FISHES AND FISHING. 59 



the principal fishmongers in Gloucester, and 250 in 

 another three days. During the month of July the 

 same tradesman's receipts of fish averaged a ton a 

 week. This is entirely owing to the steps adopted 

 by the Fisheries Association for the preservation of 

 the river in fence time, and the removal of fixed traps 

 in the lower part of the river in the close months. 

 Close time commenced on Friday, and we hope that 

 the fishermen will see that it is their interest strictly 

 to observe it." 



Seeing these advantages of the ^Severn salmon 

 fishery, the credit of which I believe is very much to 

 be attributed to Mr. Boccius, and with the evidence 

 that the Thames salmon fishery was formerly as good, 

 it appears worthy of a trial to alter the weirs, and 

 restock 4 the river with young salmon. 



I have had the pleasure and advantage of a con 

 versation with Mr. Boccius, and he assures me if the 

 weirs were altered, so as to allow the salmon to pass 

 up and down the Thames freely, that he will under 

 take to restock that river with salmon. It will show 

 great neglect in those who have the real conservancy 

 of that river, or have the interests and comforts of the 

 community at heart, if the attempt to carry out this 

 desirable proposal be not adopted, to which he says 

 he can show that the state of the river from Ted- 

 dington downwards, and the traffic of the pool, 



