The Association did a certain amount of stocking from time to time with the object of improving the size of the trout in the river. The earliest record is of 500 yearling 'Salmo Levenensis" obtained in 1887 from the Howietown Fishery, Stirling, and delivered free at Milnthorpe Station at the price of 40/- a hundred. The fish arrived at 4-25 p.m. on 5th April and were all in the river by 6 p.m. In November, 1897, 1000 2-year-old trout were purchased from the Wyresdale Fishery for £30 plus freight, and in 1902 a further 250 trout from the same source were put into the river. In 1910 and 1914. 700 and 300 yearling Ribble trout were introduced, and in 1922 300 yearling trout, said to be of a free rising Danish strain, were obtained from the hatchery at Armathwaite.

At their meeting in December, 1891, the Board of Conservators considered a petition, signed by 38 persons, which asked the Conservators to erect a salmon pass on the Bela at "Beetham Force." The matter was referred to the owner, Miss Wilson of Dallam Tower, who "entirely objected to a pass being made and would not consent to its being made as it would ruin the river as a Trout Stream." We owe a great deal to Miss Wilson.

Severe pollution was caused by Waterhouse Paper Mill in 1893, '94 and '97 and many fish, including salmon and seatrout, were killed. The Association was concerned as they had the fishing in Dallam Park at that time. It is interesting to note that Messrs. Cropper & Co. of Burneside were pointed out to the manager of Waterhouse Mill as an example to be copied. They "had adopted measures for two years past which to a great extent had kept fibre and waste out of the river."

Correspondence with the Railway Company about the Association's wish to place gangways each side of the river under the railways, started in 1889. An agreement was made with the Company in 193. This was added to in 1914 when. subject to other conditions, the Company allowed us to fish the river over their new land south of the railway bridge for the same annual payment. The first mention of a footbridge is in 1890.Ii is recorded in the minutes that "The footbridge consisting of the old ship's mast being very much weakened by decay etc.. the Secretary was empowered to contribute a reasonable sum to its maintenance or renewal." There is no indication where this footbridge was situated. In 1899 it was resolved that a new footbridge be placed over the river "to be above and near to the dub used by Mr. Webster for sheep washing." In 1907 a footbridge was put over the river "at old barn," i.e. Holme Beck end, and in 1908 another was built "below Oaks stream." In 1910 the plank bridge over Holme Beck was renewed, but the date it was first built is not recorded. The shelter now referred to as the "bottom hut" was put up in 1905 at a cost of £4, and that between Holme Beck end and Wheatfield Park in 1914 for £3. 15s. Od. The Association has always had trouble with its bridges. In January 1922 there is the entry "Bridge near Beetham washed down again." In November 1923 "three footbridges over the river were broken down by an extraordinary flood, the highest water for 40 years." The planks were recoverd by Stainton. Again, in November 1927 "Three footbridges washed down by tremendous flood said to be a record. Also planks at Holme Beck and Railway Bridge were displaced and two shelters knocked over."


With the end of the old Minute Book we enter a period too fresh to be of much interest now. This epoch has so far been marked by two destructive influences which gravely threaten the full enjoyment of our sport. One of these is Libby's milk factory at Milnthorpe which is a constant anxiety to us. The other is the Lancashire River Board, which with its policy of canalising the stream and throwing the beck bottoms out on to the land, not only ruins the fishing but causes a succession of floods and droughts affecting a wider range of interests than ours as an Angling Association. Let us hope that a hundred years hence some member, conning through our present day Minute Book, will be able to record how the dangers and difficulties which now confront us were happily resolved.

R. F. C. B-C.
January, 1958.