UC-NRLF $B 271 723 ¥'^ CALIFORKIA CAs:^ ■% ti ^t^pUfHj /l^MI^ Digitized by tine Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/anglersguideorcoOOsaltrich HOOKS BAITED FOR TIipLLlNG. 1, Gorge hock baited. '2. Gorge hook, and 3, Baiting needle. 4. Hook with live bait. 5. Dead snap, with 3 Uooks G. The same baited. ^ 7. Spring snap, and' 8. Spring snap baited. ANGLER'S GUIJDE, OR COMPLBTE ^LONDON ANGLER^ CONTAINING THE WHOLE ART OF ANGLING AS PRACTISED IN •Cije Elbert Ctamts anO' Ilea, AND OTHER WATERS TWTENTY MILES ROUND LONDQN Founded on Actual Experience : WITH THE ART OF TROLLING FOR JACK OR PIKE. Dedicated to Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York. Bv T-. F. SALTER, Gent. Rochester Terrace, Stoke Nemington. kvrite from practice, not from books arrange. L O ND O Ny .PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY T. TEGG, CHEAPSIDE, And sold by the Booksellers and Fishing Tackle Makers of the ' United Kingdom. 1814, Printed by Haines and Turner, 75, Mai^aret Street, Cavendish Square. CONTENTS. Pag% Dedication, • vii Preface, . . * i^ The Angler's Morning Walk, x Apology for Anglers, xi Directions for Hooks, xvi Chap. 1. — Choice of Tackle, 1 Chap. 2— Trolling for Jack and Pike, 5 Chap. 3 — ^Trolling continued : natural and artificial Baits, 10 Chap. 4. — ^Trolling concluded: how to cast the Bait, 17 Chap. 5.— Barbel, 26 Chap. 6.— Chub, 32 Chap. 7— Roach, 35 Chap. 8.— .Dace, 40 Chap. 9 Gudgeon, 42 Chap. 10.— Perch, 45 Chap. 11— Tench, 48 Chap. 12.— Carp, 50 Chap. 13. — ^Trout, 54 Chap. 14. — Crucian or Prussian Carp, 65 Chap. 15. — Loach, or Stone Loach, 67 Chap. 16. — Bleak and Minnow, 69 Chap. 17.— Bream, Rudd, Pope, and Miller's Thumb, 71 M84G197 CONTENTS. Page Chap. 18.— Eels, 73 Chap. 19. — Flounder and Smelts, 77 Chap. 20.— Artificial Fly-fishing-, 82 Chap. 21. — Artificial Flies, 85 Chap. 22. — Rods and Lines, 90 Chap. 23. — Casting- or Throwing- the Line and Bait, ... .92 Chap. 24. — Natural Fly-fishing, 95 Chap. 25. — The River Thames, and its Fishery, 98 Chap. 26. — ^The River Lea and Fishery described, . . . .111 Chap. 27. — ^The ISIew River, Mole, and Rodin^, 126 Chap. 28. — Padding-ton, Camberwell, & Croydon Canals, 128 Chap. 29. — Waters and Ponds near London, 130 Chap. oO. — Rules and Observations, 135 Chap. 31.— Postscript, 139 Chap. 32. — An Explanation of Technical Terms, 149 TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF YORK. 'MAD2LM, 1 JiM emboldened hy the knowledge that your Royal Highness occasionally en- joys the amusement of Anglings to lay this Treatise at your feet^ and to offer it as an humble tribute of my profound respect for your Royal Highness'' s many virtues^ parti- cularly manifested in the neighbourhood of Oatlandsy by your Royal Highnesses con- descension and goodness in educating and cloathing numerous poor children. As a lover of every virtuous action^ and a loyal admirer VUl DEDICMTION. of the august house your Royal Highness is allied tOy I receive infinite pleasure during my Jishing excursions in the vicinity of Oatlandsy in frequently hearing the voice of Gratitude detailing the many good acts of your Royal Highness. That your Royal Highness may long live to enjoy the admiration of a grateful neighbourhood^ and a loyal people^ and that every possible good may attend you^ is the fervent prayer and wish of Your Royal Highnesses Most Dutiful^ And Humble Servant^ T. F. SALTER. Stoke Newington, PREFACE. Jb iNDiNG myself unable to enjoy the pleasure of angling so frequently as I have been ac- customed to do, (in consequence of declining health,) I have employed some of my leisure time in writing this Work as a direction or guide to the young and inexperienced angler : the information it contains is such as has been acquired by practice and experience in the art during the last forty years in the rivers and waters therein described. THE ANGLER'S MORNING WALK. At morning light the sun shone bright, Twas in the month of May, The Lark on wing, aloiid did sing. All Nature it look'd gay. From sweet repose I early rose To fish, and take the air; I look'd around, saw good abound, Then why should Man despair. Birds sweetly sung, the vallies rung With their melodious song ; The flowrets sweet my senses greet, The way I pass'd along. Oh, Lord ! accept my humble lays : All things I see Reminds me Thee, To whom be glory, praise ! APOLOGY FOR ANGLERS. JVIany people speak of Augling as a cruel and reprehensible amusement, and feelingly describe the sufferings and torture endured by the harmless and unoffending fish, when on the angler's hook. I certainly am ready to give those persons every credit for their humanity, and the purity of their motives, but differ from them on the subject. I am satisfied that the angle may be used without offence to God or Man, (provided the angler, on these occasions, does not neglect his duty as a member of society, in the relative situations of a father, husband, son, or servant) which opinion I shall endeavour briefly to justify by a reference APOLOGY FOR ANGLERS. to the authority of Holy Writ, where we find that fishermen were among the chosen servants of our Saviour both before and after the resurrection; and in various parts of the Old and New Testa- ment, fishermen, angles and hooks, are mentioned, but in no one instance is the practice condemned, even by implication : we find in the book of Job, and in the prophet Amos, fishermen and fishing- hooks named, and again, in the nineteenth chap- ter of Isaiah, it is said, " the fishers shall mourn^ and they that cast their angle in the brook." Our blessed Lord made choice of several fish- ermen for his apostles, and it was to those he ap- peared after his resurrection, while they were fishing, as may be seen by referring to the twenty- first chapter of St. John's gospel ; and in order to convince the most incredulous that catching fish with hooks was never considered a sinful pursuit, I shall quotQ our Saviour's order given to the Apology for anglers. apostle St. Peter : ^' Go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh.*' — St. Matthew, chap. xvii. In respect to the cruelty of Angling, it is more ideal than real, especially if we contrast it with the unceasing persecution with which the finny tribe pursue each other. Every species of fish, either in the ocean or in the rivers, are at con- stant war, the larger chasing, wounding and de- stroying the smaller; from the mighty Whale, and ^ ir^v/c the Toracious Shark, to the insignificant Muscle, all, by stratagem or open violence, prey upon each other— in some instances, even feeding on those to whom they had but recently given life. The fact is well known that the Cod-fish taken on our coasts, are principally attracted by the Whiting, which is their most favourite food; SoleSj and several other flat fish, live chiefly on APOLOGY FOR ANGLERS. the spawn of other fish ; the Crab feeds on the smaller sized Sole ; and, again, the Muscle makes prey of the young unwary Crab. In fresh waters the case is similar: Jack, Pike, Salmon, Perch, Trout, Chub, Eels, &c. destroy immense numbers of their brethren daily, and by their tyranny keep the whole inhabitants of the rivers, lakes and ponds, in continual terror and alarm: the angler has frequent opportunities of. observing the extreme distress and agitation of small fish when a Pike, or any other fish of prey, makes his appearance among them ; on these oc- casions, they are so much terrified and confused, as sometimes to leap out of the water, into a boat, or on the shore, to escape the fangs of their mer- ciless pursuers, and avoid immediate destruction. I have taken several Roach, and other fish, that were much disfigured and wounded, particu- APOLOGY FOR ANGLERS. larly on the sidesj by their ravenous enemies,* which must have caused them sufferings far more acute than could possibly arise from any method used by the angler, whose hook generally catches the fish by the lip or gill, parts, I conceive, not the most susceptible of pain. The Pike fell tyrant of the liquid plain, With rav'nous waste devours his fellow-train, Nor less the g-reedy Trout and gutless Eel, Incessant woes, and dire destruction deal. * The mouth of a fish of prey, particularly the Pike, is studded with teeth in such a manner as to pierce his victim with many hundred darts at once : the large, sharp, crooked fang-s in the lower jaws, the frig'htful expansion of which, with the horrid abyss of throat, must convey to the observer the terror and sufferings of the defenceless part of the finny tribe. It sometimes happens that a Jack or Pike will gorge such a quantity of fish, as to appear nearly choaked for a con- aidei-able time, with a part of the last even yet hanging out of the destroyer's mouth, writhing in agony, so great is their voracity. fi:^ To prevent the trouble of referring to the different Chapters^ I have given the following LIST OF HOOKS ^ to be used with gut line: For Barbel fishing in the Thames, Nos. 7 and 8 Hook For Barbel fishing* in the Lea, .... Nos. 8 and 9 Hook. For Gudg-eon fishings in the Thames, Nos. 10 and 11 Hook. For Gudgeon fishing in the Lea, . . Nos. 11 and 12 Hook. For Perch fishing, Nos. 7 and 8 Hook. For Carp fishing, Nos. 8 and 9 Hook. For Roach, Dace, and Bleak, .... Nos. 11, 12, 13 Hook. THE ANGLER'S GUIDE- CHAP. I. CHOICE OF TACKLE, &C. XN the following treatise it is not my in- tention to take up the time of my readers by instracting them how to make fish-ponds, angle-rods, floats, or lines, conceiving that such descriptions tend only to perplex and confuse the young angler; but shall direct him in the choice of every necessary article used in angling, which may at all times be purchased at the principal fishing-tackle shops in London. The angle-rod is a material article in the angler's catalogue, therefore much care should be taken to procure a good one : the shop^ B THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. keep a great variety, made of bamboo, cane, hazel, hickery, &c. and of dijfferent lengths, some fitted as walking canes, and others to pack in canvas bags ; the latter are to be pre- fered, because you may have them of any length, and they are generally made more true, and are stronger ; those made of bamboo are best for general fishing, having several tops of various strengths, but the rods made of cane are much superior for fine fishing, particularly for Roach. In choosing a rod, observe that it is perfectly strait when all the joints are put together, and that it gradually tapers from the butt to the top. In the choice of lines, take those that are round and even, whether made of gut or horse-hair : in respect to co- lour, I think sorrel best for single horse-hair, either as a line or tied on a hook. Floats for fine fishing should be made of quill, some are called tip-cap'd, which are best for roach fishing, others have a plug at bottom, and are called plug floats ; several CHOICE OF TACKLE. other kinds are used, made of quill and cork, called cork floats, others of the porcupine quill, &c. In purchasing a winch, give the preference to a multiplying one, as it enables you to lengthen or shorten your line with facility, by which means you much sooner kill your fish : those which tie on to the rod are better thaA those made with a ring or hoop, as they can be fastened on either large or small joints — not so with the ring'd. The following is a list of articles necessary for every one to possess, who intends perfect- ing himself in the delightful art of angling : — Rods for trolling, and bottom-fishing ; Lines of gut, hair, &c. (those of three yards long will be found most useful) ; Floats of various sizes, to suit any water ; Hooks for trolling, — the gorge, snap, &c. tied on gymp ; THE ANGLER'S CUIDE. Hooks, tied on gut, of various sizes, to No. 12; Hooks, tied on hair, from No. 11 to 13 ; Winches for running tackle ; Plummets for taking the depth ; Baiting needle ; Disgorger ; Clearing ring ; Drag ; Split shot ; Caps for floats ; Landing net ; Kettle for carrying live bait ; Gentle boxes ; Bags for worms ; Fly-fishing rods, for whipping and dap- ping, or dabbing ; Book or case of artificial flies, moths, &c. and materials for making the same. TROLLING. CHAP. II. TROLLING FOR JACK AND PIKE ; IN WHAT WATERS THEY ABOUND MOST, AND HOW TO TAKE THEM. The Jack and Pike,* are well known to be the tyrants of rivers, lakes, and ponds, but they afford the angler much amusement, sport, and exercise in trolling for them, and they are also held in much estimation at table, being considered as one of the best fish the fresh waters produce ; they are therefore sought after with the greatest avidity by the angler, and every art and stratagem is em- ployed to take them : these I shall fully detail * Jack or Pike, names for this fish, which are generally used as synonymous among anglers ; but, properly speaking", a Jack becomes a Pike when weighing more than three pounds, •r exceeding twenty-four inches in length. THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. to my readers, but will first acquaint them where those fish are most abundant, and then proceed to take or kill secundum art em. The rivers Thames and Lea probably breed a greater variety of fish than any other rivers in England, and, among the various species, a good store of Jack and Pike ; yet the angler will find but few places in the Thames, within twenty miles of London, likely to reward him for his skill or assiduity in trolling: this is chiefly arising from the rapidity of the stream, and the few still holes or eddies to be met with on its banks. The places nearest to London where I have met with any success, are from the meadows at Isleworth, proceed- ing to Richmond -bridge ; thence to Twick- enham, and again from the banks at Ted- dington to Hampton- wick ; also at Hampton, Moulesey-hurst, at and near Esher, Walton, Sunbury, and on to Chertsey-bridge. During this route the troller may find likely places on both sides of the river. TROLLING. The river Lea abounds with Jack and Pike ; its numerous creeks, bends, pools, tumbling- bays. &c. give much security and harbour for fish ; a great many parts of it also are secured from poachers, by being rented and preserved fo^j^-the sole purpose of angling : these are called subscription waters, which the angler may use at his pleasure, by paying, annually, a certain sum, in no case exceeding twenty-one shillings. At a distance of less than three miles from the metropolis, the angler will find many ex- cellent places for trolling in this river, which, for thirty miles up, is not generally more than thirty yards broad, enabling the experienced angler to fish its whole breadth from one side, in many parts for a mile together, v/ithout interruption. The little navigable river Stort, which runs into the Lea near the Rye-house, Hoddesden, contains many Jack and Pike. The river Roding, in Essex, is well stored with fine Jack and Pike at Ongar ; and also at Ai- THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. bridge, Loughton, Woodford-bridge, and in several holes in the fields between Woodford- bridge and Red-bridge, at the back of Wan- stead, and from thence to Ilford and Barking- creek. At Dagenham in Essex, the large piece of water called Dagenham-breach (which is pre- served for the use of subscribers) has very large and numerous Jack and Pike. The Camberwell canal will repay the angler for trolling, as he will meet with some good Jack and Pike in it, particularly in that part of the canal which is broad and deep near the bridge or arch on the Kent-road, on the east side, all the way to Deptford Lower-road. The Croydon canal also boasts of some Jack, which may be trolled for from Deptford to Croydon, particularly in the still waters be- longing to the numerous locks between New Cross, Kent-road, (to the east of Nunhead- hill,) and Sydenham. I have taken several Jack and Pike in the Paddington canal ; the TROLLING. best place is close to the first brick bridge from Paddington, on the west side. Jack and Pike are also to be met with in several other waters near London, but I have had the great- est success trolling in those rivers and canals above mentioned. 10 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. III. TROLLING CONTINUED : NATURAL AND AR- TIFICIAL BAITS, AND HOW TO BAIT THE HOOKS. T^E natural baits for Jack and Pike are Roach, Dace, Gudgeon, Bleak, and Chub : about six or seven inches in length will be found the best size, though some anglers use them considerably larger ; but I have not found my account in trolling with a large bait : for by experience I have noticed the Jack or Pike to be sometimes shy of pouching, hold- ing it across their mouths a considerable time, swimming backwards and forwards, and at last dropping it, while, on the contrary, they will generally pouch a small lively bait in a few minutes. Another advantage also often results from using a small bait — you may take a Trout, Perch, or Chub with it ; the TROLLING. 