CHAP. v.J THE RECENT ACTS FOR ENGLAND. 219 



resort to artificial nurture and protection, in the course of three 

 years the Severn would be, speaking roundly, a mine of fish 

 wealth. A series of ponds capable of breeding 1,000,000 

 fish might, I think, be constructed for a sum of 2000 ; there 

 ought of course to be two reception-ponds, so that a brood 

 could be hatched annually. [See plan in "Fish Culture.''] 

 Thus, in a year's time, half a million of well-grown smolts 

 would be thrown into the river from the ponds alone, a moiety 

 of which in the course of ten weeks would be saleable grilse ! 

 Next year these would be doubled, and added to the quantity 

 naturally bred would soon stock even a larger river than the 

 Severn. There can be no doubt of the practicability of such a 

 scheme. What has been achieved in Ireland and at Stor- 

 montfield can surely be accomplished in England. An ample 

 return would be obtained for the capital sunk, and in all 

 probability a large profit besides. 



A recent report of the Inspectors of the English Fisheries 

 embraces a summary of the condition of ninety rivers ; and I 

 can gather from it that considerable progress has already been 

 made in arresting the decay of these valuable properties, and 

 that there is every prospect of the best rivers being speedily 

 re-peopled with salmon to an extent that will secure them, 

 under proper regulations, from again falling into so low a con- 

 dition. A careful perusal of this report shows that fixed 

 nets have been nearly abolished ; that portions of rivers not 

 hitherto accessible to fish have been made so, passes and gaps 

 having been created by hundreds. Poachers have been caught 

 and punished with great success ; and, according to a review 

 of the report in the Field, a journal which is well versed in 

 fishery matters, " salmon have been seen in large quantities 

 in places where they have not been seen these forty years." 



In reference to the Act for the regulation of the salmon- 

 fisheries of England and Wales of 1861, and its supplement of 

 1865, a good deal can be said as to the increase of salmon, 



