June 17, 1893] 
THE EISHING GAZETTE 
165 
FOX TERRIER AND FISH. 
My Dear Marston, —I have been much amused 
and interested in the fox terriers fishing, that I 
thought it would be of like interest to some of 
your readers to hear of the doings of a little 
Scotch terrier I had years ago. He was not 
quite so large as the one you know of mine ; you 
no doubt remember he used to attend us at 
supp;r last summer in the fishing hut up the 
river—he is always there when anything good is 
going. 
Well, in these days long ago, it was too much 
trouble for me to carry a landing-net. I always 
landed the fish with my hand; of course, I some¬ 
times lost a fish that way, but not often—that Im¬ 
pounder you have seen in the hall I landed that 
way. My little dog was very fond of me, and I 
remember once I was lying on the couch, not 
being very well; the doctor came to see me, and 
put out his hand to feel my pulse. Master Dandy, 
who was lying behind me, and seeing the doctor 
as he thought going to assault me, flew at him, 
much to the doctor’s fright. Now for the fishing 
part: he always went with me, and used to get 
so excited when I had a fish on, and wanted to 
go for him, so one day I had a small one on, and 
I allowed him to go just to see what he would do. 
To my surprise he quietly went into the water 
and watched the fish until he lay quiet; he then 
gently took hold of him, and carefully brought 
the fish to bank without injury, and seemed so 
delighted at what he had done. After that I 
generally let him land the fish for me, which 
many times he succeeded in doing, and rarely 
lost one. It was great excitement to me to see 
how cleverly he did it. I had him some years, 
and at the same time I had a tame jackdaw, who 
used to sleep in the same kennel with him, and 
for some reason or other Master Jack would turn 
him out and not allow him in again for some 
time. Master Jack’s end came about in this way. 
Dandy had been given a bath in a tub at the back 
door, and Jack looking on, so after the servant 
had left thought he would like one, too, so got 
into the water and could not get out again, and 
was found dead. Poor Dandy looked very miser¬ 
able and unhappy for a long time. I don’t think 
he ever quite got over it.—I am, &c., 
Paris, June 6, 1893. James McRae. 
P.S.—I saw some lovely trout in the market 
here the other day; how it did set one longing. 
Do you think any of your numerous friends would 
know if there is any fishing worth having near 
here ? 
A DRESSING OP THE MARCH BROWN. 
Sir, —In your issue of the 20th, a correspon¬ 
dent writes, speaking very highly of a dressing 
of the March Brown for Wales. Would it be 
)) 0 ssible to publish this dressing in your valued 
paper?—I am, &c., Arthur J. Greenish. 
Braiiksome, 14, Eton Villas, 
Haverstock-hili, N.W., May 27, 1893. 
PRIVILEGE TICKETS. 
Sir, —Cannot something be done to induce the 
railway companies to allow anglers to start to 
the advertised angling stations from those sta¬ 
tions nearest to which they live ? Example: Say 
I live at Streatham, and want to go to Dorking 
(2s. 8d. return), unless I can catch a train back 
from London Bridge or Victoria (to one of which 
stations I must go), not only is there a shilling 
more to pay, total, 3s. 8d., but I may wait there 
goodness knows how long, and lose precious time. 
But whether I lose one hour or only a few 
minutes, in this and scores of other cases these 
pi’ivilege tickets are nothing but a delusion and a 
snare. I repeat, why should I be compelled to 
go a journey of twelve miles in the opposite 
direction to where I want to go, pay one shilling 
more, possibly have to pay for another six miles 
from London Bridge to Streatham on the return 
journey, and go to all this trouble for the so-called 
privilege P I ask the question because it has often 
been asked me before, and I contend that if I 
wanted to cheat the company I could do it at 
London Bridge as easily as I could at Streatham. 
This singular airangement appears to me to be 
particularly hard on working-men anglers, the 
class who can least affort to pay it.—i am &c., 
A. M. 
N.B.—The companies would do much more | 
business if they would grant this concession. 
HIGH WYCOMBE ASSOCIATION. 
Sir, —Very little sport has been had here by 
the members this year. I for one have sc arcely 
taken a fish. There seems to he no fly, and con¬ 
sequently no rising fish; so the dry fly is out of it. 
One of our number, Mr. Faulkner, of Marlow, had 
however some exceptionally good sport a few 
evenings back. In the upper part of our water 
he took three fish, weighing nearly 21b. each, and 
trying the lower portion of it on his way to the 
station, he hooked, and, after a splendid fight, 
succeeded in landing, a beautiful fish, the best by 
far of the season. Mr. Faulkner tells me this fine 
trout was 22 inches long, inches deep, and that 
it weighed Sfib.. It was taken with a fly of Mr. 
F.’s own making, and as the cast was a very fine 
one, and the river in that part rather weedy, I 
look on its capture as being possibly worthy a 
notice in the Gazette .—I am, &c., J. T. 
THE TOD BUCKLE. 
Sir, —In an article entitled “ Reminiscences of 
an Old Angler,” by E. M. Tod, which appeared in 
your last issue, dated June 10, mention is made 
of a “ safety buckle.” I may tell you that I once 
had a very narrow escape of drowning through 
not being able to disengage my basket. If you 
would kindly tell me where these buckles are to be 
obtained it would be considered a favour.—I am, 
&c., J. Wilson. 
[The “ Tod buckle ” may be obtained from Mr. 
Gil ett, of 40, Fetter-lane, London, price 2s. 
Straps of any length may also be obtained to 
which the “ Tod buckle” are attached, By this 
invention the basket may be momentarily dis¬ 
engaged, thus obviating the necessity of getting 
the strap over the head. Wo called upon Mr. 