11 two latter are frequently taken when trolling for Jack or Pike, particularly if you have a live Gudgeon on yoilr hook. The Roach, Dace, and Gudgeon are decidedly the best baits for Jack or Pike ; the Bleak may be used in thick water, because it is a very bright fish, but it is too thin to look well on the hook, and very soon loses it scales : small Chub and Perch, with the back fin cut off, are used when no better can be met with. The shops keep artificial baits for trolling, both of fish and frogs, made of wood, pearl, and also of leather stuffed and painted, and which, in form and colour, much resemble nature, but I should never think of using them while there was a possibility of getting a natural one : when they are used, it is with the snap, which I think shows judgment, for surely the most sanguine angler could hardly expect a Pike to pouch either wood, pearl, or leather even with the addition of stuffing. There are several methods practised in 1-2 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. trolling and fishing for Jack and Pike, but the following are generally used, namely, with the gorge, the snap, the live bait, and the bead hook. The gorge hook is loaded on the shank with lead, and introduced into the body of the bait; the snap hook, either spring or dead snap, consists of three hooks fastened together, and are put on the bait without entering the body : the hooks used for live bait are single or double. — I always use the single. To bait these hooks, observe the following directions : first, the gorge hook. — Take a baiting needle, and hook the curved end of it to the loop of the gymp (to which the hook is tied), then introduce the point of the nee- dle into the bait's mouth, and bring it out at the tail, the lead will then be hid in the bait's belly, and the points and barbs will lie in its mouth, the points turning upwards : to keep the bait steady on the hook, tie the tail-part to TROLLING. 13 the gymp with some white thread. The ad- vantages arising from the use of the gorge hook is principally from the hook lying so much within the bait's mouth, and the gymp coming from the tail, which prevents every obstruction to pouching : this is not the case with any other baited liook ; for it is to be observed, that the Jack or Pike, in pouching, always swallows the bait head foremost. The spring snap hook is baited by intro- ducing the point of the upper or small hook under the skin of the bait on the side^ and bringing it up to the back fin. The dead snap is baited by the loop of the gymp being passed inside the gill of the bait, and brought out at the mouth ; the lead lies in the throat, the first hook outside the gill, and the others on its side, with the points just entered under the skin. It is best to sew this bait's mouth up with some white thread, to keep the lead and hooks in their places. 14 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. The live bait is simply passing the hook through the bait's lips, or the flesh beneath the back fin, taking care not to wound the back bone, or the bait will soon die. The bead hook is formed of two single hooks tied back to back, or you may purchase them made of one piece of wire tied to gymp ; between the lower part of the shanks is fastened a small link or two of chains, having a piece of lead of a conical form, or like a drop bead (from which it takes its name), linked by a staple to it : the lead is put into the live bait's mouth, (a Gudgeon is the best bait) which is sewed up with white thread. Angling with this bait is called live bait trolling, for when you angle with a live bait, and have a float on the line, you wait some time in a place while the bait swims about, consequently not much ground is travelled over or length of water fished in a day, there- fore not intitled to the name of trolling. TROLLING. 15 Trolling is derived from the French word tr oiler ^ to stroll or rove about, which is the case frequently when angling with the gorg or snap, to the distance of eight or ten miles up a river and back again, trolling forwards and backwards, as you then carry the baits in your pocket ; but in live bait angling or trol- ling, you are encumbered with a fish kettle. The lines for trolling are made of silk, and silk twisted with hair or gut : the platted silk is the best line, which should be kept on the winch in length from thirty to forty yards. The rod used in trolling must be very strong, with a stiff whalebone or hickery top. I find a rod made in the following manner very port- able : let the butt be something more than a yard long, and of sufficient thickness to admit two stout joints ; the top, made of hickery, about eighteen inches in length, which I com- monly carry in my inside coat pocket, the other joints forming a good walking cane, and 16 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. with a bait or two in my pocket, I pass \^ith- out any one suspecting that I am going on a fTshing excursion: this rod, when put toge- ther, will measure, about fourteen feet, which I find generally long enough for trolling in any water. Having described the way to bait the hooks, &c. we will now repair to the river, and learn how to cast a bait, and kill either Jack or Pike. In the frontispiece the reader will see the different modes of baiting hooks for trol- ling, with the exception of the bead hook^ which is given below. TROLLING. 17 CHAP. IV. TROLLING CONCLUDED ; HOW TO CAST THE BAIT5 AND KILL JACK OR PIKE. I SHALL suppose the young angler to have arrived at the river side with his rod and line, and a gorge hook baited. First, fasten the winch on to the butt of the rod, draw the line through the rings to the length of eight or ten yards, and fasten the hook on the line with a small swivel ; place the bottom of the butt against the side of your stomach, draw some of the line back with your left hand, and lower the top of the rod near the ground, then with a jirk from your right arm cast the bait into the water : while giving the jerk, keep the butt firm' against your stomach, but let the line, which you hold in the left hand, loose. By a little practice, the young angler may be C IS THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. ablef to cast his bait to any distance. When you cast in the bait, let it fall on the water as lightly as you can, that the fish may not be alarmed by the water being much agitated ; let it sink to the bottom , then gradually raise it nearly to the surface, and so continue to troll till you feel a bite, which you will distinguish by perceiving a sudden catch or tug at your bait : keep the line free, that nothing may impede the Jack or Pike in running away with the bait to his haunt ; let him remain quiet about ten minutes to pouch the bait, then wind up the slack line, and strike. If there be any very strong weeds, piles, or any thing else which may endanger your tackle near the place where you have hooked the fish, keep him from running to such places, by weighing him out as soon as possible. The tackle used for trolling being very strong, I do not lose much time in playing these fish, at least in no comparison with what is necessary in killing Carp or Barbel : TROLLING. 19 if you feel a bite, and the Jack or Pike soon stops, then runs again, and continues so to act, you may expect he is more on the play than the feed, therefore there is little chance of his pouching your bait ; in this case it is advisable to strike, and you may be fortunate enough to hook the fish by some part, and secure him. In fishing with a live bait, I prefer a Gudgeon to any other bait, because it is a very strong fish, and lives longest on the hook; it is certainly a favourite with Jack, Pike, Perch, and Chub : when so fishing, put a taper cork float (not very large) on your line, and a few swan shot to sink it tliree parts under water ; cast your bait in search in the same way as directed with the gorge hook, adjust the float so that the bait may swim something below mid-water, arid let it continue to swim about some minutes without taking it out, unless it comes too near shore, or hangs in the weeds. When the Jack or Pike 20 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. takes this live bait, he does it with much violence, and the float disappears instantly ; therefore be sure always to keep your winch unlocked and line free (a good angler never fishes with the winch locked) : give him ten minutes to pouch, and then strike. In fishing with a live bait, the Jack and Pike will frequently take the bait, and sail about, holding it across their mouths by the middle, but will not pouch it, I then put on a spring snap hook, and strike the moment my float disappears. I have some acquaint- ances who never angle for Jack, Pike or Perch, any other way than with a small spring snap hook, the upper hook lodged beside the back fin of a live bait, and a small taper cork float to their line, and they kill many heavy fish. When you fish with a snap hook, either the spring or plain, you cast in search exactly as with the gorge ; but when you feel a bite, strike quickly, and hard, that your hooks may get firm hold of the Jack or Pike. TROLLING. 21 In the summer, when the rivers and other waters are much choaked with weeds, you may sometimes find a Jack in an opening, they then lie dozing near the surface : drop a baited snap hook in such place, and let it sink a few inches, and it is very probable he will take it ; in this case your line should be very strong as well as the rod, for you must strike and lift the fish out instantly, or you lose both Jack and hook among the weeds. In trolling with the bead hook, cast in the bait, as before directed with the gorge, &c.; the lead in its mouth will cause it to sink gradually, but will not prevent its swimming about for some time : when at the bottom, you must raise it near to the surface again, and occasionally take it out and cast in a fresh place, either to the right, left, or opposite, taking care to fish every yard of water where the place is likely to yield a Jack or Pike; for it sometimes happens they are not much in- clined to move, but will readily take a bait 2« THE ANGLER' GUIDE. if it swims within their reach. When you feel a bite, let him run, and allow liim ten minutes time for pouching before you strike. Various other ways are practised for taking Jack, Pike and Perch, by night-lines, trim- mers, &c. ; but such methods are justly re- probated by the true angler, who exercises his skill and art for amusement more than profit. By those night-lines and trimmers, many of the largest Pike and Perch are killed. The trimmers most used in pools, ponds, and still waters, are thrown in baited, and frequently left all night, and are taken up from a boat : if the place is not too broad, you may get them with your drag. These trim- mers are made of strong thin cord, with a hook tied to gymp and wound on a piece of flat cork about five inches in diameter, with a groove to admit the line; the hook is baited witli a Gudgeon, Roach, or some small fish: you then draw as much line out as admits the bait to hang about a foot from the bottom. TROLLING. 23 There is a small slit' in the cork, that you pass the line in, to prevent it unwinding ; as soon as the Pike or Jack seizes the bait, the line loosens, and runs from the groove of the cork free, and allows the fish to retire to his haunt, and pouch at leisure. These trimmers are named, by many, the man-of-war trimmers : with one of these (called the Ville-de-Parisy) Colonel Thornton, during a sporting tour to the Highlands of Scotland, took a Pike weigh- ing upwards of forty-nine pounds ! the largest I ever heard of. The bank runner is mostly used in the day, while the angler is fishing for Roach, Barbel, &c. These trimmers are stuck in the bank, having strong turned wood sharpened for the purpose, with a winder at top for the line, which is fitted in the same manner as the man-of-war, but you must have a small cork float, and bait with live fish, which should swim about a foot from the ground. These kind of trimmers and night-lines are kept ready fitted at the fishing-tackle shops. U THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. REMARKS ON TROLLING. The season for trolling commences in July, and continues to the end of February, when the sportsman discontinues taking Jack, Pike and Perch, they being then full of spawn. These fish will certainly take a bait very free in March and April, and are in good con- dition for the table, but the angler is not al- lowed to troll for them in any of the subscrip- tion waters. The most likely places to find Jack and Pike are near the end of scowers, and in deep eddies, in tumbling-bays, and where there is a bend and deep still water in a river, and near beds of land-dock weeds ; also at the mouths of ditches or streams that empty themselves into rivers or ponds, and near flood-gates, and bull-rushes in lakes, canals, &c. Trolling has some advantages over other, modes of angling, for when the weather is TROLLING. 25 boisterous and cold, you may take Jack and Pike, while other fish refuse every enticement; it is also highly conducive to health by the excercise which it affords. The Jack, Pike, and Perch generally bite most free during a breeze of wind, and will feed all day. When you intend to use live baits, take at least six in your fish-kettle, and give them fresh water during your perambu- lation ; if you mean to use the gorge, bait three hooks before you begin, and keep them in bran, in a gentle-box large enough for the baits to lie at their length. Always use fresh and lively baits, for though Jack and Pike are tyrants and gluttons, they are also epicures. CHAP. V. BARBEL. ■ With hurried steps The anxious angler paces on, nor looks aside. Lest some brother of the angle, ere he arrives, Possess his favourite swim.* The Barbel only breed and thrive in rivers. In the Thames and part of the river Lea there are many, very fine and large : they are a handsome fish, but their flesh is coarse, and therefore considered but of little value for the * The partiality for a particular swim, hole, or eddy, in a river, is very great among anglers j many will travel during the night to arrive first at a favourite place. I knew an angler BARBEL. 27 table ; yet I have been told they eat very well when baked, with veal stuffing in their belly, as do the smaller size split and fried. The Barbel is prized for being a game fish, afford- ing excellent sport to the angler, mixed with some labour and anxiety. When of a large size, they are exceeding crafty, sulky, and strong, struggling a long time after they are hooked, often lying motionless at the bottom many minutes, then running under banks, or into large beds of weeds, in fact, trying every possible way to get off the hook, or break your line, which they certainly will effect if you are deficient in skill, or your tackle is in any way faulty. They are generally angled for on the river Thames in boats, cmWed punts^ with a stout rod, running tackle, gut line, who frequently, in summer, left London in the evening-, and stopped at a village public house near the river Lea, take his supper and pipe, and there remain until the people of the house retired to bed, then walk to his favourite swim, and sit down and wait patiently till the dawn of day enabled him to use his ang^le rod. •28 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. cork float, and No. 6 or 7 hook ; likewise with the ledger line, which is fitted in the following manner : a short solid rod, running tackle without a float, with hook No. 4 or 5 tied on twisted gut, baited with two marsh worms, or with graves. About ten inchea above the hook is placed a piece of flat lead, perforated, (sold at the shops) below which is fixed a large shot to prevent the lead slipping down : the bait is then cast in, and lies clear on the ground ; hold the top of your rod over the side of the boat, nearly touching the water, you will feel a bite, and at the second tug strike hard. In the river Lea, you fish with much finer tackle : your rod either of bamboo or cane, with a stiff" top, running tackle, fine gut line, quill float, and No . 8 or 9 hook ; baits, red worms, gentles, and graves. (Note, the bait must always touch the ground.) Graves are certainly the most killing bait ; but when I fish for Barbel, I always take the three baits BARBEL. 