FISHES ANB FISHING. 219 



ficient to gild a silver wire more than thirteen hun- 

 dred miles long. (Fourcroy.) 



There are so many excellent descriptions of rivers, 

 lakes, &c., published, with an account of the fish they 

 contain, that it is unnecessary to attempt to give 

 directions to anglers relative to them, when that part 

 of the subject has been previously so well explained ; 

 1 shall therefore merely make observations on those 

 rivers or waters which appear to have escaped the 

 observation of former authors, and of which I can 

 give some account, or have had personal acquaintance 

 with. 



Serpentine River, in Hyde Park, so denominated 

 from its shape, which was different from the usual 

 custom at the time it was formed, as then all pieces 

 of ornamental water were made straight. It was 

 undertaken by command of Caroline, Queen Consort 

 to George the Second, in 1730 ; a string of ponds and 

 gravel pits being drained and converted into this . 

 piece of water, at an expense to the country of ■/ 

 £6000. 



It was formerly supplied by a little rivulet called 

 Bays Water, one branch of which arose at Kensall 

 Green, in the Harrow Road, another about Kilburn 

 Wells, a third near Fortune Green, a fourth at West 

 End, Hampstead, and a fifth in Belsize Park, behind 

 Primrose Hill. These all united, and passing under 



