FISHES Beaumont of Astwick ; and the stock has been frequently replenished by fry artificially hatched. Mr. Pope of Biggleswade formed an association for stocking the Ivel with trout about twenty years or more ago, which hatched out several thousands of fry annually. It was found that the fish thrived well and grew to a good size — he himself took one spinning of 8f lb. — but owing to the fact that they would not rise to the fly, having so much other natural food, the enterprise was abandoned about fourteen years ago. A trout was taken at Stopford Mill, weighing exactly 8 lb., in 1899. Preserved by J. H. Wright of Clifton. 22 April, 1899. A man caught a trout in my meadows this day just 2 feet long ; he had taken two previously, one 2 lb., the other 3J lb. The former we guessed at 5 lb. Josiah King of Langford. A trout of 3 1 lb. was taken in the eel trap at Cardington Mill, February 18, 1880. The Bedford Angling Club also attempted the introduction of trout into the Ouse in the year 1875, when 3,000 young fry were placed in the river at Biddenham, and again in 188 1-2, when 600 yearling trout {Sa/niofario), varying from 4 to 7 inches in length, were turned in at Kempston and Renhold ; but, probably owing to the abundance of pike, the attempt was not attended with much success. Two trout were taken in the eel trap at Milton Mill in April, 1896, weighing between 2 and 3 lb. each. One of 5 lb., length 22^ inches, is in the possession of Mr. George of Tempsford, taken August 22, 1892, below Roxton Sluice. Trout were common in the stream flowing from Luton Hoo, where they were strictly preserved, as well as in the river Lea more or less generally. Barbel have also been introduced into the Ouse by the Bedford Angling Club. In the year 1876 thirty-one fish, weighing from 1 lb. to 5 lb. each, from the Thames, presented by the Maidenhead Associa- tion, were put in at Kempston ; and again in 1888 thirty-eight barbel from the Trent, varying in weight from 3 lb. to 10 lb., were put in at Clapham and Renhold. These fish appear to have bred and distributed themselves both above and below Bedford. One was taken at Sharn- brook in 1898 weighing 12 lb. Others have been taken as far below Bedford as St. Neots ; and on October 4, 1901, a barbel of 6| lb., captured by an otter, was found on the bank of the Ouse at St. Neots. A barbel weighing 6 lb. was taken at Sharnbrook, May, 1881. A few tench of the golden variety were presented to the Bedford Angling Club by the Duke of Bedford in 1 874, and were placed in a pond at Clapham Park by permission of the late James Howard, Esq., M.P., in the hope that they would breed; in 1876 they were found in their original number and put into the Ouse, but there was no appearance of any young fry. Carp from ponds in the county have also been put into the Ouse, 99