2f with me, alternately putting worms and gen- tles, or graves and a worm, on the hook to- gether, as they sometimes want much entice- ment. — Never omit trying a worm in the evening. to The Barbel bites very sharp and sudden, you must strike the instant and smartly, im- mediately raise the top of your rod, let him run some considerable distance before you attempt to turn him, then endeavour to keep your fish away from the shelves and beds of weeds, take him from the current into deep and still water as soon as possible, and play him till he has quite lost his strength before you attempt to land him. Before you begin to angle for Barbel, throw in plenty of ground bait (you can hardly give them too much), and continue to do so fre- quently while fishing for them : the best ground bait is made with soaked graves and clay, mixed together, in balls the size of au so THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. egg, also clay and gentles : indent a piece o f clay, in which put some gentles, close it lightly, and the gentles will work out gradu- ally, when at the bottom of the river. — Use this ground bait only in still holes. A quan- tity of worms, if they can be procured, chop- ped into small pieces, are likewise a good ground bait. The Barbel feed from May till October, all the day, but best in the morning and evening : indeed, the chance of success increases with the coming night. They will even bite all night, and will feed very freely after rain, when the water is thickened a little. REMARKS ON BARBEL. The Barbel spawn in April : they delight to lie in deeps, in eddies, at the end of scowers, and under beds of weeds, and banks, routing up the gravel or sand with their noses, like pigs. The largest Barbel in the river Lea are BARBEL. 31 taken in the Horse-and-Groom subscription water at Lea-bridge, some weighing upwards of fourteen pounds : a friend of mine (Mr. R.) took one here on Saturday, the 21st of May last, which weighed twelve pounds. There are likewise fine Barbel as far up this river as Waltham-abbey, particularly at Tottenham- mills, in Bannister's water, Mr. Bowerbank's, (the last is private property) and in the sub- scription water at Bleak-hall, Edmonton. — Barbel are very rarely taken as high up as Broxbourn and Hoddesden. The heaviest Barbel in the river Thames are taken at Chertsey-bridge, Shepperton, Walton, and Hampton-deeps. Barbel are also taken at Thames Ditton, Kingston, Twickenham, and Richmond. CHAP. VI. CHUB. The Chub is a river fish, rather bony, and not very choice food, particularly in summer ; they are firmer and better tasted during the winter months. The Chub v^ill feed all the year, and is a bold-biting fish either at the top of the water or bottom, greedily taking flies, cockchafers, bees, &c. of which I shall speak when treating on fly-fishing. When angling for Chub, where you have reason to expect a heavy fish, use running tackle, gut line, quill float, and hook No. 8 or 9. Strike the moment you perceive a bite, CHUB. . 33 and let run, for the Chub, when struck, ge- nerally runs furiously to the middle or opposite side before stopping ; therefore it is necessary to give plenty of line, otherwise your fish will break away in the first instance. He is not so game a fish as the Barbel, for after his first effort, and a few plunges, you may venture to look at him, and soon after bring him to the shore or landing net. The baits for Chub are graves, red worms, gentles, paste, and bul- lock's brains, or pith from the back bone. Trolling or angling with a live Minnow is often successfully practised, particularly in spring, by which method many large Chub are taken. At this season, red worms are also good bait ; put two on your hook, for the Chub loves a large bait : in the summer months, gentles and graves ; during winter, bullock's brains or pith is a killing bait ; when that bail is not to be procured, use paste made of bread and honey. Before you begin to angle for Chub, throw in plenty of ground bait, and frequently while you are fishing, of D 34 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. the same sort as used for Barbel, or made with soaked bread, pollard, and bran 5^ worked to- gether : they bite during the whole day, but best in the morning and evening, in summer until quite dark, and all night. Fish as near the middle of the stream as you can in the spring months, and let the bait drag two or three inches on the ground. REMARKS ON CHUB. Chub never thrive in ponds or canals, but delight in deep holes, scov/ers, tumbling bays, &c. in rivers : in the autumn and cold weather they keep close in deep dark holes, or in the shelves under banks, and in holes that are shaded by large willow trees, whose branches hang close to or in the water. The river Lea is famous for large Chub from Temple-mills, or Lea-bridge, all the way to Hoddesden and Ware. The Chub will feed all the year. Both Chub and Roach will bite the whole year round, The bait should touch and lightly drag the ground. CHAP. VII. ROACH. Hope and Patience support the fisherman. The rivers Thames and Lea breed an amaz- ing number of Roach : although they are not considered a very delicious fish, I by no means think them indifferent food when in season, particularly if they are of a tolerable size, and caught in a river. By some persons they are considered a silly fish, and easily to be taken ; but it requires much skill and practice, and a quick and steady eye, before any can pretend to the character of a good Roach angler. 36 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. Angling for Roach in the Thames is gene- rally practised in boats, with fine gut line, and No. 10 hook ; but I have killed many heavy Roach from its banks with a cane rod, quill float, single hair line, and No. 12 hook, in the holes and eddies between Chertsey-bridge and Shepperton, and from thence, by Haliford, Walton, and Sunbury, to Hampton, in the course of which rout the angler will find many good holes and swims : also in the meadow s at Teddington, and on the opposite side from Kingston to Richmond. To take Roach like an artist, you must use a light cane rod, near twenty feet long, with a fine light stiff top, a single hair line, a tip-cap'd float, and No. 12 hook: observe when fishing, your line above the float must not be more than twelve or fourteen inches long, or you will not hit a .fine bite ; the float should be so shotted that not much more than an eighth of an inch appear above the water, for Roach (and very often the heaviest) bite so fine or gently, that without attending to the above nicety in ad- ROACH. 37 justing your line, you will loose the chance of two bites out of three. Always keep the top of your rod over the float, and when you see the least movement of it, strike quickly, but lightly, (the motion coming from your wrist, not from the arm) or you break the line ; if you have hit or hooked a fish, raise the top of your rod, keeping him as much under the top as you can, the butt down nearly touching the ground, and by playing him carefully he will soon be your own ; in this fine fishing it is best to take with you a landing net, particu- larly if you fish off" a high bank, or you ha- zard breaking in weighing the fish out. The best bait for Roach is paste, made of second-day 's-baked white bread, slightly dipped in water, which must be immediately squeezed out again, then place it in the palm of your left hand, and knead it with the thumb and finger of your right, until of a proper consistence ; Roach will take this paste nearly the whole year, and by adding a little S8 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. Vermillion, it will be of a pink colour, which tliey sometimes prefer ; in summer they will also take gentles, and in the spring and autumn sometimes blood and red worms, but paste is the most killing bait : put a piece on the hook about the size of a pea. Before you begin, plumb the depth accurately, and let your bait gently touch the bottom ; you should occasionally take the depth again, particu- larly if the fish leave off feeding. Ground bait plentifully before you begin with small balls of the same mixture as used for Chub and Barbel fishing, and, while angling, cast some in frequently (or chewed bread) close to the float. REMARKS ON ROACH. Roach breed and thrive in canals, ponds, and rivers : in rivers they are found on the shallows, in eddies, and in deep holes, also about bridges, piles, and locks ; in ponds, near flood-gates, and those parts where the ROACH. 39 bottom is sandy. They bite all the year in rivers, but only during the summer months in ponds. Very large Roach are sometimes taken under Lea-bridge. 40 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. VIII. DACE. The Dace is a very handsome fish, and considered as light nutritious food : they also afford the angler much sport, generally biting bold. They are angled for with the same sort of tackle as is used in Roach fishing : indeed, where you find Roach in rivers, you will frequently take Dace ; but they are more likely to take your bait when angling for Barbel, with graves or red worms, than the Roach, and will also rise more at a fly. When you angle in a place more likely for Dace than Roach, which happens in the spring, on scowers, you may use a hook one size larger than for Roach, particularly if you bait with a red worm, which they are fond of at this season ; in summer, put two gentles on DACE. 41 your hookj or a small piece of graves and a gentle on the point : graves is the best bait for large Dace. REMARKS ON DACE. The Dace is a river fish, and will not thrive in ponds, or still waters. They do not bite much later in the season than October, but you may begin to fish for them in March. — Ground bait the same as for Roach, or with only bran and clay mixed, and thrown into the water frequently. CHAP IX. GUDGEON. The Gudgeon is a sweet and mild fish, and much prized at the table when large and fresh caught : the rivers Thames and Lea boast of very fine and immense numbers. They are a a bold biting fish, and afford much amuse- ment to the young angler : they may be taken from April till October, all the day. In the Thames they are generally fished for with a red worm, gut or hair line, light cork float, and No. 10 hook. They spawn three times in the year, and are best for the table in th« spring. GUDGEON. 43 In the river Lea they angle with much finer tackle for Gudgeon, and bait with blood worms, using a light rod, single hair line, quill float, and No. 12 hook : the same tackle is also used in the New River. REMARKS ON GUDGEONS. Angling for Gudgeons commences in April in the river Lea : the best place in this river is in the subscription water at the Horse-and- Groom, near Lea-bridge, where many dozens are taken daily until July, when they move to deeper water, and are caught occasionally while fishing for lloach, &c. Gudgeons are taken on the shallows, where the river is free from weeds, and the bottom gravel or sand, which must be frequently stirred, while fish- ing, with a long rake made for the purpose ; ^ in this way of angling, you often hook a small Perch, and sometimes a Salmon Trout : plumb the depth before you begin, and let the bait touch the ground. 44 GUDGEON. The New River, and the canals near Lon- don, have Gudgeons, but they are not so large as those caught in the Thames and Lea ; in which rivers I have frequently taken thirty dozen in the course of a day's angling. CHAP X. PERCH. The bright-eyed Perch with fins of Tyrian dye. The Perch is reckoned a firm, nutritious fish, excelled by none of the fresh water tribe : they are a bold fish, and generally take a bait immediately it is offered. Strong tackle is used in angling for them, a cork float, gut line, or a twisted hair, and No. 8 hook : the usual bait for Perch is a worm, Avell scoured, either marsh brandling, or the red ; I prefer putting two red worms on a hook instead of one of the other kind, which are larger. They are also 40 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. angled for with a live Minnow, hooked by the lips or back fin : when fishing in this manner for Perch J you should always have running tackle on, for sometimes a Pike, Trout, or Chub will take it, and larger Perch are caught this way than with a worm ; it is likewise ne- cessary to give them a few minutes time to pouch, and, as they often run a considerable distance before they do this, without running tackle you certainly would break, or lose your fish. When you have a bite with a worm bait, let him run about the length of a yard, and then strike smartly : the bait should be about a foot from the bottom. — Some angle for Perch with two hooks on a line, one at mid-water, the other lower. REMARKS ON PERCH. Angling for Perch commences in February, and continues till October ; but during the hot months Perch feed very little. Dark windy weather, if not too cold, is best for Perch TENCH. 47 fishing : they delight to lie about bridges, mill-pools, and near locks in navigable rivers and canals, in deep and dark still holes and eddies, in ponds about flood gates, on the gravel or sandy parts, and near the sides of rushes. You need not wait long in a place, for if there are any Percli about, and are in- clined to feed, they will soon take the bait. '4S THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. XI. TENCH. The Tench is generally prized as a fine rich fish 5 but they are very scarce in most of the rivers and streams about London ; some few are taken in the spring and summer out of the rivers Thames and Lea, also in the Camber- well and Croydon canals : I have caught very fine Tench in the river Roding, near the bridge called Red-bridge, at Wanstead, and several in the ponds in Wanstead-park. They take red worms in the spring, and gentles or sweet paste in the hot months : use a fine gut line, quill float, and No. 10 hook. REMARKS ON TENCH. The Tench will breed in rivers, lakes, and ponds, but they thrive best in ponds where TENCH. 49 the bottom is composed of loam, clay or mud ; they bite very free in summer during warm, muggy, dark weather, and particularly while small fine rain decends in the evening or morning. Your bait should nearly touch the ground in ponds, but must drag in rivers : fish early and late. CHAP. XII. CARP. The yellow Carp, with scales bedroppM with gold. The Carp is a beautiful fish, and much prized bj many for its richness, particularly when stewed in wine. They are not very numerous either in the river Thames or Lea, what are caught are remarkable fine and large. The Carp is very shy in biting at a bait, particularly the large ones, who seem to in- crease in cunning and craft with their weight : in angling for them, use running tackle, a small fine quill float, clear gut line, and No. 9 hook ; indeed, you must fish as fine as CARP. 51 the nature of the water will allow, or you have little chance of taking Carp. They will begin to feed in rivers, thie latter end of February, if the weather is mild, from which time till the end of April they generally bite more free than at any other part of the season, which goes out with October. The best bait (particu- larly at the first of the season) is well scoured red worms ; in the summer, gentles and paste : I frequently bait my hook with a red worm, and a gentle at the point, and with much success. Paste made with honey, as follows, will be found a killing bait for Carp towards the autumn : take the crumb of new-baked bread, dip it in honey, and work it well to- gether — you may use a piece nearly as large as a marble for a bait ; when fishing with this bait in still water, the Carp will suck in the paste so sly, that without you keep a watchful eye, your bait will be gone without your dis- covering a bite. In fishing for Carp, keep as far from the water as you can, and, if con- venient, you should ground bait the place you 62 THE ANGLER^S GUIDE. intend angling in, the night before, and also plumb the depth, that you may not have oc- casion to disturb the water when you begin to angle. Those who are inclined, or have an opportunity to pursue this plan, will find they have not lost their labour. Carp will seldom bite in the middle of the day, unless soft light rain descends : the best time is as soon as you can see your float in the water, and late in the evening. When you have hooked a Carp, give line, use him gently, and with patience, for they are a very strong fish in the water, and will try every way to get off the hook. Ground bait the same as for Barbel, and when angling with sweet paste, frequently throw a few small pieces of it in close to your float : let your bait swim about an inch from the bottom, when angling in still water, but it must touch the bottom, when fishing in a river or stream. CARP. 53 REMARKS ON CARP. Carp will thrive well in rivers, but they only breed in still waters, canals, lakes, ponds, &c. they are found in deep holes by or near flood-gates, in eddies, and near large beds of weeds. They will not feed in ponds later than Michaelmas, nor earlier than May, unless the weather is particularly mild. CHAP. XIII. TROUT. Swift Trout, diversified with crimson spots. The Trout is a very beautiful fish both in form and colour, and is excelled by none the fresh-waters breed as a delicacy at table : they are voracious, like the Pike, and destroy mul- titudes of Minnows, and other small fish. The Trout often affords the angler much sport, for they are an exceeding strong and game fish ; in angling for them at bottom, use a strong rod, running tackle, and No. 6 hook ; when you bait with worms, which is the TROUT. 