ENGLAND AND WALES 247 



be definitely stated; but before the Act only sea- 

 trout and bull-trout (erwx) were to be seen. The 

 Esk Fishery Association, an angling club, formed 

 soon after that time, introduced salmon by means 

 of ova obtained from the Tees and elsewhere. In 

 1875 the Esk Board of Conservators, then just 

 formed, began to exercise the powers provided 

 by the various Salmon Acts. From time to time 

 fresh strains of blood have been brought from the 

 Tweed, the Tay, the Thurso, and the Eden. The 

 Esk is a notable example of what can be done by 

 artificial stocking of a river." 



The THAMES is of particular interest. 



In 1898 a few gentlemen assembled at Willis's 

 Rooms formed themselves into an Association, having 

 for its object the restoration of the salmon to the 

 river. Thereupon it was roundly affirmed by many 

 commentators that the Thames never had been and 

 never could be a natural salmon river. Now there 

 is much room for hope. The action of the Associa- 

 tion led to searching of authoritative records, and 

 the Thames was definitely restored to the list of 

 salmon rivers. Its history has been traced to well 

 within living memory. Mr. W. B. Boulton, Secretary 

 of the Association, sends a very interesting statement. 



"The Calendar of State Papers, 11 he writes, 

 " contains summaries of enactments dealing with the 

 preservation of the fish in the Thames since the time 

 of King John. An Act of his reign imposed penalties 

 for using the young salmon smolt for manure -a 

 measure which seems eloquent as to the abundance 



