CHAPTER X. 



THE RIVER THAMES, AND ITS FISHERIES. 



THE Thames is the principal river in Britain ; 

 it comes from two sources, or small rivers, in 

 Gloucestershire, the Churn and the Isis ; these 

 unite near Cricklade, Wilts, where it receives 

 several small rivulets ; thence, in its course to 

 London, it receives the Coin, Lech, Charwell, 

 Ock, Thame, Kennet, Loddon, Wey, Mole, 

 Brent and Wan die. After it passes London, 

 it receives the Lea, Roding, and Darent, and 

 parting in its course Essex from Kent, it runs 

 into the German Ocean. It is well stocked 

 with roach, dace, barbel, jack, pike, carp, 

 bream, bleak, gudgeon, flounders, eels, white- 

 bait, smelts, &c., with some fine trout at the 

 source, and occasionally salmon at the mouth. 

 Time was when Thames salmon were plentiful, 

 and the finest in the kingdom ; and they 

 would, in the winter, force themselves up the 

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