55 best method in the early part of the morning, and late at night, also during the day, if the water is much coloured, and the weather dull or boisterous, angle without a float, putting sufficient shot on the line to sink the bait — the shot to be placed about eight or nine inches above the hook. This bait must be one large lob worm, or two marsh or dew worms, well scoured, and very lively ; put the two worms on the hook in the following manner : run the point of your hook in at the top of the first worm's head, and bring it out about three parts down the body, then draw it carefully up over the arming or whipping of the hook, while you put on the other ; enter the point of your hook in the second worm something below the middle, and carry it near to the head, then draw the first worm down to join it. This done, cast in your bait, and let it gently drag the bottom : when a fish begins to bite, do not strike the first time you feel a tug, but rather slacken your line ; when you feel two or three sharp tugs, then strike smartly, and if 56 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. a heavy fish, give him line, and be not in too great haste to land him. With yielding hand feeling- him still. Yet 10 his furious course give way, Till floating broad upon his breathless side, You safely drag your spangle'd prize on shore. The Trout is very strong, and struggles most violently ; sometimes, as soon as he feels the hook, he will leap out of the water more than a foot high, and on falling again, will fly about in every direction, to the great alarm of the angler for his rod, line or hook. And flies aloft, and flounces round the pool. I have taken many Trout, when the water has been too bright for using strong tackle, by putting two or three yards of ^ne gut at the bottom, with a No. 10 hook, baited with one red worm of the largest size, well scoured. Run the point of the hook in near the tail, and draw the worm over the whipping or arming of your hook, the point and barb will then TROUT. 57 lie near the head ; in this state, cast in the stream opposite you, and let it sink gradually, and swim down some yards below, then draw it up nearly to the surface, let it sink again, and so continue till you bring it near you. If a bite, act as directed with the strong running tackle, to which this two or three yards of fine must be fastened. The Minnow is a most killing bait for a Trout, particularly when used by spinning it against the stream, or in the eddies, where the water falls over into tumbling bays, mill-tails, pools, &c. Hooks are fitted on purpose for this mode of angling by the tackle-makers. When you are tlius fishing, use strong tackle, and cast your bait lightly in the water, and draw against the stream or eddy very near the surface, so that you can see the Minnow : if you are angling from a high bridge, or any eminence, it will be best to let your bait be some considerable distance from you, parti- cularly if the water is bright ; this way of f>8 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. angling for Trout is often very successful, and the largest fish are taken by it. When a bite, let him run a little before you strike : in fish- ing with a live Minnow, hook it by the lips, or beneath the back fin ; put on a small cork float. No. 6 hook, and let your bait swim below mid -water. Deep dark holes, that are free from eddies or stream, are the most likely to take a Trout in, when fishing with a live Minnow. Trout are also taken with flies, both natural and artificial, which I shall de- scribe under the head of fly-fishing. REMARKS ON TROUT. Trout will begin to feed in March, if the weather is fine for the season, and continue till Michaelmas : about a month after this time they spawn. The first two or three months are the best for bottom fishing ; the Trout are then on the scowers and shallows, and feed most at bottom, the weather being frequently cold and unsettled, so that few flies are found TROUT. 59 on the water till the middle of May. In the summer season especially, the large Trout love to lie in deep holes and eddies, near mill- tails, and pools ; sometimes close to the apron, which is a good place to drop in a worm bait. You cannot be too early or late in fishing for Trout, as they seldom feed in the day, unless after a flood, or in dark weather, accompanied with a good breeze of wind. The London angler has seldom the pleasure of bringing home a dish of Trout caught in either the river Thames or Lea, for those rivers, however famous they may have been, at pre- sent contain but few : there are certainly many good Trout streams within twenty miles of the metropolis, but they are all private property. The river Wandle, particularly at Cashalton in Surrey, has numerous fine Trout ; and again at Merton-mills, &c. till you arrive at Wandsworth, The little river called Ra- vensbourn, running from or by Sydenham, Lewisham, &c. to the Kent-road, Greenwich, 60 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. ' has Trout ; also the Darent, or Dartford creek, may boast of inany very fine Trout at Cray- ford, Bexley, Foot's-Cray, Paul's-Cray, &c. and near the powder-mills, through and near Darent, and Horton, to Farningham, in Kent. At Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, and its neighbourhood, are several good Trout streams, and from thence to Uxbridge, in Middlesex : at the latter place the angler may indulge himself in angling for Trout by paying a cer- tain sum, but if he meets with any success he must also pay for the fish he takes. I have found, by long experience, that spinning a Minnow is the most killing way of angling for large Trout, and therefore give the following description of the manner of baiting hooks for this purpose, illustrated with a cut, representing the Minnow baited for spinning. Two, three, and four hooks are sometimes used, but I think that two answer better than more : Nos. 3 and 4, each tied separately on TROUT. Gl a short piece of strong gut, Avith a loop at the end, are the sizes I use. To bait these hooks, take a Minnow bait- ing-needle, and enter the point in the side of the fish near the tail, having first placed the curved end to the loop of the gut of the largest hook, bring it out at the mouth, and there leave it ; then take the baiting-needle again, and with the second hook attached to it in the same way as the first, enter the point thereof in the minnow's side, between the back and gills, and bring it out at the mouth, leaving the loops of both hooks in the bait's mouth ; the gut to which the hooks are tied, must be only of sufficient length to admit the loop ends to reach to the mouth. Always place the largest 432 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. hook in the tail, and draw it somewhat tight, which will curve the end of the tail, and cause the Minnow to spin on the swivel, to which you affix these loops ; to this swivel is fastened a length of strong gut, and to this another swivel and a length of gut, the whole being attached to your running tackle, which should be strong, long, and fine, with a rod to correspond. These hooks, swivels, &c. may be purchased at the principal fishing- tackle shops, ready fitted for the use of such anglers who do not choose to take the trouble, or have not the leisure, to prepare them. In treating on baits to troll for Jack and Pike, in another part of this work, some ob- jections are made against using artificial baits, but by no means do I feel inclined to oppose the use of the fictitious spinning Minnow in angling for Trout, particularly those made of leather and tinsel, having experienced not only their superiority in turning on the swivel, but also in attracting this fish by the brilliancy of TROUT. 63 colour :* the expense only, I presume, is the chief inducement ever to use a natural bait. * That Trout are extremely voracious, and are often al- lured by tinsel, gaudy feathers, (particularly those of the pea- cock, pheasant, jay, and other birds) the bright colours of silk, and things which are shining or glittering, the materials commonly used in making artificial flies, baits, &c. fully tes- tify, and of which my experience has furnished me with abundant proofs ; but that a Trout should swallow a Diamond Ring, I must confess myself somewhat sceptical : that such, however, was the fact, the following romantic tale (told me by an old inhabitant of Stepney) avers. A gentleman, who resided in Hertfordshire, had gained the affections of a young lady in his neighbourhood 5 some time after this, he quitted that part of the country, and settled at Stepney, as an India merchant : engaged in the gaiety and dissipation of the metropolis, he soon forgot the young lady he left in Hertfordshire. The extreme distress she felt from this cruel trtiatment of her lover, induced her to leave the country privately, and go to London in search of the gay de- ceiver. During an interview with him on the banks of the Thames, he took a diamond ring from his finger, and threw it into the river, solemnly declaring, that unless she could present him with the same ring, she should never be his bride, and immediately left her. Plunged into the deepest despair by his conduct towards her, and ashamed to return 04 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. You can spin this Minnow to the greatest advantage from a bridge, or some other emi- nence : the top of your* rod should be some- what lowered, and the bait kept in the mid- dle of the stream or current. At the tail of a mill, whilst the wheel is turning round, is a likely place for Trout, both early and late; there drop in your bait close to the apron of the niill, and let it swim down some distance, and let it play awhile, if any Trout are on the feed, be assured they will take you. liome) she changed her name, and, some time after, got hired as a cook-maid in the same merchant's house. Having- a Trout to dress for dinner, ou a certain day, to her infinite sur- prise and delight, she found this identical diamond ring in the fish's helly, and, in consequence, seized this opportunity of making herself known to her master : the result was, that they were soon afterwards happily married. To commem- orate this singular circumstance, there is a stone figure or mo- nument of a fish, with a ring in its mouth, an epitaph, and some verses, on the east end of Stepney church, which con- tinues to this day to attract the curiosity and wonder of all visitors to contemplate it. — Such is the story of the Fish and the Ring. s CRUCIAN OR PRUSSIAN CARP. 65 CHAP. XIV. CRUCIAN OR PRUSSIAN CARP. This fish is not very common in England. By some persons it is supposed to be a cross breed, between the Carp and Roach, as it favours both in appearance, the scales aiid head resembling the Carp, the fins and flat body the Roach ; it is a poor bony fish, the flesh soft and insipid : the Crucian Carp sel- dom reach a pound weight. They breed fre- quently, for which reason they are useful in ponds, as food for the Jack and Pike, and large Eels are also fond of them ; you may bait trimmers, night-lines, and hooks, with the Crucians, to lay in ponds, moats, pits or canals, with success, but I never found them good bait in a river. These fish breed, and are very numerous, in many ponds round London, particularly in those on Clapham F ^ THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. common; they begin to feed in April, and continue until Michaelmas. You may take them either with a red worm, gentle, or paste, being a hungry bold biting fish, and will take a bait at any time of the day ; use a gut or horse hair line, with a No. 11 or 12 hook, and fish at bottom : chewed bread is good ground bait for Crucian or Prussian Carp. LOACH, OR STONE LOACH. 67 CHAP. XV. LOACH, OR STONE LOACH. This is a very small fish without scales, has a round body, with whattels or barbs at its mouth, like the Barbel ; it seldom exceeds 33Bt inches in length, and in colour it re- sembles the Tench, or the golden hue of the Minnow. I have heard they are a delicious fish when fried in batter, or with egg and bread ; but there is some difficulty in catching a dish of them, being scarce as well as small. The Stone Loach is an excellent, indeed, a most killing, bait for large Eels, used on night lines ; they are generally to be found in small gravelly brooks and rivulets — I have some- times taken a few in the river Lea, in the shallows, near mill-tails : they lie at the bot- tom, routing the gravel, the same as Barbel 68 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. You may take them with the tail end of a red worm, and a small hook, during the warm weather. THE PRICKLEBACK, OR STICKLEBACK, is the smallest of the finny tribe ; they are sometimes used as a bait in fishing for Perch : in this case you must cut off the prickly fin on their back. They are caught in all the ditches and ponds round London, with a small piece of worm. BLEAK AND MINNOW. 69 CHAP. XVI. BLEAK AND MINNOW. Blear are found in the rivers Thames, Lea, and the New River, in immense numbers ; they are handsome fish, but do not grow to a large size, seldom exceeding two ounces in weight, and not much valued for their flavour : they are a lively sportive fish, and easily taken with a small fly at the top of the water, and with paste or gentles at mid- water, or at the bottom. Angle for them with a light rod, single hair line, small quill float, and No. 12 or 13 hook. They will bite all day from April till October, affording the young angler sport and practice : these may be caught in all parts of the New River from Sadler's Wells to Ware. 70 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. MINNOW. Minnows are also very numerous in the Thames, Lea, and New River. They are a very small fish, and little valued by the angler excepting for baits, when fishing for Trout, Perch, or Chub ; the Minnow bites very freely at a blood worm, a small piece of red worm, gentles, or paste — the tackle should be very light, and a No. 13 hook : they are taken all day from March till winter. BREAM AND RUDD. 71 CHAP. XVII. BREAM, RUDD, POPE, AND MILLER's THUMB, The Bream is a very bony fish, and of little worth ; they are not very numerous either in the river Thames or Lea, but abound in Weybridge, Byfleet, and the Mole rivers, and in Dagenham-breach. They are more fre- quently taken in the spring than at any other time, when angling for Carp with a red worm. RUDD, The Rudd is a very indifferent fish for the table ; in shape and colour it is much like the Roach, and tinged with gold. They thrive best in ponds, but seldom exceed a pound in weight ; they will take red worms, paste, and gentles during summer : use a gut or hair line, quill float. No. 11 hook, and angle at bottom. n THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. POPE OR RUFF. The Pope or RufF is much like the Perch in form and flavour, being firm and well- tasted ; they are taken with worms and gen- tles, but are rarely to be met with in the vicinity of London. miller's thumb. The Miller's Thumb is a small ugly fish, hardly worth naming : in warm weather, they lie in the shallow waters, on stones, and will take a small piece of worm directly you put it near them. These fish are only found in rivers. EELS. 73 CHAP. XVIII. EELS. Eels are found in all rivers, canals, and ponds near London in great numbers, and re- markably fine : they are taken with the rod and line, and with night line, dead lines, and bobbing. Gut or twisted hair lines, with a float, and No. 9 or 10 hook, should be used when fishing with a rod ; bait with a worm, and fish at the bottom. The most convenient way of fishing with the dead line, is to use the bank runner, with a whipcord line, on which you may put