weighing together 21 pounds; and in December, 1843, he stocked the pond with 45 jack, netted out of the Thames, so that possibly good fish are still there; but we know that they are seldom caught. The fishing is free. There are three other ponds on the Common. The one near the church, from which during two or three hot days in July very heavy carp may be taken with the red worm; and there are those who, fishing betimes in the morning, have taken 10 to 15 pounds' weight of fish. The third pond is at the back of the Windmill public house, where heavy roach, pearch, and gudgeon are often taken. The fourth pond, the only other one worth mentioning, is on the right of the Common (from London), partially covered with willows and other trees. This is called, par excellence, "the pearch pond." On WANDSWORTH COMMON, at the back of Mr. Wilson's, there is a pond, with three or four islands in the centre, which we believe has been liberally stocked by that gentleman, and who appears rather pleased than otherwise to see the angler enjoying his sport there. RUISLIP RESERVOIR, (belonging to the Grand Junction Canal) midway between the Uxbridge and the Pinner stations, is well stored with fish. The subscription 30s. for a year, or 42s. for a transferable ticket. Live bait, &c., provided. This water is (or used to be) strictly preserved by F. Deane, Esq., Escott Hall. Unfortunately it is drawn off once a year, and the fish have to save themselves in a deep hole of about two acres in extent. In RICHMOND PARK the "Penn Ponds" are well stored with pike, pearch, carp, and other fish, but it is now rather difficult to obtain permission to angle there. Application must be made to Colonel Liddle (Deputy Ranger), Gloucester Lodge, Richmond Park. At SLOUGH there is a MILL-POND, seen to the right of the railway-line going from London, where there is very good pearch and pike fishing. Day-tickets are charged 2s. 6d. The SERPENTINE, in Hyde Park, contains large carp, tench, pearch, roach, eels, and bream, but they are difficult to catch, and the sport seldom repays the patience bestowed. Permission to fish is in general readily granted by the Ranger. The ORNAMENTAL WATER in the Regent's Park is now open to the public, where quantities of small pearch, gudgeon, &c., are taken by juvenile anglers; also carp, occasionally fine. Permission to fish in the enclosed part must be obtained from the Ranger, but much of the water is public. The HAMPSTEAD PONDS are well known to the London angler, and contain some good pearch, not easily caught. There is no restriction to the fishing. DAGENHAM BREACH, a large pool of water in the Essex Marshes, 9 miles from London, near the Thames (opposite the Half-way House to Gravesend), is a favourite resort of London anglers, and contains an abundance of rudd, bream, large pearch, jack, roach, carp, tench, and eels. This water is open to subscribers at 17. 18. for the season, daytickets at 2s. It is an excellent place to initiate the young angler, as the fish bite freely. But when caught they are not worth cooking, as the waters are very impure, sometimes offensive. The SURREY CANAL, which joins the remnant of the CROYDON CANAL near New-Cross, Deptford, contains pike, pearch, carp, bream, and roach, sometimes of large size. Pearch and small pike used formerly to be caught here in considerable numbers. The writer remembers taking (about thirty-five years ago) upwards of 200 small pearch, and 7 jack, of from 2 to 3 pounds weight each, in one day, trolling with live minnows; and he is told that the pike and pearch run fine here at the present day, although not so numerous. The PADDINGTON CANAL, which joins the GRAND JUNCTION CANAL near Norwood, and the REGENT'S CANAL (which flows through Regent's Park to the basin between Stepney and Limehouse), contain pike, pearch, roach, chub, bream, eels, &c., and afford moderate sport when they have not been too much netted; they are both free, excepting where the banks are enclosed or occupied by residents. At GATTON, Lord Monson's, near REIGATE, in Surrey (the once famed rotten borough), there is