FISHES 



Thames name for the samlets, which must have been at that time fairly 

 plentiful. Owing to the increase of population, dredging, drainage, 

 the use of chemical manures, and obstructions on tributaries which 

 the salmon would otherwise ascend for spawning purposes, it does 

 not appear probable that salmon if reintroduced will breed naturally 

 to any extent, but the river might be kept stocked by artificial 

 means if funds were available. In that case samlets would have to 

 be turned in by the million, judging by similar work which has been 

 carried on in the United States of America. It is an interesting fact 

 that in October 1901 an ill-conditioned salmon or grilse was caught at 

 Leigh-on-Sea. Whether this was the result of one of the smolts bred 

 by Mr. Gilbey at Denham for the Thames Salmon Association, or was 

 simply one of those stray salmon which from time to time are caught in 

 the estuary of the Thames is a point which cannot possibly be decided. 

 Sea trout are frequently being caught at Leigh and in other parts of the 

 Thames estuary, and now and again salmon are captured. It would 

 appear therefore that salmon are desirous of coming up the Thames, 

 but do not find the condition of the water in the estuary to their liking. 



Among the new arrivals in Berkshire must be mentioned the rain- 

 bow trout, Salmo irideus^ a most beautiful species of the salmon family 

 which has been imported from America by way of Germany. It is 

 difficult to speak too highly of this fish, but it has yet to be seen if it 

 will remain in the Thames, for it certainly appears to have, if not 

 migratory instincts, habits of wandering which carries it far afield and 

 often to the sea. It has been known to grow to as much as 13 Ib. 

 in weight in the course of four years, but this was in an estuary and is 

 therefore not very remarkable having regard to the growth rate in the 

 sea of such fish as salmon and cod. Another fish which is a newcomer 

 so far as several waters in Berkshire are concerned is the grayling. This 

 fish, though an old county inhabitant, is now found in the Lambourn, 

 a tributary of the Kennet, in the Pang, and in certain portions of the 

 Kennet where within living memory it was not known. A curious fact 

 about this fish is that it does not seem disposed to thrive in the Thames, 

 and though a good many hundreds have been netted out of the Kennet 

 at Hungerford and placed in the main river, there is at present no 

 reason to believe they are breeding there. A few fall back from the 

 Pang into the Thames at Pangbourne and are caught by roach fishers ; 

 but even there, with such a capital source of supply, grayling do not 

 appear to become more numerous than they were ten or fifteen years 

 ago. 



The fish of the county is undoubtedly the Thames trout. It may 

 be said without exaggeration that the Thames grows grander trout than 

 any river of the British Islands. The lakes of both England, Scotland 

 and Ireland can show finer specimens, but not the rivers. The trout of 

 the Kennet are also noted for their excellence, and below Hungerford 

 they more closely resemble Thames trout than above that ancient town, 

 owing to the presence of coarse fish on which they largely feed. Above 



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