TEWKESBURY.

THE AVON FISHERY.

      A society, to be called "The Tewkesbury and Bredon Avon Angling Association" has been formed in this town. Nathan Dyer, esq. was appointed president, the Rev. J.Taylor of Bredon, vice-president, and E.Murrell, esq. of Mitton Lodge, hon. secretary and treasurer.

         The Tewkesbury Angling Association which was formed early in spring, has proved very popular in the town, and secured a large body of members. An angling competition was decided upon at a meeting held three weeks ago, and, for the members convenience, it was arranged for those taking part to fish in two sections-----one on a Saturday and the other the following Thursday. About 80 members entered, and the first section completed on Saturday afternoon last, the angling ground being in the Severn, in the reach of the river extending from opposite the upper end of what are termed the "Clay Holes," as far as was necessary upstream in the direction of "Bushley Bay." The angling began shortly after three o'clock and just at the expiration of two hours "time" was called. In the evening the fish were weighed at the Hop Pole Royal Hotel, the headquarters of the club.The result of Saturday's competition was:-

John Fisher first with 10 fish, weighing 1lb. 1.5oz.

J.Gray second with 25 fish, weighing 14.5oz.

E.Jones third with 10 fish, weighing 13.5oz.

The other section of competitors will fish Thursday afternoon next.

Bright Prospects for the Angler. 

The two fine rivers, Severn and Avon, which provide such excellent places of recreation for boating folk, are no less attractive as sporting grounds for the angler, and so widespread is the fame of the streams amongst the followers of the “ gentle art,“ that great numbers visit the banks with the appliances of their craft, and if at all expert with rod and line –and favourable conditions of water and wind prevail—there are few but carry home with them a well-filled creel of fish. A word of advice here may not be out of place, but found useful. It is this—that, to lessen the chances of disappointment, it is recommended that strangers to the streams in this neighbourhood, before starting for the riverside, take a local angler into their confidence as to where the quarry is likely to be found at home on the particular occasion when they are seeking it, as to calculate chances by the flow and colour of the water, &c., is only possible to have been well over the ground before. There are times when heavy bags of roach and chub are taken with the fly, bream and perch in bottom fishing, and pike ( or “ jack” as they are here usually called ), by trolling, but such encouraging luck usually only falls to those who know the best angling spots well. The kingly salmon, and his sly kinsman, the speckled trout, are now and then lured with a deftly-dropped fly from their native element into the fish basket. Other members of the finny tribe largely taken here are twaite, flounders, bleak, dace, and eels—the latter in great quantities in autumn and early winter months, in the nets, when there is a strong flood current running. Great catches of elvers—the supposed fry of the eel—are made about April, being brought up on the spring tides from the Severn Estuary.   

Above Gloucester the brooks are few and do not contain many fish. At Tewkesbury the Warwickshire Avon falls into the Severn, and the stream is in several places the boundary between Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. In the Avon there is very good coarse fishing, mainly roach, chub, and bream. Some pike are also caught. Dace have died out, and the number of perch has largely decreased. But in spite of all drawbacks the angler who understands bottom-fishing will find fair sport in the Avon. The great drawback is the number of anglers from Birmingham. Some of the clubs have rented water from the farmers and others, and claim, rightly, their monopoly of it. The continued fishing by the Birmingham Club makes the fish far shyer than they used to be, with the result that the takes are smaller. There are various legends of monster fish in the Avon, chiefly of pike ; one of them is said to be so
large that he can only turn at one place on the river, so he swims up and down to get to it ! As a rule the fish do not run very large, although some large bream and chub are occasionally caught. The fish are almost invariably caught bottom-fishing. Worm, wasp, grub, stewed wheat paste are the baits most used. Good fish are often taken dibbling with the natural fly. There is very little, if any, fly-fishing. Pike are mostly caught with a live bait on snap tackle ; sometimes a dead frog is used.

Tewkesbury is famous for its Severn Salmon and Elevers but there is also a great deal of coarse fishing available in both the River Severn and the River Avon. The Tewkesbury Popular Angling association, which has been in existence for over fifty years, rents are manorial rights from the Council and holds all the fishing rights from corporation land in the Borough.

Tickets for fishing cost 10/- per year or 1/- per day from the Associations Water Bailiff, Mr. H. Pope, at his house in King John's Cottages.

Private fishing tickets are obtainable from Messrs. Bathursts, the Mythe, who hold fishing rights for some distance in and near the town.

Severn River Board Fishing Licenses are obtainable from Mr. McHugh, 117 High Street, or 45 High Street at a cost of 3/- per season.

Angling.

Tewkesbury is famous for its elvers but there is also a great deal of coarse fishing, which consists of bream, chub, eels and gudgeon. Lampreys are still to be caught, these were considered a grear delicacy which king and nobles could introduce at their tables. Henry the first died from eating too freely of the lampreys from the Severn.

The Tewkesbury Popular Angling Association which has been in existence for over sixty years, rents the manorial rights from the Council and holds all fishing rights from Corporation land in the Borough. Tickets for fishing are obtainable from the Association's Water Bailiff who will collect fees on the river banks. There is a small stretch of free fishing for the benefit of youngsters.

Membership of the Association is open to residents only. The use of hemp seed is prohibited in waters rented by them.

          This association, which comprises nearly fifty clubs with an aggregate of about 5,000 members, had its fourth annual contest on the banks of the Severn at Tewkesbury yesterday. As far as attendance goes it was by far the most successful gathering that has been held. The special train, timed to leave New Street Station at 7.30, carried 1,050 passengers, being either members of the asociation or their friends. In addition to this 200 more had to be provided for by a later train. The weather was delightful for this excursion, but had it not been so bright it would have been more favourable for the special object in view. Tewkesbury was reeached at 9.30, and, after sauntering through the streets of the old borough, with its quaint overhanging, half-timbered old houses, the competitors proceeded to the Mythe Bridge. A bugle call announced that the officials were in readiness, with bags of numbers corresponding with the pegged numbers on the river bank. The space allotted to each competitor varied from six to twelve yards, according to the suitability of the stand. The object of the contest is to foster legitimate angling, and to bring the members together and encourage others to join in this healthful outdoor recreation. There were fifty prizes to the value of £30. Angling commenced at 12.20 and continued for two hours, the number of competitore being 535. These were divided into fourteen sections, each numbering thirty eight, and being in the charge of a member of the committee. The referees were Mr.T.Coles (president), and Messrs. Bass, Dance and Gumley (vice presidents). The headquarters were at the Anchor Hotel, wither the bags were conveyed at the termination of the event. The weighiing in occupied the committee about two hours.

(The top weight was just under three pounds.)

         Some fishermen at Tewkesbury having, a Sunday evening or two since caught a fine salmon in the Severn, weighing above 15lbs., determined to detain their prize in the water until they could find a liberal purchaser; a man was accordingly despatched to Cheltenham the next morning, and having discovered where there was to be a large dinner party in the evening, he found a willing chapman for the dainty fish, at 3s. 6d. a-pound. A servant on horseback was accordingly despatched in haste to Tewkesbury: on his airrival, the fish was hauled into the boat, and the " knock upon the head," which had heretofore served as the death blow to thousands of the finny tribe, being given, the poor captive was drawn forth, for the purpose of being placed in a basket, which stood ready to receive him, when, lo! it was found that the blow he received had failed of the desired efiiect; for, with a sudden spring, the salmon jumped from their hands, and in a twinkling found himself at large in his native element; while the poor fishermen stood almost as much aghast as did the founder of the feast, at which he was to have been devoured, when the servant returned to Cheltenham
with the direful news.