CLEAR WATERS 



VII 

 THE DEVONSHIRE AVON 



SOME of the best rivers in Devonshire have been 

 greatly damaged of recent years by the 

 increase of salmon, which is a vast pity. For 

 trout give more continuous sport to a great many more 

 people, and if they do not furnish the fevered quarter 

 and half hours provided by the king of fishes, there is 

 more varied interest as well as more science in the 

 pursuit of them. That beautiful stream the Torridge, 

 now, I believe, an excellent salmon river, is a case in 

 point. Its neighbour the Taw has fallen away de- 

 plorably and is hardly worth fishing, so I am told, 

 below Eggesford. Of the Exe at least as bad things 

 are said. One wonders whether they will make, as I 

 venture to think, the same mistake with the Tamar, 

 and destroy probably the best as well as the largest 

 trouting river in the county. I have fished a great 

 many of the Devon streams both in boyhood, youth, 

 and middle-age, and have a nodding acquaintance 

 with, I think, almost all of them, which, I admit, is 

 making a rather bold claim. For scenic distinction 

 I take my hat off to the Dart as the queen of Devon 

 rivers, a sufficiently proud position. But do not let 

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