ENGLAND AND WALES 239 



through the best time the waters were too low 

 to tempt the fish from the sea. The number of 

 salmon spawning was thought to be below the 

 average. There is little or no serious pollution, 

 and disease has been practically unknown for fifteen 

 or sixteen years. The draining of the uplands causes 

 the rivers to rise and fall so quickly that they are 

 seldom in ply for more than a day or two at a 

 time. 



The LUNE has had varied fortunes during the last 

 few seasons; but it has deteriorated on the whole. 

 The chief cause is over-netting in the estuary and at 

 Skerton Weir. The weir is at the head of the tidal 

 waters. The owner is entitled to net salmon im- 

 mediately below the weir, and consequently this 

 fishery has been termed "the key of the river." 

 Over thirty nets of various kinds are used by the 

 fishermen in the estuary. The estuary is seriously 

 polluted. The whole sewage of the town of Lan- 

 caster and of the outlying district is, absolutely 

 untreated, turned into the river. The Board of 

 Conservators appear to understand the serious state 

 of affairs; but their funds are small. They have, 

 however, at last erected a grating at the foot of the 

 tail race to Skerton Mill, and that will enable more 

 salmon and sea-trout to run into the higher reaches. 

 If more "diagonals," or fish passes, could be pro- 

 vided at Skerton Weir the river would be much 

 improved. The riparian owners near the source 

 could give assistance in preserving the fisheries. 



The WYEE yields to the rod many sea-trout every 



