94 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



secrets the flowers, and birds, and insect-life of 

 the rich river-banks. Here man never interferes; 

 here everything is wild wood and water, where 

 everything flourishes, and the drought never comes. 

 Rivers and streams are the chief arteries of the land, 

 and yield to a host of field and woodland creatures 

 the life-giving elements. The waters themselves 

 teem with myriad life, and that of a higher 

 organisation is everywhere along the banks. 



That the running brooks and still waters of 

 this country still contain plenty of fish for the 

 naturalist to base his experiments upon there can 

 be no question ; but as to how far these afford 

 food for the people is a quite different matter. 

 Those who know practically about the cultivation 

 of fresh-water fishes, either in a wild or semi- 

 wild state, know how much yet remains to be 

 done how there exists the terrible subject of 

 pollution, upon which the law has but feebly laid 

 its hand. The foulest pollution is yet carried 

 on with impunity ; and it would seem that, in 

 spite of much half legislation, there is no power 

 in the land to stop it. And what is the outcome 

 of this ? The fresh, bright streams have become 

 in many places the swift scavengers of all that 

 is foul and filthy. The once silvery foam of 

 their waterfalls now comes down black as ink ; 

 life has gone from them, the flowers and trees 



