A model of a 50lb salmon was caught in 1928 but which escaped being mentioned in the prestigious Domesday Book of Giant Salmon by Fred Buller, will be sold at Bonhams next Henley sale on Saturday 19th July, 2008.
Mounted by P.D. Mallock of Perth the finely painted model of this great salmon is presented in a mahogany framed barrel case together with gut eyed Dusty Miller fly. The legend reads: Killed by Major Frank J. Pullar, on 10th July 1928, in Upper Eel, Brig Pool, Stobhall, River Tay. The salmon is 50 ¼ inches in length and 26 ¼ inches in girth with a weight 50lbs, Sex Male and age five and quarter years. It was taken on a 2/0 Dusty Miller fly in a time of 30 minutes. The model is estimated to sell for £5,000-7,000.
A reference to this fish is made by Crawford Little in his book ‘The Great Salmon Beats’ published by David Charles 1989, but unfortunately this specimen is not included in the newly published book ‘The Doomsday book of Giant Salmon’ by Fred Buller. But the Fishing Gazette and the Perthshire Advertiser of 18 July 1928 carries the article ‘A Beauty From the Tay’ showing a photo and a short note about the Salmon, For many years this salmon hung in The Pirnhall Inn, Stirlingshire.
Another mounted fish item for sale at Henely has a celebrity link. A group of six roach in a bow-front case showing a streambed setting with reeds and grasses estimated to sell for £1,000-1,500, were caught by Mr. W. G. Mills (1858-1953) in the Waltham Abbey area. He was the first cousin of the legendary cricketer Dr.W. G. Grace.
There are also a number of fine fishing creels: The most fascinating is a fine 19th century creel that holds a story far more interesting than any fish it might once have held. This heavily stitched leather pot bellied creel was owned by William Randell who attended a school for the deaf and dumb in Brighton where his future wife was also a pupil. Research has revealed that William Randell was born in Bideford, Devon in 1855 and educated in Brighton, a boarding school for the deaf and dumb where his future wife, Edith White was also a pupil. The census of 1891 declares William, 36, Edith 34, three children and 5 staff living by their own means at Hestholme, a house very close to the river Yore (Ure) between Aysgarth and Swinithwaite, Yorkshire. William died in 1905.
This wonderful object has a white painted interior and a brass hinged leather lid embossed with a sun burst pattern, fitted with brass hasp and semi-circular brass plaque engraved with a previous owners details: W. Randell Aysgarth Yorkshire. The main body fitted with five brass plaques dated 1890-94 with details of trout and grayling caught in the respective years and a decorative shaped brass latch. It is estimated to sell for £6,000 to £8,000.
The current owner of this fine leather creel bought it as a young lad, aged 10 in 1951, in a summer fete in the Rutland area with the money (20 shillings) he had just won for collecting the most ‘cabbage white’ butterflies. (A popular practice in English villages) his father kept it on his behalf until nearing the end of his life in 1970, when he reminded the owner of the story and returned the creel to him.
For the astute bidder with an eye for the best there is a Hardy 1891 Pattern Brass “Perfect” Fly reel 4 1/4in the winding plate with ivory handle and Rod in Hand trademark. It is estimated to sell for £2,000-4,000.