five or six hooks, about nine inches apart. The night line is much stronger, and should be baited with small fish, or lob worms. n THE ANGLER^S GUIDE. Bobbing for Eels is practised in a boat, with a large bunch of worms suspended by a strong cord from a pole or stout rod, in the following manner : first of all, you must procure a large quantity of worms, (marsh worms are best,) and string them on worsted, by passing a nee- dle through them from head to tail, until you have as many strung as will form a bunch as large as a good sized turnip, then fasten them on the line so that all the ends may hang level. In the middle is placed a piece of lead, of a conical form, which may be got at any of the fishing-tackle shops, made for the purpose; thus prepared, cast the baits into the water gently, let them sink to the bottom, and then keep raising them a few inches from the ground, and dropping them again, until you have a bite, which is easily perceived, as the Eel tugs very strongly : be as expert as pos- sible, and at the same time as steady, ia raising your line, so that your fish, in drop- ping ofi*, may fall into the boat. Immense numbers are taken by this method. During SNIGGLING FOR EELS. 75 the hot weather, fish in rather shoal water, and out of the stream. SNIGGLING FOR EELS. By sniggling, many good Eels are taken in the river Lea, and various streams about the metropolis, during the summer months, when the waters are low. A line for sniggling may be made of a few yards of strong plaited silk- such as is used in trolling for pike, or com- mon whipcord ; instead of a hook, use a stout worsted needle, to the middle of which tie the line, and bait with a small lob, or large marsh worm, very tough, and well scoured : enter the point of the needle at the top or head of your worm, and draw it up over the needle and line, so as completely to cover it. There is no occasion for a. rod in this way of fishing, as you carry the line in your hand, on a winder, searching for Eels between the planks of the aprons of mill-tails, flood-gates, wharfings, piles, and bridges ; also in holes in the banks 76 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. of rivers, canals, and ponds, and in sandy, muddy ditches, where you Avill frequently find them lying with their heads nearly out of their hiding-places, waiting for the chance of food : use a stick, with a forked top, to place the bait in the hole, when you will presently per- ceive a bite by the Eel's drawing the line fur- ther into his haunt : give him a minute or so to gorge, then strike smartly, which will im- mediately cause the needle to fall athwart in the fish's throat or stomach ; hold the line tight, and he will soon make his appearance. The nearest place to London in the River Lea, where much success is to be met with by this mode of fishing, is at Lower- Clapton : be- tween this place and Tottenham-mills, on the east side, near the Oil-mills, the angler will find several holes which contain good Eels, not only in the banks of the river, but in the ditches, and among the osiers and willows. FLOUNDER AND SMELT. 77 CHAP. XIX. FLOUNDER AND SMELT. The Flounder is only found in rivers where the tide flows : they are generally considered a very sweet fish, light and easy of digestion. In the creeks from Blackwall to Bromley, Stratford, and West-Ham, they are taken ei- ther with dead lines or floated, in the same manner as Eels ; in fact, when you angle for Eels in this part, you angle for Flounders, as they will both take the same baits at the same season, and it frequently happens that you take both Flounders and Eels promiscuously. — See fishing for Eels with a floated line. SMELTS are well known as most delicious fish : they are caught by angling, in the following man- THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. ner : you must have an exceeding stiff and strong top to your rod, a strong gut line, heavy float, and from ten to twelve hooks, about eight or nine inches apart; the hooks will stand better from the line if tied on a fine bristle. — Use No. 9 hooks, baited with a small piece of an Eel, or pieces of a smelt, the bottom hook touching the ground. Note, when they bite they throw the float up, all other fish pull it down. They are sometimes fished for without a float, having a small piece of lead at bottom, which you let touch the ground, gently raising and sinking it till you feel a bite : this is called dip fishing, from the name of the lead (which may be procured at the tackle-shops), and is the most destructive way of killing Smelts. The best place to catch these fish near Lon- don, is in the canal that runs from Limehouse- hole to Blackwall, through the Isle of Dogs ; they are also frequently taken ofi*the logs lying in the Thames, and in all the Wet Docks, be- FLOUNDERS AND SMELTS. 79 low London bridge. You may fish for Smelts from July to November and December ; very early and late is the most successful time : many will take twenty dozen in a day. DEAD LINES, A great many Eels, Flounders, &c. are taken with dead lines, between Blackwall and Old Ford, in the several creeks round Brom- ley, West-Ham, Abbey-Mills, and Stratford, where the tide flows from the River Thames. The dead line is made of whipcord, generally about six yards in length, to which is affixed five or six hooks, which should be tied on pieces of bristle, twisted hair, or gut, not more than four inches long, with a loop at the end : No. 9 is the hook generally chosen for this purpose. Loop the hooks on the line (begin- ning at the bottom) about a foot apart ; close to every hook put a large shot, or piece of lead, to keep the bait on the ground, as every hook must lie at the bottom, for which pur- 80 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. ' ■ ■ ' "g g pose you should throw sufficient length of line into the water. Flounders and Eels seldom take a bait unless it lies on the ground : the best bait is a red worm ; indeed, no other bait than worms is likely to succeed. Fishing in this way, you may use half a dozen lines at a time, by casting them in a few yards from each other, and tying the line to a weed or a small stick, stuck in the ground or bank. It is necessary to have a short rod with you, three or four yards long, to the top of which is fixed a small iron crutch or fork; with this rod you take up the lines in the following manner : take the line in your left hand, and with the right pass the crutch or fork under the line, pushing it forward in the water some distance, by which means you can easily lift out your line over weeds, or any other im- pediment. Without this rod or crutch, you would be compelled to drag the lines up the side or bank, where the hooks would catch and spoil the baits, and occasion you infinite trouble. It is astonishing how great a number FLOUNDER AND SMELTS. 81 of Flounders, Eels, Perch, Dace, Roach, and Gudgeons are caught by this method of fish- ing, in those creeks I have named, particularly from an hour after high water till the tide is quite run out : you may begin to use dead lines in April, and meet sport until November. .^ J/- - '^^^-^^-^^^ 82 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. XX. ARTrFICIAI. FLY FISHING. Fishing with an artificial fly is certainly a very pleasant and gentlemanly way of angling, and is attended with much less labour and trouble than bottom fishing. The fly fisher- man has but little to carry either in bulk or weight, nor has he the dirty work of digging clay, making ground baits, &c. ; he may travel for miles with a book of flies in his pocket, and a light rod in his hand, and cast in his bait as he roves on the banks of a river, with- out soiling his fingers, it is therefore preferred by many to every other way of angling : yet fly fishing is not without its disadvantages, for there are many kinds of fish that will not take a fly, whereas, all the difterent species the fresh waters produce, or breed, will take a bait at bottom at some season of the year ; and it is FLY FISHING. 83 also worthy of notice, that the angler who fishes at bottom, has many months and days in the year when the fish will so feed, conse- quently he has frequent opportunities of enjoy- ing his amusement when the fly fisherman is entirely deprived of the chance of sport by very cold, or wet weather, the winter season, &c. Many good Jack and Pike are taken at Christmas, but at that season of the year neither Trout or Chub are likely to rise for a fly, however skilfully made or thrown. Fly fishing certainly partakes more of science than bottom fishing, and of course requires much time, study, and practice, before the angler can become any thing like an adept at making or casting a fly ; indeed, artificial fly fishing is difficult to learn, and more difficult to de- scribe. Tlie young angler will gain more in- formation on the subject by attending a fly fisherman a few months, while he is following the amusement, than he can by perusing all the works ever written on the subject ; how- ever, I will endeavour to direct him in the «4 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. choice of tackle, flies, &c. in the most plain and concise manner possible; also how to cast or throw his flies in search, and where he is most likely to find fish. I should recommend the young fly fisher- man in the first instance to purchase his arti- ficial flies, but after some little experience in the art, by all means to make his own. I would likewise strongly advise him to court the friendship or acquaintance of an expe- rienced fly fisher, for without some practical knowledge, he will never attain to much eminence in the science. 7^y ha -iA ■/^- 44'^' ' '^^r^^^j^^^^ FLY FISHING. 85 CHAP. XXL ARTIFICIAL FLIES. There are upwards of a hundred different kinds of flies, made for fly fishing ; a selection of which I shall describe, suitah^le for every month during the season : they may be pur- chased at a small expence. By using these flies, and practising the art of casting or throwing his fly, the young angler will sooner acquire the skill of killing fish by fly fishing, than by encumbering himself with a stock of dubbing, hair, wool, feathers, &c. for manu- facturing artificial flies, before he is master of the art of throwing one. Some anglers fish with a fly in winter, but little sport is ever met with before April^ or much later than Michaelmas, unless the weather is unusually mild. 86 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. A LIST OF PALMERS FOR FLY FISHING, BEGINNING WITH APRIL. APRIL. The cow-dung fly may be used from the first of this month, and is a killing fly to the end. The brown or dun drake, is a good fly in the middle of the day, particularly if the weather proves gloomy. The horge fly will also take fish during the whole of April, but best late in the evenins^. MAY. The stone fly may be used all this month with much success, but more particularly in the mornings. The yellow May fly is a kill- ing fly in the evenings. The black cater- pillar fly is a good fly this month, in small rivers and Trout streams ; it kills best in those days that succeed very hot mornings. The FLY FISHING. 8-^ fly, called the camlet, may be used with suc- cess all day until the middle of June, for small fish. JUNE. The lady fly is now a good fly, parti- cularly when the water begins to brighten after a flood. The black gnat fly is a killing fly in an evening, especially if the weather has been warm and showery during the day. The blue gnat is only used when the water is very fine and low. The red spinner will kill best when the water is dark, and late in the evening. JULY. The orange fly is an excellent bait, parti * cularly if this month proves close, hot, and gloomy weather. The large red ant fly is a killing fly for some hours in the middle of the day. The badger fly is a good fly in the 88 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. early part of this month, and in the coolest days. AUGUST. The small red and black ant flies are good killers for three or four hours in the afternoon, and sometimes till sun set, if it is occasionally obscured. The hazel fly, by some called the button fly, is a valuable fly all this month. The small fly, called the light blue fly, is known to most fly fishers to be a killing bait from morning till afternoon, if the weather is at all favourable. SEPTEMBER. The willow fly is most to be depended on this month, and for the remainder of the sea- son : any of those noticed for July or August may also be used occasionally. All the flies I have enumerated, are for killing Trout ; but you may also take Chub and Dace with FLY FISHING. them, and perchance a Salmon. For making these flies, mohair, of various colours, is used ; also seal's wool, bear's and camel's hair, sheep's wool, badger's hair, hog's down, camlets of all colours, the fur of hares, squirrels, and foxes, feathers from the neck of the game cock, called hackles ; likewise feathers from the peacock, mallard, the do- mestic hen, &c. &c. All these materials may be purchased at the shops. 90 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. XXIL RODS AND LINES. In respect to fly rods, I believe the London tackle-makers can furnish as good as any that are made for sale, though I know some gen- tlemen are partial to those manufactured in the North and West parts of England. I have purchased at Exeter, for fishing in the river Ex, the Tamar, and other Trout streams in Devonshire, in compliance with the request of some friends who reside in those parts, but I never experienced any advantage in using them over what I carried with me from the metropolis. Fly rods are made of bamboo, cane, hick- ery, hazel, &c. the common hazel rod may be used by the young angler, during his novici- ate, to practise throwing a fly on land, in a FLY FISHING. 91 field, or any other convenient place, which practice I should recommend before he casts his bait on the water. The length of a rod for fly fishing should be from fifteen to eighteen feet long. LINES are manufactured of hair, &c. twisted, mixed, and plaited, of various lengths and strengths purposely for fly fishing, some exceedingly fine and long, tapering gradually to the end, and to the length of forty yards : a line should not be less than thirty yards. A yard or two of fine gut, to which the hooks are fastened on, is added to the line, and called the bottom. Ciy^ ■^- . ^ . . .... ^ y 92 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. XXIII. CASTING OR THROWING THE LINE AND BAIT. In casting or throwing the line and fly, .while yet a novice, draw out the line from the winch in length something more than the rod ; but v/hen you can manage it well, you may throw twice this length of line, and deliver your fly to within an inch of the spot you de- sire ; to do this, raise your arm, and forming nearly a circle round your head by waving the rod, cast the line from you before you re- turn your arm from the head, then draw the fly lightly and gently towards the shore, have a quick and attentive eye to your bait, for if a fish rises at it, and you omit that moment striking, the fish is lost, for they immediately discover the fraud, and throw the bait from their mouth. Thus continue to cast in your line in search, and fish every yard of water FLY FISHING. 93 likely to afford sport, and never dispair of success ; for sometimes it so happens, that after many fruitless hours spent without a fish ever rising at your fly, you will fill your bag or basket during the last hour. The ligliter your fly and line decends on the water the greater the chance of a bite, for thereon depends much of the advantage the experienced angler has over the novice, and which is only to be acquired by practice, and love for the art. Never use more than one hook on your line at a time, till you feel fully confident you can throw your line, with one, to any given distance or place : when you commence fishing any water, endeavour to keep the wind at your back, as it enables you to stand further out of the fish's sight, and you have the additional advantage of fishing both sides of the stream, if not very broad. When casting your fly in a small stream, and the middle should be shallow, (there is always a rippling on the water in that part,) cast your \)i THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. bait to the oj^posite side, and slowly draw it to the rippling, let it float down some distance, and if the fish like your fly, they will certainly take it ; or if you see a fish rise in any part of the water you are fishing in, immediately throw your bait just beyond it, draw the fly gently over the spot where the fish rose, and, if done quickly and neatly, you will generally secure the fish . ^.