a large lake, which is reported to be abundantly stored. There is also a pond just above it (from which it is supplied) full of pearch. At EGHAM, Surrey, is a fine piece of water, called the FLEET, where there is excellent fishing, especially for pearch. At OSTERLY PARK, near Ealing, the seat of Lord Jersey, there is a large sheet of water, where pearch, pike, and other fish abound. A story is current there (certified by a painting), of a pike, which proved to be upwards of 40 pounds in weight, having gorged the neck and head of a swan, which ended in the death of both. At GODSTONE, in Surrey, near the mill, is a subscription water, where there is very good pike and pearch fishing. Day-tickets may be had. In KENT, on CHISELHURST COMMON, 12 miles from London, it is said there are some ponds stored with carp, pearch, and tench, and that the large pond near the King's Head Inn is the best. The fishing is free. Aud a mile to the east of SHOOTER'S HILL, near Wickham Church, is a large pond on a common by the road side, containing pearch, carp, tench, and large eels. It is thickly grown over with weeds, excepting in a few places. Proprietor, Mr. Dixon, a farmer, from whom permission must be obtained. At STANMORE, Middlesex, 10 miles from London, there are two or three ponds on the common, containing pearch, tench, &c.; and about a mile further, towards STANMORE PRIORY, is a large piece of water, called the Long Pond, which contains pike, pearch, &c. The FRENCHAM PONDS, near Basingstoke, between Farnham and Farnborough, on the South-Western line, afford capital sport for pike and pearch, but they seldom run large. With minnows, which you must take with you, and a stiff breeze, you may catch more fish than you can carry. The landlord owns the water, and charges one shilling a day for each rod. Boats are kept for hire. The fine waters at BLENHEIM contain many large pike, and permission to troll may sometimes be obtained from the noble owner. Some years since a sister of the Duke of Marlborough caught a pike in the Blenheim water weighing 26 pounds. At YARBRIDGE, 5 miles from Ryde, Isle of Wight, there is very good fishing, especially for dace and carp, the latter very fine. Permission to angle is very kindly granted by Mr. Cave, brewer, Yarbridge. Here we must conclude for want of space. The RIVERS and LAKES of CUMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, NORTHUMBERLAFD, DURHAM, LanCASHIRE, and other English Counties not included in the preceding account, and the RIVERS of WALES, SCOTLAND, and IRELAND, will be found well described in Mr. Jesse's edition of Hofland, pp. 236-448, or in some of the volumes specially mentioned at page 450. *** Any corrections of the preceding pages, or communications respecting fishing stations, will be thankfully received by the Publisher at 4 York Street, Covent Garden. INDEX. Action, its connection with man's Ant-fly, 102, 275, 277; directions Adonis, river, 68. for making, 424, 426; black ditto, Ælian, C., account of, 75. Antony and Cleopatra, amuse them- April, artificial flies for, 145, 148, Aristotle, 68, 73, 78, 209. Amos, Illustration from 65, 80. 88. Angel, a coin; value of, 317. in Tomaso Aniello, 116; eminent Alchemists, the practices of, 360-1. Amerley trout, superiority of, 108, 206. Ashford, in Derbyshire, 370, 473. Ashmole, E., his collection of Natural Assa-foetida, grateful to the senses of Avon, the rivers, 86; account of, 464, August, artificial flies for, 146, 426. 318. Aukham, in Lincolnshire, famous for Ausonius, D. M., 73, 258; account Awber, the river, 370. Axe, the river, 474. Bacon, Fr., Baron Verulam, refer- BAIT, general, 282; other general Beggars, humorous story of, 163. family; learned and accomplished; Birds, various properties of, 50; Fly, ditto, 145, 414, 423. Bleak Hall, 463; engraving of, 116. Boanthropy, Nebuchadnezzar punished Bobbing for eels, 242. Boyle, Hon. Rob., his 'spiritualised Brailsford well, engraving of, 357. Bright Brown-fly, directions for Dun Gnat, ditto, 405. Broxbourn on the Lea, 463; view of, BULL-HEAD, 289; account of and engraving, 290, 292. |