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The Amwell Magna Fishery - established in 1841 - is said to be the oldest fly fishing club in the UK. This page explores the roots of the Avon Fishing Association which is thought to have been formed in 1885.
In 1979 Mr J.B.S. Notley wrote about his experiences on the river Avon. He stated:
"In 1885 my father contacted H.J.B. Turner of Bickham and H.L. Jenkins of Clannacombe, near Bantham, and the three of them got in touch with the riparian owners most of whom agreed to allow them to rent the fishing rights. They then formed the Avon Fishing Association, whose first President was F.J. Cornish-Bowden of Blackhall Avonwick, and whose first Chairman was my father, the Rev. I.T.B. Notley of Diptford."
But there may have been an earlier association on the Avon. In Totnes on 1st December 1860 the Royal Commission on Salmon Fisheries (England and Wales) heard evidence about the state of salmon stocks and fishing methods on the Devonshire River Avon. I am gateful to Gordon Bielby for sending me a copy of the Minutes of this Royal Commission. Two witnesses referred to an angling association on the river in 1860. Relevant parts of their testimony are reproduced below.
The first
witness, Rev. H. Hare lived "on the banks of the Avon", had
"more than a mile of the river boundary" and was "perfectly acquainted
with the whole of the Avon"In reply to the question "Is there any poaching on the river?", The Rev. H. Hare stated (minute 15,123) "The moment the floods go back, and the river gets clear, it is infested by spearers from one end to the other; but no one interferes. I should mention that there is a private association of gentlemen who protect the river for angling; but I am told that when a man is detected by the keeper, he can do nothing, there being no public prosecutor. He is told, you can do nothing unless the landowner chooses to prosecute." (italics added)
Rev. Hare was asked "Will not the landowners co-operate?". He replied (minute 15,124) "It is a very unpleasant thing to do, and nobody does it. I have more than a mile of the river boundary, but I have never done anything of the sort. I do not fish myself, but I wish to see it preserved. Salmon spearing will never be prevented, unless the police or some public officers are authorized to take any man who is found poaching before the magistrates, and get him fined. I would be glad to do it, if others would co-operate with me; but one does not like to put oneself forward, and incurr all the expenses and odium of prosecuting. On Sunday at his time of year, in the course of three or four miles, you may meet with 10 or 20 fellows spearing salmon.
The witness was asked "Are many members of he association landowners?" to which he replied (minute 15,125) "Not many; the association is more for trout.
The next witness - Mr. Thomas Harris - describes himself as the honorary secretary of the fishing association.
He was asked by Sr William Jardine who chaired the Royal Commission "Are you acquainted with the river Avon?". Mr. Harris replied "Yes, I am honorary secretary to an association for fishing in the Avon; we fish from the weir that Mr. Ellis (a previous witness) speaks of, some seven or eight miles up the river or trout, and we would catch salmon if we had a chance. I belive four were caught last year by men who were fortunate enough to fall in with them."
This witness then goes on to argue that the
close
season for salmon which was from 15th January to 6th May was
unsatisfactory because he had bought fish up to the 15th January that
were full of spawn and quite unfit to eat. He comments "It has been
said by a member of the medical profession that nothing can be more
prejudicial to health than the fish sold from the Avon after the month
of
November". He goes on to complain that "The weir at Marsh mills has
been raised very considerably long since I can remember; it has been
raised to so as to keep the water running down to the mill dam..." it
is quite impossible, except in high flood, for fish to get over the
weir." He then remarks that "20 years ago we used to take salmon peal (sea trout) above
the weir, and now we never see such a thing, and that I attribute to
the weir having been raised. The fish spawn below the weir because they
cannot get up, I have seen them there repeatedly." (Italics added).In addition Grimble (The Salmon Rivers of England and Wales, Chapter 8, page 51, 2nd Ed.) wrote:
"In 1866 a Board of Conservators was formed, in which the Erme proprietors did not join. This Board was in addition to a local Angling Association already formed, and, combining together, they attacked the poaching evil with such vigour that prosecutions and convictions were so plentiful that at length the wrongdoers desisted, when they found that they could no longer carry on the industry with impunity."
Conclusions
- three reliable sources (Rev. Hare, Harris and Grimble) state that a fishing association existed on the Avon before 1885
- the latest possible date for the formation of this association is 1860 - the year the Royal Commission interviewed Hare and Harris in Totnes
- the association was not simply a collection of landowners; Rev. Hare stated that not many members were landowners
- the association was well organised - Mr. Thomas Harris was the honorary secretary.
- the association fished on a considerable length of water - "seven or eight miles"
- association members fished mainly for trout
- an association might have existed as early as 1840 because of the word "we" in Mr. Harris' comment "20 years ago we used to take salmon peal (sea trout) above the weir". Was he referring to the association or people who later formed the association? I have no evidence to settle this question.