-'/. FLY FISHING. 95 CHAP. XXIV. NATURAL FLY FISHING. Natural fly fishing is generally termed dibbing, or dapping, which is practised with a stout rod, having a stiff top, running tackle, strong line, and No. 6 hook, for Trout and Chub : in this mode of fishing, it is absolutely necessary that you stand behind a tree, bush, high weeds, or something to hide your person, or the fish will not rise at your fly or bait; when such a spot or blind can be met with in a stream where there are fish, this is a killing way of angling, particularly late in the even- ing. You must draw out as much line as will just reach the surface of the water, with the top of your rod a little raised, and keep the bait in motion upon tlie surface by gently raising and lowering the top part of the rod ; when a fish takes your bait, after a moment or im THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. two, strike smartly, and if not too large to endanger breaking, lift him out immediately, for by playing them while dapping, you are very likely to scare away the others by ex- posing yourself to their sight. FOR TROUT, the green drake fly is a killing bait during the month of May and June : the grey drake is also a good fly in these months, but not equal to the green. The stone and hawthorn fly are very excellent flies, and are killing baits from the latter end of April till Midsuna- mer : these flies are with riiuch difficulty kept alive, even for a day or two, therefore artifi- cial ones are generally used. FOR CHUB, the best bait during May, June and July, I have found to be, in the day time, the hum- ble, or by some called the bumble-bee, and FLY FISHING. 97 late in the evening, a large white moth, bred in willow trees, &c. They will also take the cockchafer, grasshopper, the fly called the father-longlegs, and all kinds of moths and bees, but they generally prefer the largest : these baits are easily procured by persons who reside in the country, and kept alive : I pre- fer the live bait, and seldom use any other. FOR DACE AND BLEAK, the best bait is the common house fly: you may put two on a No. 10 hook. These flies are kept in a bottle. Dace are caught of the largest size by dapping, concealing yourself as for Trout and Chub. — For Bleak, one com- mon house fly on a No. 12 hook. H 98 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. XXV. THE RIVER THAMES, AND ITS FISHERY. The noble Thames, for ships and fishes famM. This river consists principally of the united streams of the Isis and Thame. The former rising on the confines of Gloucestershire, a little to the south-west of Cirencester^ becomes navigable at Lechdale, near Oxford it receives the Charwel, and continuing its course by Abingdon to Dorchester unites with the Thame. After this junction, the united stream con- tinues its course by Wallingford, Reading, Marlow, Henly, Eton, Windsor, Hampton, Richmond, Kew and Brentford, to London ; and below London-bridge is covered for se- veral miles with vast numbers of ships from all nations. Proceeding on to the sea, it passes Greenwich, Woolwich, and Graves- end, below which it becomes of vast magni- THE RIVER THAMES. 99. tude, and receives the Medway not far from its mouth* In describing the river Thames, and the fishery, I shall commence at Staines, a plea- sent market town about seventeen miles west of London ; to which place the jurisdiction of the lord mayor of London over the Thames extends, for the preservation of the river and fish. At this place, and all other parts of the Thames under the above jurisdiction, angling is prohibited from the first of March until the first of June : March, April, and May, are called fence months, during which time all fresh water fish cast their spawn, the Trout excepted (which spawns about October). These months are therefore properly held sacred, that the future fish may not be de- stroyed. The principal house at Staines is the Bush. Boats may be hired here, and good sport met with in angling near the bridge; between 100 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. Staines and Laleham are some places suited to bank-fishing. LALEHAM is a small village, but extremely rural, and pleasantly situated ; the river is very narrow in this part, and shallow : on these shallows many fish are taken by whipping, particu- larly a fish callecj the skegger ; they are a delicious fish, supposed to be of the Salmon or Trout species. You whip for them with a fly rod, light line, and No. 10 hook, baited with a gentle ; these fish are allowed to be caught during the fence months, on the prin- ciple that they are going to leave the river, probably never to return, as the time of their migration is during these fence months. In the summer. Chub and Dace are taken here in the same way of angling, substituting a fly for the gentle. Between Laleham and Chert- sey-bridge, good Barbel, Roach, &c. are caught in a boat, and from the banks. THE RIVER THAMES. 101 CHERTSEY-BRIDGE is about twenty miles from London, some dis- tance from the town : the house most fre- quented by anglers, is the Cricketers, situated between the bridge and Chertsey, but there are several other houses in the neighbourhood affording good accommodation. Boats may be hired here for angling in the deeps, (and tackle, if a visitor should to be deficient) with a boatman to attend ; the customary charge on these occasions, for the day, is five shil- lings, and a dinner for the man. Chertsey deeps contain plenty of fine Bar- bel, Roach, Dace, &c. also about the bridge, and its wharfings, there is good angling, which may be practised without a boat ; here you may take Perch, Roach, Dace, Chub, Bleak, and sometimes a Trout : from hence to Shep- perton, through the meadows, you will find several capital swims, where I have had ex- 102 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE, cellent sport with Cliub and Perch, bolli early and late. SHEPPERTON is near nineteen miles from London, and though a small village, yet the angler will find every accommodation and comfort he can de- sire : there are two inns in the village, the Anchor, which is an excellent house, and the King's Arms, a good one of the second order. En passunt^ I be^ my be&t compliments to Mr. Cracknell, who has frequently increased the angler's pleasure by the gratuitous effu- sions of his good-natured muse, in celebrating their achievements, particularly the following song, on the female angler, who was a friend of the author's. THE RIVER THAMES. 103 THE FEMALE ANGLER. From town I walk'd to take the air, Shun smoke and noise of coaches; I saw a lovely damsel fair, Angling* for Dace and Roaches. Close by a brook, with line and hook. Which curiously was baited, Attentively the maid did look. While for a bite she waited. Struck with her charms, I nearer drew. To view this lovely creature j The line into the brook she threw, But, oh ! with such good nature. When me this charming girl espied. She seemM intimidated : Don^t be afraid, sweet maid, I cried, — Cupid your hook has baited. My hand and heart, sweet nymph, are thine. If you will but accept them -, And all I have to thee resign, But die if you reject them. 104 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. This, and much more, to her I said. She reply' d, she must away 5 Her friends ^would think too long she stay'd, Then sweetly smil'd, and bid good day. I soon gain'd her's and friends' consent, That Delia should be my bride j In a few months to church we went. And the happy knot was ty'd. Now pass my days ia sweet content, Blest with her fond embraces 5 And Delia owns she docs not repent Angling for Dace and Roaches. Sheppertoii deeps are well stored with fish ; the new deep, particularly, is a fine steady swim, full of heavy Barbel, Chub, Roach . and Dace : above this swim are Gudgeon scowers, which, with the deeps, are fished in a boat. From opposite the deeps down to the ferry there is good bank-fishing for Perch and Chub; and in various eddies near the ferry, on the shallows, I have taken several Pope or RufF, and some Trout. From this THE RIVER THAMES. 105 ferry to Walton-bridge is good Perch fishing from the banks. On the south side of the river is Oatlands, the beautiful park and seat of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, about a mile from Shepperton : Her Royal Highness the Duchess sometimes takes the diversion of angling, and one of the boatmen, residing in this village, receives an annual salary for at- tending her Royal Highness on those occa- sions. On the opposite side, between Shepperton and Walton-bridge, is Halliford, a small scat- tered place, where there is a house much used by anglers, which is the Ship. At Walton, likewise, there are some deeps, and on the opposite side to Hampton, by Sun- bury, are many good places for angling in boats, or on the side of the river, for Perch, Roach, Chub, &c. 10t> THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. HAMPTON is a delightful village, pleasantly situated on a rise, commanding most charming views over the Thames, Moulsey-hurst, and the adjacent country ; and being only fifteen miles from town, is frequently visited by anglers, who find every comfort and accommodation they can wish at the Crown, and at the Bell. Hampton deeps are justly famous for a va- riety of large fish, particularly Barbel, Chub, Perch, Roach, and Dace ; Trout are also fre- quently taken. Near to the side of the late Mr. Garrick's lawn and gardens you will find very good bank fishing ; and at a short dis- tance from the town, on the west side, in the meadows, there are some fine holes, swims and eddies, abounding with Perch, Chub, Roach, and Barbel. THE RIVER THAMES. 107 THAMES-DITTON is on the other side of the river, a very plea- sant place, about thirteen miles from London, and is generally well attended by anglers : many good fish are taken here in boat-fishing, chiefly Barbel, Chub, Roach and Dace. The Swan is the house most frequented. KINGSTON AND HAMPTON-WICK. Kingston is a good market town, twelve miles from London, parted by the Thames from Hampton- Wick. Much good sport is met with by anglers who resort here for Bar- bel, Roacli, and Dace fishing, particularly in the Gudgeon season ;* for which purpose * At King'ston some years since, I frequently met a blind gentleman fishing- in a pnnt, attended by a sei-vant : the gen- tleman was an experienced angler, and killed a fish in good style. His servant baited the hook, and called a bite. 108 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. several boats are kept at both these places.* Between here and Twickenham is some good fishing from the banks, particularly in Ted- dington meadows, where the fisherman will readily find several favourite holes and swims by noticing where his brother anglers have tracked tlie ground. '' Slow let us trace the matchless vale of Thames, Far winding up to where the muses haunt In Twit'nani's bow'rs, — — • to royal Hampton's pile, To Clermont's terrassM heig-ht, and Esher's groves.*' TWICKENHAM is a charming spot, about eleven miles from the metropolis, and has two good houses, where the angler may take up his abode, and have every attention paid him, namely, the King's Head, and the George. Angling at * The attention of the boatman named Brown, at the Wick, is well known to the anglers who fish about Kingston- bridge and its vicinity. THE RIVER THAMES. 109 Twickenham is mostly practised in boats, which are easily procured, with baits, lines, and other requisites, by enquiring at your inn : the lover of Roach and Dace fishing may here find the best of sport : a fcAV Barbel are occa- sionally taken, but not large. The best part of the season is in the autumn, when Roach and Dace retire to the deeps, which are ex- tensive off Twickenham. The next place is where Barbel, Roach, Dace, Perch, and Gud- geons are caught from the banks as well as in boats, and from hence to Isleworth, and its vicinity, is good perch fishing. Roach and Dace are also taken ofi* the opposite side, all the way to Kew-bridge ; but it is necessary that the angler should be apprised that the tide flows up as high as Teddington, and that during its ebb, and at high water, few fish are taken of any kind. The tide certainly does not affect the water much except at the full 110 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. and new moon, at which time it is high water at Richmond about five o'clock : by noticing this, the angler from London may prevent being disappointed in his expectations of sport, and a profitless journey. KEW AND PUTNEY BRIDGES. Under the arches of these bridges, very fine Roach are taken : the proper time to angle here, is at low water. From these bridges to London there is but little bank-fishing, from the strength of the tide and current. feattersea, westminster, and black- friar's, bridges. Under and about the starlings of all these bridges, many large Roach are caught, at or near low water. Fishing in these places, of course, can only be accomplished in a boat, w hich you may hire for a shilling an hour. THE RIVER LEA 111 Having brought the angler to town, I shall next beg his attention to a description of the river Lea, and the places adjacent. 112 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. XXVII. THE RIVER LEA AND FISHERY DESCRIBED. The river Lea takes its rise in Bedfordshire, and is navigable from the county town of Hertford to Blackwall and Limehouse, a dis- tance of thirty miles, where it empties itself into the Thames, near to London ; this river, though but a small stream when compared with the Thames, deserves the admiration of the natural philosopher, and the lover of an- gling, for the beauty of the surrounding coun- try, and the valuable fish it contains ; the valley through which it flows, for many miles, is most delightfully picturesque; the towns, villages, and seats on the west, the forest scenery and bold hills on the east, are not surpassed by any I am acquainted with : The historian, and lover of antiquities, will here find something worthy of investigation. THE RIVER LEA. 113 In the time of the great King Alfred, it was of considerable consequence, for we are informed, that during his reign, the Danes, with a hostile fleet of twenty vessels arrived, and, filled with troops, sailed up this river eighteen or twenty miles, spreading terror and alarm around ; but these vessels were entirely destroyed, with most of their crews. The fish are better protected and fed in this than in any other navigable river, both by nature and art ; many miles are preserved for the angler's diversion, and every care is taken to protect the fish from poachers : the size, and fine flavour, of the Pike, Trout, Carp, Perch, Eels, Gudgeons, and various other species, proves that nature has not been spar- ing in providing for the inhabitants of the river Lea. 114 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. HERTFORD is a borough, and the county, town of Hert- fordshire, twenty-one miles from London, a place of great note formerly, but now exceed- ingly dull, except at the assize time, or when an election for a member of parliament takes place. The angler may take some good Trout, Dace, &c. in this neighbourhood, and fish the river Lea to Ware, about a mile distant. WARE is a large and populous market town, on the High North Road, twenty miles from London, situated close to the river Lea, and has many fine Trout, Eels, &c. in the water around it : this river is a free fishery from Ware to Stan- stead, between which towns you pass near the little village of Amwell, celebrated in senti- mental poetry, by Mr. Scott, where there is a curious epitaph in the church-yard, much read and considered — it is as follows : THE RIVER LEA. 115 That which a being was, what does it show ? That being which it was, it is not now j To be what 'tis, is not to be : you see That which now is not, shall a being be. shepherd's water. The next place to Stanstead, is Mr. Shep- herd's water, near the Rye-house.* At Mr. Shepherd's, I would strongly recommend the angler to take up his quarters as long as his convenience will allow him, for here he will meet with good sport in fishing, and the best accommodation at the house, which is a neat inn, and much frequented by the lovers of angling. In consequence of its distance from the metropolis (eighteen miles), the company which use this house are more select than at many others nearer London ; the house has a * The Rye-house, (now a workhouse) is famous for being the place intended to assassinate Charles the Second, on his returning this way from Newmarket.— 5ee Hume^s History of England. 