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Dec.[December] 26th THE FIELD 1873.
I and Reginald at the fishing match
TAGGS ISLAND FISHERY (HAMPTON COURT).--The angling
contest for which nearly thirty competitors had entered came off as
arranged on this well-known island on Friday last and most of those who
had given in their names were in attendance. Amongst the number were
several of the principal members of the Silver Trout Angling Club. The
swims had all been previously numbered and were balloted for. Mr T.G.
Tagg in to give the anglers some sport had all the places well
baited on the night previous ; but owing to the lowness of the water
which prevented anything like a stream and even with the line thrown
well out in the channel the float was perfectly motionless. The sport was
anything but satisfactory. For the first three hours only three sizeable
roach had been caught--as sizeable fish were stipulated ; but on the fourth
hour the news spread like wild fire that a chub of 4lb. had been taken with
gentles in fishing for roach. Several of the anglers left their swims to
ascertain the correctness of the report and during the absence of one of
them a friend of his who happened to have some live flounders in a
punt close took one of tm and after inserting a short pipe in its
mouth carefully placed it on his friend's hook. On the return of the
angler to his astonishment he discovered his float under water ; and the
sight can be better imaged than described when in the presence of
several standers-by he pulled up the line and found the flounder. At four
o'clock time was called and the anglers summoned to the bar of the
hotel. Foremost amongst the number was Mr Seaward of the Silver
Trout Angling Club with the chub which when placed on the scales
weighed 3lb. 13oz. and thus secured the first prize which consisted of a
two-handled goblet. The second prize was allotted to Mr Wells of
Kingston for a small prcel of roach ; and the third prize with a perch of
4 3/4oz. to Mr Suggate. The prizes were presented by Mr Tagg ; and Mr
W.H. Brougham who acted as umpire on the occasion took the oppor-
tunity of saying a few words to the assembled anglers on the subject of
unsizeable fish which were well received. Amongst the gentlemen present
to witness the match were--Messrs Edward Scanlan Block G. SeatonBower W. Pickford J.A. Sergeant Shorter Maughan E. Hawkins etc.
The liberality of Mr Tagg was much appreciated by all the competitors
and throughout the day in spite of indifferent sport the anglers kept in
good humour and made their day's outing one of enjoyment. The hotel
was well patronised and it is the least to say that everything gave the
utmost satisfaction. One word of praise is however due to Mrs Tagg for
her courtesy and attention to the "jolly anglers."---W.H.B.

The Field July 29th 1876.
FISHING IN THE NORFOLK BROADS.--Being on our annual
visit to Lowestoft I just forward you a line to say myself and son have
had three very successful days fishing on Oulton Broad which is now in
good order for the angler and well stocked with perch roach rudd were
bream. On the first day (Wednesday) in a few hours our take was close
upon 1[?]lb of the above-named fish ; 6 1/2 lb.were really fine fish averaging
nearly 1lb. each. The perch did not run large but the roach and rudd were
very fine clean beautiful fish and with the exception of the bream equal
to a whiting in flavour when properly cooked. A good deal lately has been
heard about netting the Broad but the lovers of the rod will be gratified
to hear that the weed is now so abundant as to effectually prevent a net
being used whilst the open spaces are plentiful wherein to angle. I
inclose a few flowers of the weed alluded to [It is the Ranunculus
aquatilis or aquaticus of Bentham.] When a boy fifty years ago I
never saw anything of the sort in the Broad. Mention is made of the red
mullet in your Field of last week as being numerous in Oulton Broad.
Surely grey mullet is meant. I have not yet seen any of the mullet men-
tioned but by the swirl and commotion seen in the water at times on a
calm evening it is evident there are some very large fish to be caught
there when the bait is discovered which will tempt [?]. In "Letters
from Jamaica" published in 1873 reference is made to the "mountain
mullet" which is caught by the aid of a bamboo basket with a hole to
admit of the the entrance of the fish the bait being a Seville orange cut in
two.--Suggate.

"Land and Water" July 29th 1876
OULTON BROAD. --Perhaps some of your readers may be glad to hear that Oulton Broad is now in good order for the angler and well stocked with perch roach rudd and and bream. Myself and son had three very successful days last week on that piece of water. The first day Wednesday our take was close upon 15lb. of t above-named fish ; 6 1/2 lb. were really fine fish averaging nearly 1lb.. each. The perc did not run large but the roach and rudd were very fine clean beautiful fish. They
afforded excellent sport and with the exception of the beam equal to a whiting in flavour when properly cooked. A good deal lately has been heard about netting the Broad but the lovers of the rod will be gratified to hear that a particular kind of weed is so abundant all round the Broad as to effectually prevent a net being
used while the open spaces are plentiful wherein to angle. When a boy fifty years I cannot recollect anything of that sort of weed being in t Broad. There are large fish in the Broad said to be grey mullet but as yet no bait been found that they will take. --R. Suggate.

