In the previous article I mentioned two fishing books in which Sheppard work appeared. Today I'm looking at two others.
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| The Constant Fisherman - Cover The left hand picture is by Bernard Venables |
THE CONSTANT FISHERMAN by Major H. E. Morritt, London: Adam & Charles Black, 1952
There exist, perhaps, short cuts to the alphabet of fishing, but none to the fish lore which is what really matters, and on which success depends. The acquisition of fish lore can only be the result of many hours of complete happiness spent in a variety of different but always entrancing surroundings. All these experiences possess their own background, their own truth and excitement, and must add something to the cumulative completion of the fisherman. Thus the successes and failures of seventy years, not only in the British Isles but in countries as far afield as Iceland, Kenya, Norway and South Africa, contained in this little book should be of assistance to fellow addicts.
The delightful cover shows the scene where the "Goddess of chance smiled on" the author as he helped his son Robin, understand how to catch at Rokeby - a mythical place to which the book is dedicated. The foreword by the author Swallows and Amazons knew the author and talks of Sir Walter Scott and the author's Great-Uncle Morritt. The chapters are Rokeby, South Africa, Ireland, Wales, Mackerel at Aberdovey, Chirk, Norway, Kenya, Iceland and Rokeby again.
Sheppard's illustrations are gorgeous.
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| Frontispiece - "Catching the trout for Robin p. 85 |
Just stop and look at the trees, bushes, and river as well as the weight of Robin on the rock as well as the tension of Morritt's line tugging at the trout.
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| p. 11 "Landing him with my hat" |
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| p. 27 "Fish circling as if they were show specimens in an aquarium" |
The image on page 27 of trout circling is taken from the description of the author who states "I imagined that I had discovered the most superlative trout fishing in the British Isles".
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| p. 59 "Coaxing the pig" |
Page 59 is unusual and you may not expect the illustration in a book on fishing, but the author explains this was a sight he encountered of a patient Norwegian girl leading - never driving - a pig to the farm, from the boat it had arrived on. A delightful Sheppard image.
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| p.65 shows the fisherman near a startling sign! |
Page 65 is based in Kenya and the Club sign "Beware of the rhinoceros" is Morritt's first time of taking into account pachyderms in the pool in which he fished. he didn't see any rhinos but did catch three "good rainbow trout".
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| p.89 Otter killing salmon |
The last image shows an otter catching a salmon in which the author talks about his son's questioning why things have to die or be killed.
Major Henry Edward Morritt also wrote Fishing Ways and Wiles (published in London by Methuen and Company in 1929).
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| Hampton on Pike Fishing - cover borrowed from Abebooks |
HAMPTON ON PIKE FISHING by J[ohn] Fitzgerald Hampton London & Edinburgh:W & R. Chambers Limited, 1947
Much of this work appeared initially in Angling and The Fishing Gazette as mentioned in Hampton's preface, where we learn he was based in Taplow, Buckinghamshire at the time of writing. Just like the other fishing books by Chambers mentioned previously this is a bit of a 'mish-mash' when it comes to illustrations but at least we have some gorgeous illustrations by Raymond Sheppard.
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| Frontispiece |
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| p.25 "The hulking female is generally attended by three or four prospective consorts (p. 15)" |
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| p.39 "Their main diet ...some eels (p.31)" |
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| p.61 "Competition between the males (p.118)" |
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| p.82 A pike slinking on the bottom between weeds |
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| p.89 "Swoops relentlessly upon the individualist (p.130)" |
There's a wonderful story on page 144 which I've taken the liberty to reproduce below:
Fishing one day in a large lake in Fryksdal in Wermeland, when they had proceeded a considerable distance from the shore, the fisherman suddenly pulled the boat right round, and in evident alarm commenced rowing with all his might towards the shore. One of the party asked the man what he meant by this strange conduct. "The sjo-troll, or water sprite, is here again", replied he, at the same time pointing with his finger far out to seaward. Everyone in the boat then saw in the distance something greatly resembling the horns of an elk, or a reindeer, progressing rapidly on the surface of the water. "Row towards it," exclaimed Lekander; "the deuce take me if I don't give the sjo-troll a shot; I am not afraid of it." It was with difficulty, however, that Modin (the fisherman) could be prevailed upon once more to alter the course of the boat, and to make for the apparition. When they neared the object sufficiently, Lekander, who was standing gun in hand in the bow of the boat, fired, fortunately with deadly effect. On taking possession of the prize they found it to be a huge pike, to whose back the skeleton of an eagle was attached. The fish, or rather the bones of the bird, had been seen by numbers for several years together, and universally went under the above designation of sjo-troll.
The flesh of the eagle had rotted away and the skeleton, completely overgrown with algae, from a distance resembled a small bush
The only other book I could find by Hampton was Modern angling bibliography : books published on angling, fisheries, fish culture, from 1881 to 1945 by J. Fitzgerald Hampton. London: Herbert Jenkins, 1947.
What do we know about Hampton? Not much!
International Authors & Writers Who's Who 1977, lists him under the name Jack Fitz-Gerald Hampton, address 29 St. James Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2NX. They give his place of birth as "Hampton, Middx."...Educated London School of Economics & Political Science". Besides his book titles they list him as "Broadcaster, Norwegian Radio, BBC Wales. Hons: Silver Medalist Int. Culinary Exhib., Frankfurt, Germany; FHCI; ARSH."
The Writers Directory 1984-1986: "Hampton, Jack Fitz-Gerald. British, b. 1909. Business/Trade/Industry, Sports/Physical Education/Keeping fit. Lectr., Walsall Sch. of Art, and Sutton Coldfield Coll. of Further Education. Publs: Hampton on Pike Fishing, 1947; Modern Angling Bibliography, 1947; Catering Establishments and Prevention of Food Poisoning, 1952; Factory Canteens and Their Management, 1952; Canteen Cookery, 1953; Club Management and Control, 1956. Add: 14 Speedwell Rd., Edgbaston, Birmingham B5, England."
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| Leader Magazine cover for 26 November 1949 |
Leader Magazine, which was published 8 January1929 - 14 October1944 and then incorporated into Picture Post, had a lovely review of the above Hampton on Pike Fishing.
The 26 November 1949 issue contained three images from the book illustrated by Sheppard and I've reproduced them again here with a selection by Jack Hargreaves called "Profile of the pike"
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| Leader Magazine 26 November 1949 p. 28 |
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| Leader Magazine 26 November 1949 p. 29 |
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