Notes on the Fish and Fisheries of the Severn, by Francis Day, 
C.LE. and F.L.S. 
The following remarks upon “the Fish and Fisheries of the 
> consist of merely a few notes upon a subject which 
Severn’ 
has always been of great interest to myself, for it was in this 
river many years ago that I commenced practically studying 
the habits of fish first by capturing minnows, next gudgeons, 
chub, roach, dace and flounders, and lastly, trout, grayling and 
salmon fry. This was at a period before navigation weirs had 
been constructed, or the waters of the Severn had been deemed 
fair spoil for distribution to townships situated in other water- 
sheds, and merely one miniature steamer had been seen in its 
Salopian portion.* Prior to leaving Shrewsbury school, the 
late Professor Rymer Jones, F.R.S., had pointed out to me the 
difficulties which then existed respecting the early life of the 
salmon, and I had made investigations into the reputed dis- 
tinction between salmon fry and samlets, and observed an 
autumn migration of smolts. Although my angling days were 
interrupted for many years by a residence in India, I again 
find myself in the valley of the Severn, and returning to the 
investigation of the fishes of this river, their enemies, and 
their friends, and what it is that tends to their increase or 
decrease. During nearly thirty years absence, some changes 
in the fauna have taken place which forcibly strike one by 
whom they are suddenly perceived, for the gradual alteration 
in fisheries is more observed by the fisherman who obtains his 
livelihood from netting the waters than the general public, 
while he is the last person who generally brings their condition 
= When the members of the Club were going up the Severn in the 
steamer from Gloucester, small fish were several times seen cast upon the 
river’s bank by ‘“‘ the wash” occasioned by the screw. 
