218 AS TO THE SEVERN. [CHAI-. v. 



produces the finest salmon of any of the English salmon rivers ; 

 and it is a noble stream, containing many kinds of fish, which 

 afford great sport to the angler. If the river flowed in a 

 direct course from its source to the sea, it would be eighty 

 miles in length ; as it is, by various windings, it flows for two 

 hundred miles. It has many fine affluents, and in its course 

 passes through some beautiful scenery. It rises in Wales, 

 high up the eastern side of Plinlimmon, at a place in the moors 

 called Maes Hafren, which gave at one time its title to the 

 river, Hafren being its ancient name. After flowing through 

 several counties it falls into the sea at Bristol Channel. Had 

 the fisheries of the Severn been as free from obstacles and 

 as well preserved as those on the river Tay, they would 

 still have been of immense value, as it possesses some very 

 fine breeding-grounds. The Severn could be speedily restored 

 to its primary condition as one of our finest salmon streams ; 

 that is, if the various interests could be consolidated, and arti- 

 ficial breeding be extensively carried on for a few years. The 

 Severn still possesses a tolerable stock of breeding-fish, which 

 might be turned to good account in a way similar to those at 

 Stormontfield on the Tay. 



Mr. Tod Stoddart, who is an authority on the salmon ques- 

 tion, and particularly on matters relating to angling, says 

 that a river like the Tay or the Tweed requires 15,000 pairs 

 of breeding-fish to keep it in stock, the average weight of 

 the breeders to be ten pounds each. Proceeding on these 

 data, and taking the period of growth of the fish as previ- 

 ously stated, it may be interesting if we inquire how soon a 

 fine river like the Severn could be made a property. Allow- 

 ing that there is at present a considerable stock of breeding fish 

 in that river say 10,000 pairs and that for a period of two 

 years these should be allowed a jubilee, the river during that 

 time to be carefully watched; that plan alone would soon work 

 a favourable change; but if supplemented by an extensive 