116 THE ANGLER^S GUIDE. very inviting and pretty appearance, as you approach it in passing over the New River, and the charming corn fields, or downs, from Hoddesden, from which it is distant about a mile : this house, and water, are surround- ed by numerous woodland rural walks and rides ; there are also some ancient ruins in the neighbourhood worth the antiquarian's re- search . Shepherd's water is well stored with a great variety of fish, and tlie angler will meet with many deep still holes, swims, and eddies, where, if he possesses tolerable skill, he cannot fail getting some fine well fed Jack, Pike, Carp, Chub, Gudgeons, Roach, Perch, Eels, &c. : the several dates and drawings in the house will show what kind offish, in point of size, the angler is likely to meet with in this water. The people belonging to the house generally direct the stranger to the parts of the river where he is likely to have sport, but I should recommend him to fish that part of the water from the Oak-tree Field, where the angler will find a considerable length of a THE RIVER LEA. 117 gentle steady swim, free from weeds, seldom less than ten feet deep, with a clear level bottom, plentifully stored with heavy Chub,* Roach, Perch, Jack, Pike, &c. and entirely removed from the barge path. HODDESDEN is a cheerful, clean, healthy town, seventeen miles from London, and most pleasantly situ- ated for commanding views, and good inns, of any other between Ware and London. Here numbers of stage coaches stop, almost every hour of the day or night : many anglers who visit these parts put up at Hoddesden, and go to Shepherd's at the Rye-house, or other parts of the river Lea, fish during the day, and return in the evening to their re- spective inns. If the angler should meet with * In this water a friend of mine killed a Chub, in the month of February, weighing four pounds and a half, with a single hair line, and No. 12 hook, baited with one gentle, and landed his fish without the assistance of a net. 118 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. loss by breaking of lines, hooks, &c. while fishing in the waters near Hoddesden, he may get assistance from an ingenious tradesman and good angler in the town, named Sherrall, who is ever ready to relieve a brother of the angle when in distress. page's WATER. Page's is a lonely house, not much suited for the lodging and accommodation of the angler, yet there is good fishing here at some seasons of the year for Pike, Chub, Roach, &c. teROXBOURN. The Crown, at Broxbourn-bridge, is situ- ated close to the river, and presents a cheer- ful appearance as you approach it : passing over the bridge, the angler and contemplative man may here find a home ; every attention is paid to render his situation comfortable by the most obliging behaviour, cleanliness, &c. of THE RIVER LEA. 119 the proprietor, Mr. Scorer, who rents the waters above and below the Crown, the former meet- ing Page's water, the latter down to the King's "Weir.* In this water are fine Jack, Pike, Chub, Perch, Roach, Dace, Eels, &c. : this house is also frequented by the gunner, as there is a good deal of game around, with wild-fowl, and many snipes in the marshes. From the King's Weir to Waltham Abbey you may take Jack, Chub, Roach, &c. From Waltham Abbey to Bleakhall there is no particular place to detain the angler, since the Swan-and-Pike + public house and water * That part of Scorer's water which runs by Nazing-marsh contains some fine deep holes : here the late much respected Mr. Walker took eleyen Chub during^ a few hours' angling-, each fish weighing from three to three pounds and a half : his baits were gentles, the line fine gut, quill float, and No. 9 hook. + The waters lately belonging to the Swan-and-Pike were well stored with Trout, Barbel, Pike, and other fish. About five years since, Mrs. John Astley (of the Royal Amphitheatre, 126 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. has become private property, and the pro- prietor not at all willing to grant permission for the angler to try his skill. BLEAK-HALL is a house for the accommodation of anglers, and is situated close to the river, in a seques- tered rural spot, near Edmonton, about eight miles from London, and for many years well known to and frequented by the lovers of angling : the waters are well stored with fine large Carp, Barbel, Chub, Jack, Pike, Roach, Gudgeons, Perch, Eels, &c. and is preserved for the diversion and amusement of the angler at the annual subscription of a guinea, or a day ticket, for which they charge one shill- ing. Westminster-bridge) killed a famous Trout here, weighings nearly ten pounds ; she took it by spinning a Minnow, and I must confess that the lady killed her fish in high style : Mr. Holmes (of Newington) a brother of the angle, landed it. THE RIVER LEA. 121 Adjoining tliis is private property, belong- ing to Mr. Bowerbank, who, though an ad- mirer of angling, will not permit trolling in his water. Below Mr. Bowerbank's is a division called Bannister's- water, with a public house belong- ing to it, situated on the cross road from Tot- tenham High Cross to Waltharastow, Wood- ford , and Epping forest. There are many fish taken in the waters round this house during the season, which are much frequented, being but a short distance from town. From hence to the Horse-and-Groom, at Lea-bridge, the river is entirely free for angling, to the extent of about two miles, passing by Mr. Pratt's mill, Tottenham, the High-bridges, Lower- Clapton, and High -hill ferry, to the Jolly- Angler public house, near Lea-bridge. THE HORSE-AND-GROOM is most pleasantly situated within a short dis- 122 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. tance from Lea-bridge, close to the river side, commanding extensive views over the marshes to Walthamstow, Epping forest, Low-Lay ton, &c. to the latter place is a charming ride (in summer) over the marshes, particularly during hay-making, after which season the marshes arc well stocked with oxen, cows, horses, and other cattle, which much enliven the scene during the remainder of the summer ; in the winter, snipes, herons, and wild-fowl are to be met with in these marshes. The Horse-and- Groom being so short a distance from the me- tropolis (about three miles and a half only), induces the lovers of angling and rural scenery often to visit this house, which may be done with little expense, either of time or money ; the Clapton stages coming within half a mile of Lea-bridge every hour in the day, from eight o'clock in the morning till eight at night, thereby enabling the London angler to enjoy his favourite amusement for a few hours daily, when he would otherwise be deprived from the distance of other waters. The pro- THE RIVER LEA. 123 prietor of the house and waters (Mr. Sparrey,) I have always found extremely desirous of giving every assistance to promote the success of the angler, and very attentive to accommo- date them in the best possible manner his house will afford . The water belonging to the Horse-and-Groom is preserved solely for the use of subscribers, at ten shillings and six- j>ence per annum, or one shilling per day. The water extends about a mile, running through Layton and Hackney marshes ; and, perhaps, no mile of water in the river Lea contains more fish, or a greater variety. The following fish are taken by angling in this water : Jack, Pike, Carp, Tench, Perch, Barbel, Chub, Bream, Roach, Dace, Bleak, Gudgeons, Salmon-Trout, Eels,&c. the Carp, in particular, are remarkably fine, and but few, I believe, are to be met with in any other part of the river Lea ; the Gudgeons are also unusually large in this water, and the number caught by the anglers daily, is astonishing. 124 THE ANGLER^S GUIDE. There are numerous deep holes, swims, eddies, and scowers, in this water, known by the names of the Half-moon, Broad-swim, the Po- tatoe-hole, Clark's-ditch, Johnson's-swim, the Friends, &c. There are several Salmon in this part of the river Lea, which frequently dis- turb the quiet angler when fishing for Roach. At the IIorse-and-Groom are fitted up several small closets, called lockers, to hold the rods and tackle of such anglers who frequent it, secured by locks and keys, which are severally kept by each individual, on paying a small remuneration for the use thereof : it is scarcely necessary for me to point out the convenience of these lockers to the angler who has ever been noticed when carrying his rod through the streets. WHITE-HOUSE WATER. For many years this was a favourite and well frequented place by the lovers of angling of the old school, but it is now much neg- THE RIVER LEA. 125 lected, particularly since the dwelling-house was consumed by fire, which happened about two years since. At Stratford, Bromley, and West-Ham mills, a great many good Roach, Dace, &c. are taken ; but it is very unpleasant fishing, the tide leaving the banks extremely dirty and slippery : the angler is also continually annoyed by the many passengers, as to '' what sport?" " do the fish bite?" and other rude interrogations. About a mile below Bromley, at Blackwall, the river Lea is lost in the ma- jestic Thames. 126 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. XXVII. THE NEW RIVER, MOLE, AND RODING THE NEW RIVER has many fish in all parts of it, from Islington to its source, near Ware in Hertfordshire : the fish are not so large as those caught in the Thames or Lea, but this river being perfectly free for all persons to angle in (and very nar- row near London,) it is particularly well cal- culated for the young angler to practise in : he may here take Chub, Roach, Dace, Perch, Gudgeons, Bleak, Eels, and Minnows, within a mile of the metropolis. THE RIVER MOLE is very famous for Pike, Jack, Perch, Chub, and other fish : the angler will find good THE RIVER RODING. V27 sport in the neighbourhood of Esher and Cobham . THE RODING. This little river contains many deep holes, and fine fish, particularly about Ai-bridge, Loughton, Wood ford-bridge, and all the way to Ilford and Barking ; there are some good holes at the back of Wanstead, near the Red- bridge : this river produces Jack, Pike, Perch, Tench, Roach, Chub, and Eels in abundance. 128 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. XXVIII. PADDINGTON, CAMBERWELL, AND CROYDON CANALS. THE PADDINGTON CANAL has several Roach, Chub, Perch, Gudgeons, Eels, and Jack ; Roach are taken of a very good size, particularly about the wharfs, and close to the first bridge from Paddington, on the west side : you may take fish all the way to the Mitre-tavern, near Wormwood-scrubs, about three miles from Paddington, and from thence to the Grand Junction Canal, and on to Uxbridge. THE CAMBERWELL CANAL is well stored with Jack, Pike, Perch, Roach, Eels, and some Carp and Tench, from Cam- CANALS. 129 berwell to Deptford : the angler will find the best sport between the bridge over the Kent Road and Deptford Lower Road, where the water is deep and broad. THE CROYDON CANAL, which passes under the Kent Road near New Cross, winding through corn fields and woods to Sydenham-commoUjis navigable from Dept- ford to Croydon : in this canal there are many good fish, and much retired and pleasant an- gling (the views and general rural scenery are rarely to be excelled) : it contains fine Perch, Roach, Gudgeons, Eels, &c. and is free for any one to angle in, all the way to Croydon. At Sydenham are some pieces of water well stored with fine Carp, which are free to the angler, on his paying an annual sub- scription : Sydenham is a very pretty village, in a retired situation on the south side of Nor- wood, about eight miles from the capital. 130 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. CHAP. XXIX. WATERS AND PONDS. WELLINGTON WATER is a piece of water, situated between Beth- nal Green Road, and the Hackney Road : and is well stocked with fish, kept for the angler's diversion at one pound per annum subscription. There are some ponds on Clapham-com- mon, and at Ham stead-heath, which are free for any person to angle in : here may be taken Perch, Crucian Carp, and some others. Fish- ing in these ponds will tend to the practice and improvement of the young angler, who wishes to acquire skill in the pleasant and de- lightful art of angling. In the pond belonging to Hornsey-wood tea- house and tavern, the angler may meet good PONDS AND WATERS. 131 sport : this pond is well stocked with Carp, Tench, Perch, Roach, &c. any person that takes refreshment at the house will be allowed to angle in this water by asking permission at the bar. DAGENHAM BREACH in Essex, about twelve miles from London, is a large piece of water well stored with Carp, Jack, Pike, Perch, Roach, Bream, Eels, &c. This water is kept purposely for angling at two pounds a year subscription. On Chiselhurst-common in Kent, between eleven and twelve miles from London, are several ponds stored with Carp, Perch, &c. particularly the large pond adjoining to the Queen's-Head inn gardens, which is, or was a few years since, full of Carp and Perch : in this pond I have caught (with a red worm, ground baiting with chewed bread,) four or five dozen during an afternoon's angling. 132 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. weighing from a quarter of a pound to a pound and a half each. About a mile east of Shooter^s-hill, in the same county, the angler will find some ponds on a common near the road side, which con- tain Carp, Perch, Eels, &c. perfectly free for any to fish. AT STANMORE, IN MIDDLESEX, ten miles from London, at the top or upper end of the village on the common, near the Vine inn, or public house, are two or three ponds stored with Perch, Tench, &c. particu- larly the one known by the name of the Spring- pond, so called from being chiefly supplied by a neighbouring spring of exceeding fine water : this pond is a large piece of water free from weeds, and generally of a clear gravelly bot- tom, famous for breeding Perch, which are very numerous, and thrive amazingly fast ; there are also some good Carp, Eels, &c. the PONDS AND WATERS, 133 • north side is the most shallow, and among the grass weed which grows in the early part of the snmmer, the Carp are frequently found : from the opposite banks over the rushes, and about the flood gate, you will have the best sport in angling for Perch. Between this pond and the Marquis of Aber- corn's seat, the Priory (about a mile distant), is a fine piece of water called the Long-pond, which belongs to Mr. Clutterbuck, the brewer : this pond, or canal, contains some fine Jack and Pike. A few small Tench, and Crucian Carp, may be taken in some pits, named the Tench Pits, near the Marquis's seat on Bushy-heath : at the distance of a mile east of those pits, the angler will find a large deep piece of water on a common, called Aldenham com- mon, near the little village of Elstree : this water is situated on Aldenham-brook, and empties itself into this reservoir, which runs i34 THE ANGLER'S GtJiDE. across the common, and is of considerable ex- tent. It was intended to supply some streams or canals in the neighbourhood, and from its depth the fish are in a great measure preserved from poachers ; it is well stocked with Perch, Carp, Dace, Gudgeons, and Eels : the brook abounds with the little singular fish called the Loach or Stone Loach. Just on the entrance of Epping forest, by tlie Green-Man, the angler will find a pond abounding witli large Carp and Eels. Near this spot there are several other ponds, in which are Carp, Tench, Eels, Roach, and Crucian Carp, and also in a pond close to the George, at Wanstead, and in the large piece of water near the Golden Eagle, at Snaresbrook is a subscription water stocked with Jack, Pike, Carp, Eels, &c. — All these waters are within a mile of eacli other. RULES AND OBSERVATIONS. 135 CHAP. XXX. RULES AND OBSERVATIONS. To prevent disputes, it is generally under- stood and agreed to among anglers, that a distance the length of rod and line, or thirty feet, shall be kept between each person while angling. When you have made choice of a place to fish, first plumb the depth truly, and with as little disturbance to the water as may be ; let your line with the plummet to it remain in the water while you make and cast in the ground bait, by which time the line will be softened and stretched, consequently less likely to break, if you should hook a fish soon after commencing : if the water is still, throw in small pieces of ground bait, and keep as far from the water as you can. 136 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. Accustom yourself to use fine tackle, ^vhicll will the sooner make you a skilful angler by the care requisite in using such tackle : if you perchance break your tacklc;, do not loose your temper,* but sit down, and diligently repair the damage done, and begin again, recollect- ing that " Hope and Patience support the fisherman." When soft rain falls, or the day turns out foggy and close, most kind of fish will feed. If hail falls, or the day proves very cold, and the wind blows strong, either from east, south, west or north, the angler must not ex- pect much sport : If ask'd, " What wind suits angling best?'