THE THAMES. 73 



result of the introduction of Salmon again to the Thames is 

 of course at present very problematical, as, for the reasons 

 already given, it remains to be proved whether they will be 

 able to pass through the pools near London, on their passage to 

 the sea, and return to the breeding beds ; although when 

 the Main-Drainage Works are completed, the water may be 

 brought to a state more nearly resembling its original purity. 

 It is considered by the Society that without any great expense 

 or trouble, nearly 100,000 Trout may be hatched and reared 

 annually for the Thames. The young fish grow rapidly, and 

 should Pisciculture be carried on with spirit, even making 

 allowance for the ravages committed amongst them by their 

 mortal enemy the Pike, the river will still be well stocked with 

 Trout ; as although unsuited for many reasons for breeding 

 them successfully by itself, without management, yet the 

 Thames supplies abundance of suitable food and has all the 

 conditions required for healthy developement as is sufficiently 

 shown by the large weight and splendid quality of the Thames 

 Trout. Should the attempt with Salmon and Grayling be as 

 successful, it will not only greatly exalt the character of the 

 fishery, but will still further establish the value of the Society, 

 through whose exertions so glorious a result has been achieved. 

 Two streams contend for the honour of the parentage of 

 this noble river, the source of one being known as Thames-head 

 (which is about 376 feet above the level of the sea) and that 

 of the other as Seven Springs ; the former would seem at 

 first sight to have the best claim to the title, the source 

 having always been called Thames-head by the inhabitants of 

 the neighbourhood, and the stream itself having always been 

 called the Thamas, for some distance before it meets the other 

 branch, which has always been called the Churn ; the latter 

 however bears the palm as regards both its size and the dis- 

 tance of its source from the main river. Thames-head rises 

 in a field close to a bridge over the Thames and Severn Canal, 

 known as Thames-head bridge, and is about three miles south- 

 west of Cirencester ; the stream is first traceable near Kemble 

 where a supply from one or two other springs enables it to 

 spread into a pretty brook, it then passes Somerford and at 

 Ashton Keynes it is joined by the Swill-brook, which rises 



