FISHES. 241 



year. In days long gone by, Salmon and their kind, had 

 an almost entirely uninterrupted passage from the sea to 

 the spawning grounds, in the rivers Vyrnwy and Severn, 

 in the counties of Salop and Montgomery ; comparatively 

 few nets were set, or used in the estuary to catch the 

 fish as they "ran;" chemical and sewage pollution did 

 not then cause them to turn back as it is now supposed 

 to do ; the ancient barges kept free the channel 

 for the travellers ; and lastly, there were few weirs or 

 other obstacles to check or bar their progress. It is 

 partly owing to these changes, but more particularly to 

 the excessive netting which takes place in the estuary, 

 that Salmon are now so scarce in our locality; and a 

 similar state of things has been brought about in other 

 rivers. It is therefore not unreasonable to conclude 

 that, as Salmon have practically disappeared from the 

 higher reaches of the Severn, Sea Trout, through like 

 causes, are not now to be found in the rivers in this 

 County. The following description of Sea Trout, by the 

 Rev. W. Houghton, should enable anyone who captures 

 one in local waters or elsewhere, to identify the 

 fish : " Colour of the body above lateral line, dark- 

 bluish, lighter on sides, belly silver white, the black X 

 shaped spots on this fish are generally very distinct, for 

 the most part they are above the lateral line, but occa- 

 sionally there are a few below ; the gill cover is usually 

 marked with a few round black spots ; adipose fin dark, 

 free from any red tinge ; the scales are round and small, 

 and easily detached ; tail nearly square." The same 

 author describes Sea Trout as being " great and pertina- 

 cious travellers," and quoting from Giinther, he says 

 they reach a length of about three feet. 