* I answer, " The south, or south-west." For your health's sake never drink water ♦ Good-nature sets our hearts at ease, and softens pain and sorrow. RULES AND OBSERVATIONS 137 out of rivers or ponds while in a perspiration : also be careful to keep your feet dry, by wear- ing strong boots or shoes. Whene'er dear brothers you shall go to fish, I wish you luck to take a handsome dish , Of Carp, Tench, Pike, Perch, Barbel, Dace or Roach, By angling- fair — I pray you never poach : But first, good sirs, a useful lesson take. From an old brother Boby an angling rake. Before you quit your homes, look round and think. If all your traps are right, with cash for meat and drink. Worms, gentles, paste and graves, you must provide, Good lines, floats, plummets, and spare hooks beside j And wheu your sport is done, bear this in mind- Look well about, that naught is left behind. POSTSCPKIPT. As an advocate for Angling, I feel interested and anxious for the honour and credit of the Angler's character and conduct, therefore I beg his attention to a few observations and ex- tracts from acts of parliament relative to the preservation of fish and fisheries. It sliould be recollected, that if the angler commits an offence or trespass from his ignorance of the laws on the subject, he is equally liable to fine and punishment as if acting by premeditated design ; for it is presumed by the magistrates of courts, that from the known publicity of the laws, every person is acquainted with their regulations in respect to the protection of pro- perty, punishment for trespass, and i\\Q like. Moreover, as reasonable beings, and account- able for our misdeeds, it surely behoves us so 140 POSTSCRIPT. to regulate our conduct in pursuing our plea- sures and amusements, that we in no wise lose sight of or infringe the Golden Rule^ that of " doing unto others as we would they should do unto us," — a strict observance of which I seriously recommend to all brother anglers. The most recent, and the principal act to protect fisheries, was passed in the fifth year of his present Majesty's reign, from which the following extract is taken : " No one shall enter into any park or paddock fenced in and enclosed, or into any garden, orchard, or yard adjoining or belonging to any dwelling house, in or through wliich park or paddock, garden, orchard or yard any river or stream of water shall run or be, or wherein shall be any river, stream, pond, pool, moat, stew or other water ; and by any ways, means or device whatsoever shall steal, take, kill or destroy any fish bred, kept or preserved iu any such river or stream, pond, pool, moat, stew or other water aforesaid, without the consent of the owner or POSTSCRIPT. 141 owners thereof, or shall be aiding or assisting in the stealing, taking, killing or destroying any such fish as aforesaid, or shall receive or buy any such fish, knowing the same to be stolen or taken as aforesaid^ and being thereof indicted within six calendar months next after such offence or offences shall have been committed before any judge or justices of gaol delivery for the county wherein such park or paddock, garden, orchard or yard shall be, and shall on such indictment be by verdict, or his or their own confession or con- fessions, convicted of any such offence or offences as aforesaid, the person or persons so convicted shall be transported for seven years. '' And for the more easy and speedy appre- hending and convicting of such person or persons as shall be guilty of any of the offences before mentioned, be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that in case any person or persons shall at any time after the first day of June commit or be guilty of any such oflFence or offences as herein before mentioned, and shall supwnder himself to any one of his majesty's justices of the peace in and for the county where such offence or offences 142 POSTSCRIPT. shall have been committed, or being apprehended and taken, or in custody for such offence or offences, or on any other account, and shall to- luntarily make a full confession thereof, and a true discovery, upon oath of the person or per- sons who was or were his accomplice or accom- plices in any of the said offences so as such ac- complice or accomplices may be apprehended and taken, and shall on the trial of such accomplice or accomplices give such evidence of such offence or offences as shall be sufficient to convict such accomplice or accomplices thereof, such person making such confession and discovery, and giving such evidence as aforesaid, shall, by virtue of this act, be pardoned, acquitted and discharged of and from the offence or offences so by him con- fessed as aforesaid. " That in case any person or persons shall take, kill or destroy, or attempt to take, kill or destroy, any fish in any river or stream, pond, pool, or other water (not being in any park or paddock, or in any garden, orchard or yard ad- joining or belonging to any dwelling house, but shall be in any other inclosed ground which shall POSTSCRIPT. 143 be private property) every such person being lawfully convicted thereof by the oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses, shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence the sum of five pounds to the owner or owners of the fishery of such river or stream of water, or of such pond, pool, moat or other water; and it shall or may be lawful to and for any one or more of his ma- jestys justices of the peace of the county, division, riding or place where such last mentioned offence or offences shall be committed, upon complaint made to him or them upon oath against any per- son or persons for any such last mentioned offence or offences, to issue his or their warrant or warrants to bring the person or persons so complained of before him or them; and if the person or persons so complained of shall be con- victed of any of the said offences last mentioned, before such justice or justices, or any other of his majestys justices of the same county, division, riding or place aforesaid, by the oath or oaths of one or more credible witnesses, which oath such justice or justices are hereby authorised to admi- nister, or by his or their own confession, then and in such case the party so convicted shall, imme- 144 POSTSCRIPT. diately after sucli conviction, pay the said penalty of five pounds, hereby before imposed for the; oflfence or offences aforesaid, to such justice or justices before whom he shall be so convicted^ for the use of such person or persons as the same is hereby appointed to be forfeited and paid unto, and in default thereof, shall be committed by such justice or justices to the house of correction for any time not exceeding six months, unless the money forfeited shall be sooner paid. '^ Provided nevertheless that it shall and may be lawful to and for such owner or owners of the fishery of such river or stream of water, or of such pond, pool or other water wherein any such offence or offences last mentioned shall be committed as aforesaid, to sue and prosecute for, and recover, the said sum of five pounds by action of debt, bill, plaint or information, in any of his majesty's courts of record at Westminster; and in such action or suit no essoign, wager of law, or more than one imparlance shall be allow- ed ; provided such action or suit be brought or commenced within six calendar months next after such offence or offences sh^U have been committed. POSTSCRIPT. 14$ ^' Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that nothing in this act shall extend, or be construed to extend, to sub- ject or make liable any person or persons to the penalties of this act who shall fish, take, or kill and carry away any fish in any river or stream of water, pond, pool, or other water wherein such person or persons shall have a just right or claim to take, kill, or carry away any such fish. To preserve the breed offish. Tliere are several acts of parliament to pre- serve fish and fisheries by penalties and pun- ishments for using certain nets, and taking fish under a proper size, and out of season, from which the following quotations are made. The first worthy of notice, I believe, is an act passed in the thirteenth year of Richard II, which says, '^ No persons shall put in the waters of Thamise, Humber, Ouze, Trent, nor any other waters iu any time of the year, any nets called stalkers, nor other nets or engines by which the fry or breed of 140 POSTSCRIPT. Salmon, Lampreys, or any other fish may in any wise be taken or destroyed; and the waters of Lon, Wyre, Mersey, Ribble, and all other waters in Lancashire, shall be put in defence, as to taking of Salmon, from Michaelmas to Candlemas^ and in no other time of the year." By an act made in the seventeenth year of the same reign, '• The justices of the peace, and the mayor of London, on the Thames and Medway, shall sur- vey the oflfences in both the acts above mentioned, and shall survey and search all the wears in such rivers, that they shall not be very strait for the destruction of such fry and brood, but of reason- able wideness, after the old assize used or accus- tomed; and they shall appoint under-conservators, who shall be sworn to make the like survey, search and punishment: and they shall enquire in sessions, as well by their office as at the infor- mation of the under-conservators, of all defaults aforesaid, and shall cause them which shall be thereof indicted, to come before them, and if they thereof be convicted, they shall have imprisonment, POSTSCRIPT. 147 and make fine, at the discretion of the justices; and if the same be at the information of an under- conservator, he shall have half the fine." And by a later act, " No person shall take, or knowingly have in his posession, either in water or on shore, or sell or expose to sale, any spawn, fry or brood of fish, or any unsizeable fish, or fish out of season, or any smelt not five inches long ; and any person may seize the same, together with the baskets and package, and charge a constable or other peace officer with the off'ender, and with the goods, who shall carry them before a justice, the same shall be forfeited and delivered to the prosecutor, and the offender shall besides forfeit twenty shillings, to be levied by distress, by warrant of such jus- tice, and distributed, half to the prosecutor, and half to the poor of the parish where the offence was committed (and any inhabitant of such parish may nevertheless may be a witness); and for want of sufficient distress, to be committed to the house of correction, to be kept to hard labour, for any time not exceeding three months, unless 148 POSTSCRIPT. the forfeiture be sooner paid, provided the justice may mitigate the said penalty, so as not to remit above one half: persons aggrieved may appeal to the next sessions." And an old act of parliament of Henry II. says, '' No person shall fasten any nets over rivers, to stand continually night and day, on pain of forfeiting one hundred shillings to the king. AN EXPLANATION OF TECHNICAL TERMS USED IN ANGLING. To angle, to catch fish with a rod and line. Bank-fishing, angling from a bank on the side of a river, or other water. Beardy or barby of a hook, is that part a little above the point, which prevents the fish slipping ofi*. BabbeTy or brother bob, nick-names for anglers. Bottom-fishingy angling with any bait under water. Dappingy or dippingy falling gently into the water. Deeps are the deepest parts of the river Thames somewhat out of the current : to make them safe harbours for fish to breed in, the boatmen who live at Hampton, Shepperton, and other places in that neighbourhood, sink their old boats in rows, leaving a channel between them ; in a line with this channel they fix their boats when engaged by anglers. The largest Barbie and other fish are taken in these deeps, for the manner in which the boats are sunk, effectually protects them from every kind of net. JDragy a piece of iron wire with four hooks, (without barbs) placed back to back, to which is fastened a long pack- thread line : this is used to recover any part of the tackle that may be entangled in weeds, &c. 150 TECHNICAL TERMS. Disgorger, an instrument with a forked, top, about six inches long, made of bone, iron, or brass : when the fish has swallowed the hook, the forked end of the disgorger is thrust upon it, which disengages it, and permits it to be easily drawn out. Eddies are bends or corners in rivers, where the water meets with obstruction, causing it to recoil and whirl round : fish lie much in these spots, as the motion of the water frequently brings food out of the stream and gives it a mo- mentary pause. liofeed : fish are said to feed when they take the bait. Gentles are maggots bred from fly-blows on liver, or any putrid animal substance. Gimp, silk twist laced with brass j sold at all the fishing-tackle shops. To gorgCy to swallow. Gravesy the sediment of melted tallow ; to be bought at the tallow chandlers. Ground bait, graves, bran and clay, gentles, &c. thrown into the water for the purpose of keeping the fish round the spot you intend to angle in. Heavy fishy large fish. To hook fouly to hook a fish by any part outside its body, which sometimes happens by their swimming against the bait and thereby acting on the float the same as a bite 5 by striking at the moment the fish is hooked foul. This happens frequently when angling for Barbie. Killing baity that bait which the fish are most fond of. TECHNICAL TERMS. 151 Kink, the line is said to kink or kinkle, when it gets entang-- led or twisted about the rod, or rings, &c. Landing-net J a small net extended on an iron hoop, fastened to a pole, which is very useful in landing a large fish, to prevent the straining your rod, &c. Leather -mouthed fish are those which have their teeth in the throat, as is the case with Barbie, Chub, Carp, &c. Nibble, tlie fish are said to nibble when they slightly touch the bait, but avoid taking it into the mouth. Paternoster-line, a line with several hooks, from five to teo or twelve. To plat/ a fish, to let him run a certain distance after having hooked him, then checking him by shortening the line, and again yielding to him, until he is exhausted. To pouch, to swallow. Prime, fish are said to be prime when they rise to the surface, and leap out of the water: when they do this, the angler considers it a good sign, as they are then on the feed. Punt, a broad flat-bottomed boat, large enough to hold two or three chairs j it is used in angling on the river Thames at Richmond, Twickenham, Kingston, Hampton, &c. Rise, the fish are said to rise when they come to the surface to take a fly, or any other insect. A run, (in trolling) a bite. Running-tackle — the line is so called when passed from a winch fixed on the rod, through rings, to join the baited line. Scowers are places in rivers with a clean sandy or gravelly 152 TECHNICAL TERMS. bottom, on which the fish feed, rub and roll themselves just before they spawn; and many continue on the scowers during- the warm or hot months. To scour worms, to free them from filth, and make there transparent, by putting them in damp moss, &c. Shank of a hook, that part to which the line is tied. Strike — striking- a fish is done by gfiving- a sudden jerk frona the wrist, or arm, when the fish has taken the bait. Swims are deep places in rivers where the stream is not rapid : fish afe mostly found in them in cool weather. To take or kill Jish, to catch fish : the words catch and caught are seldom used by ang-lers. Trolling, angling- with a small fisli (either dead or alive) for a bait. This word is derived from the French word troller, to stroll or rove about. Tumbling bay is a pool of considerable depth and breadth > receiving the surplus water which falls from the flood-gates erected in rivers and canals to keep up a head of water : they are numerous in the river Lea. To weigh ajish out, to lift a fish out of the water by the line, without the aid of a landing net Winch, a machine made of brass, on which a line is kept, made of India twist, plaited silk, or gut and silk twisted. Pfitited by Haines and Turner, 75, Margaret St. Cavendisli Square. -^1^^^' ■ \ v^ i^l L^*^ l^m