144 SALMON FOR THE THAMES 



In short, the obstacle to the ascent of the Thames by 

 salmon and the descent of their young is no longer to 

 be looked for in the condition of the estuary water in 

 early summer when there is an abundant flow of land 

 water. The trouble comes later, when the volume of 

 the river, shrinking with the seasonal influence, is 

 further unduly diminished by the abstractions of the 

 water companies. If the minimum recommended by 

 Lord Balfour's Commission, 200,000,000 gallons a day, 

 were kept flowing at all times over Teddington Weir, 

 there would not be much doubt that the Thames could 

 be restored as a salmon river. Unfortunately, the 

 water companies are not provided with proper storage ; 

 London must drink, and wash, and water her streets ; 

 in September, 1898, the daily average at Teddington was 

 reduced by abstraction to 76,000,000 gallons. Such a 

 current has no weight to force its way seawards, still 

 less to carry before it the effluent from Barking works, 

 which, though purified by precipitation and de-odorised, 

 has also been totally de-oxygenated. Consequently, in 

 times of drought, a column of water, several miles long, 

 and destitute of that oxygen upon which animal life 

 depends, works to and fro with the tide, and certainly 

 does effectually bar the mouth of the river to the 

 passage of fish. Until this state of matters is remedied 

 no salmon could pass up or down, say, during two 

 months August and September. But the same is the 

 case, owing to sheer want of water, in many excellent 

 salmon rivers. Relief comes in October, the wettest 

 month in the year ; and if it should prove the case, as 



