SALMON FISHING 



fished in it occasionally for thirty -five years, 

 writes : 



"I agree with Dr. Gunther that the so-called 

 bull-trout (Salmo erwx) is neither more nor less than 

 an old sea-trout (Salmo trutta). The fish plente- 

 ously inhabits the Coquet and the foreshore between 

 the mouths of the Coquet and the Aln. Of late 

 years there seems to have been a considerable increase 

 in the number of salmon taken, both by the nets 

 and by the rod. This, I think, is mainly attribut- 

 able to the lock at Warkworth not having been 

 worked since about 1898, when the Duke of 

 Northumberland discontinued its use. At present 

 only one net is used between Warkworth dam 

 and the sea, and both the tacksman and the Duke 

 are satisfied with the results. The increase of salmon 

 is remarkable. The district being purely rural 

 there is little pollution. Still, one can hardly 

 call the Coquet a salmon river. It is rather small, 

 and soon, in drought, runs out of order. Although 

 a good many fish are caught by those living on the 

 banks, the river is hardly worth visiting from a great 

 distance. Most of the Duke of Northumberland's 

 water is in the hands of the Northumbrian Anglers' 

 Federation." 



Mr. John A. Williamson, Newcastle-on-Tyne, a 

 member of the Northumbrian Anglers' Federation, 

 writes : 



" Until five years ago the bull-trout was almost 

 the only migratory fish entering the river in autumn 

 floods. During these years the number of salmon 



