THE RIVER LOIRE. 239 



At the city of Nantes, the rivers Sevre-Nantoise, and 

 Maine, discharge their waters into the Loire. The for- 

 mer stream traverses a considerable tract of country, and 

 takes its rise within a short distance of the Thouet, near 

 the town of Parthenay. Below Nantes, the river 

 1'Achenau swelled by the Ognon and Boulogne, empties 

 itself into the Loire, and is the last tributary to this 

 noble and majestic river. 



It is impossible for the British angler to cast his eye 

 over this magnificent stream and its numerous tributaries, 

 without giving utterance to sentiments of wonder and 

 delight. What a boundless range is here displayed for 

 the exercise of the " gentle craft;" and into what 

 charming spots of varied and interesting scenery will it 

 lead the roaming enthusiast! On the banks of this 

 glorious stream, every thing connected with the art, 

 appears to us upon a grand and magnificent scale; for 

 the largest rivers of our own highly gifted and noble 

 country can scarcely be compared, either in extent of 

 range or volume of water, with several of the tributaries 

 of the Loire. 



The salmon taken out of the rapids of the Loire are 

 said to be the very finest in France. 



