198 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



DISAPPEARING FISH 



The reason for the lessening, and virtual dis- 

 appearance, indeed, of the Grey Mullet has been 

 given : the pollution as well as the alteration of its 

 habitat and haunts. Why the Mackerel has altered 

 the time of its coming is difficult to account for. 

 The Salmon long ago disappeared from our waters, 

 for reasons that are obvious. Sir Thomas Browne 1 

 observed, "Salmon no common fish in our rivers, 

 though many are taken in the Owse." He speaks 

 of fifteen being taken near Norwich at Christmas- 

 time, four years before writing his book. One 

 was found in a flooded meadow near Norwich 

 on 1st December 1873. Rarely small examples 

 are taken off shore. Codlings used to crowd up 

 the Yare into Breydon up till the late 'eighties, 

 but have since been scarce there. Large Perch, 

 for some reason, are now seldom met with in the 

 Broads; whether the local race has deteriorated, 

 or large Perch are not so easily enticed to de- 

 struction as formerly, remains a matter to speculate 

 upon. 



1 Natural History of Norfolk) by Sir Thomas Browne, who died in 

 1682. 