THE NORFOLK BROADS.--The mullet which have appeared in such
numbers in the Oulton Broad and whic were reported as the red kind
turn out to be the Mugil capito of Gunther and Yarrell or grey mullet
which at once will account for the difficulty the anglers have had in captur-
ing more than a single specimen and if hooked the attachment is generally
so delicate as to require great skill and patience to bring them to land.
Cabbage boiled in animal broth is said to be its most tempting food. The
midsummer herring fishing is now closed and been more remunerative
than many in past years from the fact that in the spring the fishing for
herrings then pursued was not followed successfully for the want
of hands. It may not be generally known that these spring herrings
are lank and thin and that in consequence a smaller mesh seive
is neccessary to take them and that the young of the mackerel
become equally a prey to the net to which fact some of the
best informed fishermen attribute the falling off of several of
the recent midsummer seasons. This year however from the cause
assigned the fish have been very fine and well developed giving the boats
from 100 to 150 each. The Aquarium in the Marine Drive at Great Yar-
mouth is getting on towards completion. It is decided that the grand
entrance sl be at the south the area surrounding which will be taste-
fully laid out and inclosed by fitting dwarf walls palisading and iron gates.
The entire range of tanks and rockwork on the east side have been finished
and the former tested with a full pressure of water and in a few days will
be ready for the reception of fish. The hotel and restaurant departments
will be at the east of the structure. The skating rink is on the roof. The
whole length of the sea side of the building is converted into a promenade.
It is fully excepted the whole will be completed and ready for opening on
the 17th prox. It is resolved by the Town Council that when the
Aquarium is opened all nigger melodists aunt sallys and cocoanut shying
shall be banished from the beach. Rod foshing appears to have commenced
with average baskets in the rivers and broads. Two anglers at Tritton got
respectively 176 and 140 fish in the day of a mixed kind.--G.F.
"The Field" July 29th 1876

THE OUSE.--Accompanying I have the pleasure to report a day's
fishing on the Ouse Offord Cluney near Huntingdon and think it worthy
the notice of my brother anglers. On Tursday the 16th inst. I started
for Offord anticipating a day's coursing : and as disappointments are not
unfrequent to sports I found on reaching my destination that circum-
stances had arisen to postpone the meeting till the Tuesday following. I
therefore determined to try my luck amongst the jack. Knowing this
water for some years I did not neglect to take with me all necessary tackle.
So on the Friday morning I sallied forth with only a short supply of baits
and when I reached the water I was mortified to see that the water from
above the mill was coming down anything but satisfactory to a jack
fisherman ; but nothing daunted I determined to try my luck as I knew
I had a fair chance if the water got no worse. I selected my position and
quickly set to work in earnest ; for some little time I could not stir a fish
but at last I had a splendid run and landed my fish a jack of 10lb. and in
less than a quarter of an hour had got another run which did not require
much question as to his being a heavier fish. After some sport he was
landed and scaled 18lb. and measured 3ft. 2in. from tip to tail and 2 1/4ft. in
girth. I had these carried to the tavern and sent off to London by the
1.30 train wishing the larger one to be set up as a specimen. After
securing some fresh bait I returned to the river and you may imagine my
annoyance to find the water was as thick as pea soup. Consequently my
chances of another take done for. However nothing daunted I
tried every dodge to raise another and my day ended in hooking a little
fellow in the vent certainly not more than 2oz. in weight--this whilst
spinning with the other. This part of the water is fairly preserved and
no gentleman will experience muc difficulty in obtaining permission to
fish provided he writes a day or two beforehand to Mr Amos Reed the
gamekeeper to the lord of the manor and who is the landlord of the Old
Swan hard by the station and river. The house has no great pretensions ;
but is cleanly to a fault eating and drinking of the best and prices
moderate. If you care to insert the above in the The Field I am quite sure it
will induce some of my brother anglers to try their chance and I do not
think with disappointment.--George Urling Smith.

"The Field" July 22nd 1876
RED MULLET IN OULTON BROAD LOWESTOFT.-- I hear from
Mr George Mason and three well-known Norfolk and Suffolk anglers that
Oulton Broad is literally swarming with red mullet and that they are
occasionally to be seen in the early morning swimming about near the
surface in shoals many being full half a yard long. A Mr F.G. Bose of
London caught one on the 18th inst. of 1lb. in weight taken by him with a
worm while general fishing whic was shown at the Wherry Hotel. They
appear here above lock almost out of their natural district and are puz-
zling the most expert rodsters as to how they are to be got into the basket.
Wilcocks "Sea Fisherman" tells of a few bags occasionally taken by hook
and line with rag worms or a piece of the large flat worm found as digging
under rocks at very low tides commonly known where it is found as barm
or sea tape-worm. They are in better season and greater abundance from
July until the end of November than at any other times of the year. No. 3
Kirby or Limerick hook or 14 round bend sea pattern. There are not half
the people in Lowestoft as usual at this season ; and it looks as if the
coast hereabout as far as resident visitors are concerned will have a bad
time of it. As to angling there have been some average takes of perch
in many instances of a good size varying from 1/4 lb. to 1 1/2 lb. Forty were
taken the other evening in about two hours from 6oz. to 1lb. "But" says
Mr Mason "we want the anglers and we have not seen tm yet."--G.F.

1876
50
1826