280 BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 
thousands of the latter were destroyed for no purpose whatever, 
A close-time, accordingly, was instituted from April 1st to 
September rst, with the entire concurrence of the fishermen, 
who find a difficulty in conveying these delicate fish to the 
market in warm weather. The result of this regulation has 
proved very satisfactory. In the seven months from Septem- 
ber rst, 1900, to March 31st, 1901, the four fishermen 
employed by the association took smelts to the value of 
upwards of £300. 
Smelts formerly afforded very profitable fishing in the tidal 
waters of the Thames, but were driven away by the wholesale 
pollution which destroyed the nobler salmon. Now, however, 
that the current has been purified by the joint action of the 
London County Council and the Thames Conservancy, smelts 
once more ascend in large shoals as high as Teddington. 
There and at Richmond they have afforded sport in three or 
four successive years to juvenile anglers with a red worm ; 
nevertheless, smelts are scarcely entitled to rank as game fish. 