Gillett, who has kindly lent us the illustration, 
which will give you an idea of its usefulness. 
The buckle is the exact size of the illustration.] 
LESSONS IN SALMON FLY CASTING, &c. 
Sir, —All those who arc interested in fly¬ 
fishing should know that Mr. Kerss, from the 
Tweed, is now at the Welsh Harp, near Hendon, 
and is prepared to give lessons in fly-fishing for 
salmon and trout, and in bait casting. 
Mr. Kerss is the champion professional salmon 
fly-caster of this country, and, besides being un¬ 
rivalled in this art, ho has the much rarer one of 
being able to impart his methods to others. He 
gives four lessons of half an hour each at a 
charge of £2, and I have no hesitation in saying 
that a person of ordinary perception—even with 
no previous knowledge of casting—will, after 
going through this course, find that, although he 
cannot expect to become a finished angler from 
two hours’ instruction, he will have acquired 
sufficient knowledge of the theory and rudiments 
of the art to enable him to perfect himself by 
practising at home on his pond or lawn, or on 
whatever available space he may possess. 
To the numerous class of anglers who, al¬ 
though practised to a certain extent in handling 
the rod, are yet conscious that their casting is 
often sadly deficient in neatness and length, 1 
believe that a course with Mr. Kerss will prove 
of very great service. Any communications 
addressed to the WeLh Harp, near Hendon, will 
find him. There is a station at the Welsh Harp, 
which can be reached in about twenty-five 
minutes from the Kings Cross (Metropolitan) 
Station, or from St. Pancras. Ladies are admitted 
to the course. I believe he proposes to remain 
until the end of this month.—I am, &c , 
A. C. Cooke (Lieutenant-General). 
Palace Chamber.s, 
22, Rydcr-strect, S.W., June (J. 
BE SPLIT CANE RODS. 
Sir, — Will you permit me through your 
columns to contest the opinion “Be Split Cane 
Rods,” in your paper on May 27 last. First : 
Your correspondent takes for granted that split 
cane rods have weak points, that I do not alto¬ 
gether deny; but assert that the same rule 
applies to wood rods. 
Secondly: Your correspondent evidently 1 as 
ignored logic altogether in his sweeping con¬ 
demnation. He admits that the continual drying 
of the fly is a strain upon the arm as well as the 
rod; “ logically ” therefore, the lighter the weapon 
the better, and certainly far more pleasant. I 
do not see the advantage of using a heavy wood 
rod, where a lighter (i.e. a split cane) will do. 1 
claim for the latter over wood rods four points : 
first—Lightness in the hand; second—Moie 
accuracy in casting; third— A quicker return ; 
fourth—Greater killing power. 
I would remind your correspondent of the story 
of the crab and the wit’s reply, viz., the crab is 
not a red fish and does not walk backwards.— 
I am, &c., J. Bernard and Son. 
FISHING! IN LOUGH MASK. 
Sir, —I notice in your last issue that Major- 
General A. D. Clay refers to the Serpentanic as 
a useful bait. May I also take the liberty of 
supporting that opinion after a trial of the Ser¬ 
pentanic on Lough Mask, co. Galway, Ireland, 
last week. The weather, from an angler’s point 
of view, was quite too “intense”—a scorching 
sun in a cloudless sky, and hardly a breath of 
air. The lake was so still and bright that when 
the gut was raised to the surface it left a line 
like a silver thread reflected in the water. This 
went on for several days in succession. However, 
my companion and I managed to scrape together 
Irom 71b. to 8lb. of fish each day, including 
one 4J-pounder, and one of Iflb., both on 
the Serpentanic, which seemed to attract the 
fish remarkably while trolling. If anglers 
knew how easy and cheap it is to run over 
to Clonbur, on the shores of Lough Mask, 
how comfortable they would find themsGves 
when there, and what pleasure they would have 
trolling round the numerous and beautifully- 
wooded islets which stud the lake, which is of 
immense extent, or landing upon them for lunch 
and a pipe, and fishing round their shores, many 
who now waste their money on continental hotels 
would go nearer home and fare better. 
The lake contains large lake trout, Gillaroo 
trout running up to 101b. and 121b.; smaller 
trout, of various sizes, and numbers of large pike, 
for all of which the fishing is free. 
The particulars as to the hotel arc to be found 
in the advertisement columns of the Fishing 
Gazette, so no further reference need be made to 
them. 
The journey, Viere and hade, can bo done for 
£5 3s., or a couple of shillings more for tips, and 
only occupies about twenty-two hours from 
London, giving two hours in Dublin for break¬ 
fast. 
I shall be glad to give further particulars to 
anyone desiring them.—I am, &c., 
Hamtrey ThWAI’I'E, 
British 8ea Anglers’ Association. 
27, Bramham-gardens, South Kensington, 
London, S.W„ June 15, 1893. 
THAMES TROUT. 
Sir, —I was fortunate in getting two nice trout 
on the 4th in Pangbourne Weir, one 4’,Mb., the 
other 2|lb., both fish giving fine sport, fishing 
with that good old sportsman Will Davidson. 
The larger fish was marked. I think it is a pity 
to mark fish, it spoils their beauty, and the 
process can be no satisfaction to anyone.—I am, 
&c., (Dr.) James Startin. 
15, Harley-street, Cavendish-square, June 7. 
FISHING AT CEFN. 
Sir, —If your correspondent “Black Gnat” 
refers to Fishing Gazette of July 18, 1891, p. 37, 
he will find some account of the Tail Vaur river 
at Cefn.—1 am, &c., A. P. W. 
155, Chesterton-road, W. 
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