THE TROUT. 25 



Thames fishing are on the decline. This may be 

 attributed to steam-vessels, which disturb the water 

 so much, that a considerable quantity of spawn is 

 loosened and washed away from the places where 

 it had been deposited ; and also to gas and other 

 nuisances, which are suffered to poison the water, 

 and the numerous locks, which prevent the free 

 passage of fish. Much mischief may also be attri- 

 buted to the illegal nets which are used, and to 

 the negligence of those whose duty it is to detect 

 them, and who are frequently open to bribery. 

 During floods also, fish go to grass, as the Thames 

 fisherman call it, and poachers are in the habit of 

 constantly and unlawfully draining the meadows, 

 and entirely strip the country of fish, by preventing 

 their return to their natural home, the river. For 

 these reasons the fish in the river Thames are de- 

 creasing in number every year, and some sorts 

 have quite disappeared the salmon, for instance, 

 and the skegger-trout, which used to be abundant. 

 Even gudgeons are much fewer in number. Perch 

 also are difficult, to be procured, and the lovers of 

 water souche"e make great complaints in consequence. 

 Much might still be done to improve the Thames 

 fishing, if the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the 

 city of London would expend the twentieth part 

 of what a civic feast costs, in having the river staked 

 in many more places than it is at present, by having 

 the nets properly looked after, and by employing 

 c 



