282 APPENDIX 



in endeavouring to improve it a far greater evil will not be 

 inflicted on the majority of those interested in the river, is the 

 vital point now affecting this question. If certain salmon 

 obstructions are cleared away, salmon will undoubtedly run 

 up in additional numbers to some three or four miles at least 

 of the salmon portion of the river. If they do so, some or 

 many may go higher, and this will mean a possible danger to 

 the rest of the river, which is purely a trout stream. 



In order to minimize or avert these dangers the Test and 

 Etchen Trout Fishing Association was formed in April, 1907. 

 This Association represents a very great majority of riparian 

 interests of these rivers, and the committee which has been 

 elected is a powerful and distinguished one, representing the 

 best sporting traditions of the country. The objects of this 

 Association are mainly the protection of the trout fly fishing 

 interests, and it is well that this unrivalled sport should be so 

 ably represented. 



In discussing the pros and cons of the situation, which are 

 in many respects applicable to other salmon and trout rivers, 

 it will, perhaps, be better to deal with one of the two principal 

 rivers immediately interested the Test and the Itchen. I 

 shall, for the sake of the argument, deal with the former. 



A very small proportion of this river has been in the past 

 mainly devoted to salmon fishing, and it is admitted by every 

 one that the number of salmon taken by rod fishermen, etc., 

 has materially decreased during the last twenty years. 



It is impossible to state to what extent the number of salmon 

 visiting the Test has fallen off, or even to obtain reliable 

 returns from the lower waters of the number of fish killed 

 thereon. On the upper salmon beats say the Broadlands 

 waters below Romsey the annual take of salmon on the rod 

 some fifteen years ago was occasionally one hundred per 

 annum ; the average annual take for the last five or six 

 years is less than fifteen. This will serve to show the con- 

 siderable falling off in sport above Nursling, and the necessity 

 of arresting, if possible, this state of annual decrease. 



