INTRODUCTION. 23 



Under the Lea, the largest tributary of the Thames 

 in our district, I shall include the Stort and its other 

 feeders. For this river, there are many authorities, 

 from Izaac Walton down to the later lists by Lieut. 

 R. B. Croft, R.N., published in the Transactions 

 of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society (August, 

 1882). 



From the last-named authority, we learn that in 

 the Lea and its tributaries may be found a number of 

 species greater than that inhabiting any other river 

 in the county. It may be that its proximity to the 

 metropolis has induced enthusiastic anglers, with whom 

 it is a favourite hunting ground, to introduce species 

 not occurring naturally. In the paper quoted, four 

 species the Barbel, Chubb, Ruff, and Bleak are men- 

 tioned, which I have not taken in any other Essex 

 river. The Barbel is, however, to be found in the 

 lake at Dagenham, and the Chubb has lately been 

 introduced into the Blackwater. 



Lieut. Croft, quoting from Chauncey's History of 

 Hertfordshire (1700) and also from Farmer's History 

 of Walt ham Abbey (1735), mentions that the Salmon, 

 formerly abundant in this river, probably became 

 extinct there before the end of last century.* Under 

 these circumstances, this species must still be included 



* The Salmon was, however, certainly taken in the River Lea well into the 

 present century (see p. 103). 



