ENGLAND AND WALES 227 



" In spite of great difficulty and the smallness of 

 their income, the Fishery Board, having the assistance 

 of most of the riparian owners, who have abstained 

 from the use of nets within their rights in the 

 non- tidal waters, are hopeful that they have 

 materially improved the stock. In as far as peal 

 are concerned, sport has much improved. This is 

 in large measure due to the adoption of bye-laws 

 whereby certain parts of the tidal waters in the 

 river and its tributaries have been closed against 

 the nets. It is very difficult to obtain information 

 about salmon. The season is very short. Fish do 

 not seek to run in any great numbers until nearly 

 the end of November, and the close season begins 

 on the 30th of that month. Thus, only a few fish 

 are taken by the rod. It is hoped, however, that 

 early closing, with the sanction of the Board of 

 Agriculture and Fisheries, will eventually result in 

 earlier running of the salmon. The stock seems to 

 be well maintained. Last spawning season very 

 many salmon were seen in the upper reaches, and 

 there was little or no disease. At present four or 

 five miles of the river are absolutely ruined by 

 washings from the tin mines, which threaten pollu- 

 tion of a much longer reach. The Board are keeping 

 vigilant watch and ward. 11 



The TAW, the TOERIDGE, and the LYNN are the 

 rivers of a Fishery District comprising the whole 

 northern watershed of Devonshire and a small 

 portion of Somerset. Taw and Torridge fall into 

 the sea through the same estuary, and the Lynn 



