THE BEST KINDS OF FISH FOE EIVERS. 121 



the fry are killed when they reach the foul water, I 

 am quite unable to say ; but I have little doubt that 

 when the Thames is once more purified " eel-fare " 

 will in time again recur to it. Eel fisheries are in 

 many places very valuable. The fishery on the 

 Erne realizes many hundreds of pounds a year. Any 

 eulogy as to the excellence of the sharp-nosed eel 

 for food is needless. There are three kinds of eels 

 known in England : the broad-nosed, the sharp- 

 nosed, and the snig. The former is a coarse worth- 

 less fish, but is not very plentiful ; the last is a very 

 local species, found chiefly in the Hampshire Avon. 



Flounders for the most part are not taken in any 

 very great quantity above the tide-way, and may 

 therefore be encouraged as far as possible. They are 

 an admirable table-fish, however they may be dressed. 

 A Thames flounder is held a special delicacy ; large 

 quantities were formerly caught from Battersea to 

 Hammersmith. Of late years, however, the sewage 

 has affected even them, and they are scarcer. In 

 most of our brackish and tidal waters it abounds. 



The Gudgeon is a most delicious fish, although a 

 small one ; it is scarcely less delicate than the smelt. 

 Few gravelly rivers in the midland counties are 

 without them. They serve, too, not only to furnish 

 an excellent dish for man, but a piece de resistance 



