Page images
PDF
EPUB

been entirely lost when it goes under ground, and that its apparent reappearance arises from a new source near Leatherhead. After passing Leatherhead, it flows to Cobham and Moulsey, where it joins the THAMES opposite to Hampton Court. This river is noted for large Bream.

The WEY rises in two branches in the eastern part of Hampshire, bordering on Surry; one of which forms a pleasant vale to Farnham: after this union, their course is eastward by Godalming, until joined by a third stream from the south; after which the Wey flows north-easterly to Guildford, and reaches the THAMES a little below Weybridge. The Wey, besides other good fish, produces very fine Carp, some of eight or nine pounds weight.

The WANDLE rises at Carshalton, and is joined by other streams springing from Croydon and Beddington; it runs by Mitcham and Merton, and enters the THAMES at Wandsworth. These rivers are well stored with Pike, Roach, Dace, Perch, Chub, Gudgeon, Barbel, and very large silver Eels. The Wandle is also particularly famous for Trout, and the Angler need not fear diversion in any of the others. In this county are likewise many large Ponds; that of Frensham, near Farnham, is almost three miles in circumference, and noted for its Carp.

Susser.

THE ARUN rises in St. Leonard's Forest near Horsham, and passing by Arundel, falls into the sea two or three miles below it. This river is famous for

its Mullets, which come in from the sea in shoals, and it is imagined, that by feeding upon a particular weed which grows in the Arun, they acquire that delicious taste for which they are so highly esteemed. The Mullets during the summer months frequent in great numbers the Blackwater below Malden, but from the vast quantities of weeds in that river, very few are taken.

The ADUR rises in the same forest with the Arun, and discharges itself at New Shoreham. The OUSE, (a name common to so many rivers,) and the CockMARE, rise in that deep tract called the Weald; the former from two branches, one of which has its spring in the same forest, and the other in the forest of Worth; they soon unite near Lewes, and run to the sea at Newhaven.

The ROTHER rises near the picturesque village of Mayfield, in Kent, which county it separates from Sussex; it no where approaches the Downs, but becomes a sluggish stream, and follows a south-east direction. The Breke joins the Rother below Winchelsea, and a few miles to the north of Rye, making an angle to the south, it falls into the great basin to the east of the port of Rye, and forms RyeHaven. The Lavant runs by Chichester. These rivers have their share of various sorts of fish, and in which the Angler will not complain of want of sport.

Warwickshire.

THE AVON, which rises in Leicestershire, enters this county a little above Rugby, and passing War

wick, Stratford, and Bidford, runs into Worcestershire. The TAME, which comes from Staffordshire into this county at Wolford Bridge, receives several currents; among which are the Anker and the Blyth. The ARROW rises in Worcestershire, and joins the Avon near Bidford. The LEAM rises in the eastern borders of this county, and joins the Avon near Warwick. There is very good angling in the Avon, not far from Warwick, and plenty of fish in the other rivers. The Blyth and Tame are particularly noted for their Bream.

.

Westmoreland.

THE EDEN, the LUNE, and the KEN, have been mentioned in other counties; the LADER or LowTHER rises out of the Lake called Broadwater. WINANDER MERE is situate among the mountains in the southern part of this county; it is more than ten miles in length, and produces that scarce fish the Charr. In the Ken, a little below Kendall, the Angler may expect fine sport with the Salmon Trout, which from the sea run up that river: abundance of Trout is found in all the other rivers, whose bottoms are mostly rocky, and their streams rapid.

Wiltshire.

THE Upper and Lower AvoN have been mentioned in the account of Gloucestershire. The NADDER rises in the south-west border of this county, and runs by Chilmarck, noted for its quarries. The

WILLEY rises near Warminster, and runs by Yarnbury and Wilton. The BOURNE springs in the easternmost part of Wiltshire; the first and the three latter rivers unite in the neighbourhood of Salisbury, and then flow on to Christ-church, in Hampshire. The KENNET springs almost in the centre of the county, and not far from Marlborough, which town it passes, and takes an easterly course to Berkshire. These rivers have Trout and Grayling in abundance; about Salisbury there is very good Angling, both for these and other fish. The Kennet is particularly famous for its Crayfish *.

Worcestershire.

THE SEVERN (noticed in Gloucestershire) enters this county from Shropshire, runs through its whole length, and, passing by Worcester and Upton, soon reaches Gloucestershire. The TAME, which enters this county on the north-west, runs south-east until its junction with the Severn, about two miles below Worcester Bridge. The AvoN enters on the east side, and passing by Pershore and Evesham, leaves

* It is a curious circumstance that Cray-fish will live in no stream that does not run towards the South. The Gentleman who favoured me with it, has tried to stock, and it invariably happens that they disappear from waters that run in opposite directions, however apparently well adapted, from having plenty of their favourite food, Water-cresses, &c. In confirmation of this remark, the rivers of Surry have no Cray-fish, whilst those of Hertfordshire abound with them. Yet these both empty themselves into the Thames, the first in a Northern, the second in a Southern Direction.

this county at its southermost point. The Bow rises in Feckenham Forest, and passing by Pershore, falls into the Avon. The SALWARP comes from the northeast, and runs by Droitwich and Bromsgrove. The STOUR rises in the celebrated groves of the LEAsowes, and proceeds through Stourbridge to Mitton, and discharges its waters into the Severn a little below Stourport; from whence by the canal there is a most valuable communication to the principal Ports of the British Ocean, the Irish Sea, and St. George's Channel.

In these rivers the Angler will find Salmon, Trout, Grayling, Salmon Trout, and most other river fish. Near Kidderminster, the Trout in the Stour are very fine. The LAMPREYS taken in the Severn, between the Cities of Worcester and Gloucester, are large and excellent; they are somewhat like the Eel, slippery, of a dusky colour, irregularly marked with dirty yellow, but are rather bluish on the belly: on each side of the throat they have seven holes, serving the purpose of Gills, of which they are destitute; they will sometimes weigh as much as four or five pounds. Their mouth is round, and placed rather obliquely below the end of the nose; they have twenty rows of small teeth, disposed in circular order, and placed far within; the edges of the mouth are jagged, which enables them to adhere the more strongly to the Stones, which they do so firmly, that a Lamprey of three pounds was taken out of the Usk, adhering to a Stone weighing twelve pounds, which was suspended at its mouth, and from which it was forced with no small difficulty.

« PreviousContinue »