86 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



return. The Parrett is scarcely a salmon river, and 

 the estuary is nothing more or less than a natural 

 salmon trap. I have never heard that salmon have 

 been caught in stake nets higher up the Somerset- 

 shire coast, probably because on leaving the estuary 

 of the Parrett they soon get a taste of Bristol filth. 

 The Avon discharges its dirty waters into the Bristol 

 Channel, and, to avoid the filth, the fish take a 

 course along mid-channel to the Monmouthshire 

 coast, along which they pick their way to their own 

 respective homes. I would suggest that the one 

 possible chance of ascertaining the identity of salmon 

 caught in the Parrett would be to mark a number 

 of Severn, Wye, and Usk fish, then the capture of 

 any one of these would be quite sufficient for the 

 purpose. 



Taking all things into consideration, we might 

 almost be led to believe that the feeding-grounds 

 of the Severn, Wye, and Usk salmon are situated 

 not very far from the Somersetshire coast. Of course 

 this is mere guess-work, and although it might be 



