114 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



thrown into the river. And last, though not least, the 

 valuable article called sewage is still put into the river, to 

 an extent causing a loss, in my belief, of more than a 

 million pounds a year to South Lancashire. At 

 Wrexham, and many other places, it yields a clear 

 profit to the sewage farm of more than £io per 

 acre per year. The increase in the revenue of land 

 so improved in South Lancashire, to the extent of twenty 

 miles by twelve, would exceed a million a-year, and the 

 sewage of the town would improve such an area very 

 materially, without nuisance from over-irrigation. Science 

 has so far advanced as to show that it is profitable to 

 keep sewage out of the rivers, and legislation itnist proceed 

 to prevent the abuse of the water-ways of the country. 

 Then we may hope that the Irwell will again be a bright 

 stream with trout and other fish in it, swallows and other 

 birds over it, patient anglers not disappointed of sport 

 beside it, and the poisoned area along the whole length of 

 the stream restored to its original atmospheric purity. 

 Smoke may be as effectually done away with as other 

 wastes have been. Then we may hope also for other 

 improvements not so remotely connected with these as 

 may at first sight appear ; and as the filthy gas-tar has 

 given us the beautiful aniline colours and the valuable 

 carbolic acid, so other wastes maybe utilized, until every- 

 thing is put to its best use; and finally, through the 

 operation of the much-despised utilitarianism and trades' 

 profits, we may arrive at the highest attainable pitch of 

 civilization, when our towns will be lively with vegetation, 

 our streams replete with fish, the air resounding with 



