs the 
most graceful movements, doubling and diving 
so rapidly that it is difficult to follow its evolu¬ 
tions. When fishing, its object is to get beneath 
the object pursued, as from the construction of 
its eyes, which are placed high in the head, it is 
better enabled to secure its prey. This it seldom 
fails to do, its whole structure, as already 
remarked, greatly facilitating its movements in 
the water. Its uniform dusky brown coat has, 
like all aquatic creatures, a soft under-fur with 
long hair above. 
The otter generally takes possession of a 
natural cavity, a drain, or a hole made by the 
inundation of the stream. The entrance is 
usually under water, and inclines towards the 
bank. Situations where the latter is overhung 
with bushes, and with tall water plants in the 
vicinity, are generally chosen. From this the 
young, three or four weeks old, betake them¬ 
selves to the water, and if captured now may 
easily be domesticated. 
And now a word as to their food. That it 
destroys fish we are not about to deny. But this 
liking^ for fish has become such a stereotyped 
fact (?) in natural history, that it is glibly 
repeated, parrot-like, and so continues until most 
readers have come to accept it. The otter 
destroys but few fish, using the word in its 
popular acceptation. What it destroys are for 
food, and not out of love of killing. The greater 
j)art of its diet consists of fresh-water cravfish, 
thousands of which it destroys, and it is for these 
that long journeys are so frequently made. 
ilany miles in a night are traversed for these 
crustaceans, the beds of mountain and moorland 
streams, itc., being tracked to their source, almost 
every stone on the way being examined. 
NEW FISHING TACKLE, CATA¬ 
LOGUES, &c. 
LANDER’S TELESCOPIC FLOAT. 
Messrs. Allcock and Co., of Redditch, have 
recently taken up the sole wholesale agency for 
J. Lander’s Patent Telescopic Float. The names 
of the floats upon the market is legion; and it 
may safely be assumed that “Lander’s Patent” 
is worthy of merit for Messrs. Allcock’s gold 
medal firm to take it up. 
Amongst the advantages claimed by tbe in¬ 
ventor for the “ Telescopic Float ” arc the 
following;— 
“ That it is suitable for all kinds of float 
fishing. 
“ That it can be used either as a stationary or 
a running float. 
“ That it can be altered from 6in. to lOin. in a 
moment. 
“That greater part of the shot can be placed 
inside, and increased or decreased to suit length 
of throw. 
“ It is made perfectly watertight by an india- 
rubber band. 
“ Cannot foul in weeds. 
“The weight being concentrated in the float, 
gives the angler more command in making his 
cast. It can be cast under bushes, &c., and the 
bait lowered quietly into the water without dis¬ 
turbing the fish, no matter how deep it may be. 
“Much time will be saved in placing shot on 
the line, as the slide can be moved, instead of 
putting them on or taking them off. Five or six 
shots are the most ever required for sinking the 
bait, even in quick ivaler. 
“In striking a fish the action is much quicker. 
The line runs through the float perpendicularly, 
the float acting as a buoy, and not being lifted 
as in the old way. 
“That it will take the place eventually of the 
pelican quill float, which is becoming very 
scarce, and in a short time will be only obtain¬ 
able by the wealthy.” 
The same inventor (Mr. J. Lander) has patented, 
and will shortly place upon the market, a reel, 
by which the float can be cast with a weight of 
2 drams 36 grains a distance of thirty or forty 
yards with case. 
MR. BAMBRIDGE’S NEW CATALOGUE. 
Mr. R. B. Bambridge, of Windsor Bridge, Eton- 
on-Thames, sends us a copy of thenew edition of his 
fine catalogue. He makes a speciality, amongst 
other things, of repairing rods, a piece of infor¬ 
mation which is well worth noting. Being himself 
an enthusiastic practical angler, he certainly has 
every chance of giving his customers satisfaction. 
The testimonials from anglers which he publishes, 
and the extracts from press notices, are certainly 
such as any fishing-tackle maker may well be 
proud of. He makes a special feature of rods for 
mabseer, salmon, grilse, and fly-fishing generally, 
also of Thames punt rods of all kinds. Amongst 
his flies we notice special patterns for Thames 
trout, including Dr. Shomes’ Fancy, named after 
Dr. Shomes of Great Marlow, perhaps the most 
successful Thames trout angler with the artificial 
fly living. His May-flies are also first-rate in 
quality, dressing, and material used, and we were 
glad to send him an order for some of his Summer 
Duck Mays for use this present May-fly season. 
His fly-material cabinets, which are fully illus¬ 
trated in this catalogue, we have already spoken 
favourably of. From Mr. Bambridge’s point of 
view one of the greatest novelties in the whole 
catalogue is the Nicholay Out-barb Hook, which 
is thus described in the catalogue : 
“ 0 wing to the enormous stocks of in-barb hooks 
on hand throughout the world, prejudice will, as 
Mr. Nicholay says, be very strong against the 
invention, but anglers will do well to take no 
notice of this, but insist on having the Nicholay 
oMi-barb hook. Mr. Bambridge in his test with 
a finely attached steelyard on a square of wash 
leather, fixed firmly in a mantel board, found the 
following result, trying the in-barb first, a steady 
strain being given, till penetration took place. 
In-Babb. Out-Babb. 
Pall No. 1 . 
. 4 
lb. Pall No. 1 . 
. 2 
lb. 
M 11 2 . 
. ^ 
1) ! 11 
„ 2 ...... 
. 2.i 
11 
II )1 3 . 
. 4 
„ 3 . 
. 2 
i> .> 4 . 
. 4i 
„ 4 . 
. 2i 
U 11 5 . 
. 4| 
„ 5 . 
. 2 
>. 6 . 
. 4 
11 j 11 
.. 0 . 
. 34 
II 11 7 . 
. 4 
„ 7 . 
. 24 
!, J> 8 . 
. 
,, 8 . 
. 3 
11 11 ^ . 
. 3 
„ !» . 
. 24 
10 . 
. 3 
„ 10 . 
. 24 
„ „ 11 . 
. 4 
„ 11 . 
. 3 
,, „ 12 . 
. 4 
11 1 11 
12 . 
.24 
11 
“ The whole twenty-four penetrations were con¬ 
fined to a surface of less than two square inches, 
so that the same resistance should be given to 
each hook, though as in the case of pulls. No. 6, 
8, and 11, in the out-barb trial hook, it may have 
got oa to a closer textui-e, hence the slightly 
greater strain recjuired, but taken on the whole, 
the above trial is very convincing, but ‘ the proof 
of the pudding being in the eating,’ salmon 
anglers should try them. Standard pattern flies 
stocked, and any patterns correctly copied, (juickly 
as possible, owing to demand.” 
Books Received. —“The World-Wide Atlas,” 
with an introduction by J, Scott Keltic (W. and 
A. K. Johnston, Edinburgh and London). “ The 
Sportsman’s, Tourist, and General Guide to 
Scotland,” edited by J. Watson Lyall .(London: 
118. Fall Mall). “ The Breech-Loader and How 
to Use It, by W. W. Greener (London: Cassell 
and Company). Notices will appear in our next 
issue. 
