217 
of its being captured there. Minnows have largely decreased 
of late years in the upper waters, but are found to even below 
Tewkesbury weir. The bream appeared in the lower waters of 
the Severn, and extended into the Teme after the construction 
of the Tewkesbury weir, which seems to have been favourable 
to its dissemination. The loach is another fish which has 
considerably decreased of late years. 
The most casual observer must admit that this river, with- 
out any difficulty, would carry a very much larger stock of fish 
than it at present possesses; certainly of such anadromous 
forms as do not feed while ascending to breed. The food 
existing in this stream may be animal or vegetable, and is all 
more or less influenced by pollutions, which consequently besides 
occasionally directly killing the fish by their poisonous character, 
may, if less virulent, merely starve them by destroying their 
food. Should it be intended to fully re-stock this river with 
fish, it would become necessary to first decide what forms 
should be employed for this purpose. Those which are avail- 
able are anadromous species, as the salmon, sea trout, and their 
allies indigenous to these islands. Or exotic forms, as those 
from the United States or elsewhere. Non-migratory fresh- 
water fish, as those termed coarse fish, or indigenous trout, and 
grayling; or else forms obtained from other countries. Before 
it is decided to go to the expense of augmenting the stock of 
salmon, it would not be amiss to ask whether such will be 
accomplished by all the riparian proprietors and the fishermen 
of public and tidal waters, acting conjointly, and if it becomes 
a success, how are the fisheries in future to be carried on? If 
the stock of salmon were largely augmented (judging by the 
past), would the up-country proprietor be likely to have more 
fish than he has at present; would fly-fishing for salmon again 
be a recreation on the Severn; or would the increased supply 
merely go to the fishermen of public and tidal waters. 
In attempting to re-stock the river with salmon, the question 
- would also arise as to what is the best course to pursue? It 
would be possible to have eggs collected in the river by a com- 
-petent person, and then sent to some fishery establishment to 
