158 AS TO THE SEVEEN. 



containing many kinds of fish, which afford sport to the angler. 

 If the river flowed in a direct course from its source to the 

 sea, it would be eighty miles in length : as it is, by various 

 windings, it flows for two hundred miles. It has many fine 

 aflluents, and in its course passes through some beautiful scenery. 

 It rises in Wales, high up the eastern side of Plinlimmon, 

 at a place in the moors called Maes Hafren, which gave at one 

 time its title to the river, Hafren being its ancient name. After 

 flowing through seversil counties it falls into the sea at Bristol 

 Channel. Had the fisheries of the Severn been as free from 

 obstacles and as well preserved as those on the river Tay, they 

 would still have been of immense value, as it possesses some very 

 fine breeding-grounds. The Severn could be speedily restored 

 to its primary condition as one of our finest salmon streams ; 

 that is, if the various interests could be consolidated, and arti- 

 ficial breeding be extensively carried on for a few years. The 

 Severn stiU possesses a tolerable stock of breeding-fish, which 

 might be turned to good account in a way similar to those at 

 Stormontfield on the Tay. 



Mr. Tod Stoddart, who is an authority particularly on mat- 

 ters relating to angling, says that a river like the Tay or the 

 Tweed requires 15,000 pairs of breeding-fish to keep it in stock, 

 the average weight of the breeders to be ten pounds each. 

 Proceeding on these data, and taking the period of growth of 

 the fish as previously stated, it may be interesting if we inquire 

 how soon a fine river like the Severn could be made a property. 

 Allowing that there is at present a considerable stock of breed- 

 ing-fish in that river — say 10,000 pairs — and that for a period 

 of two years these should be allowed a jubilee, the river during 

 that time to be carefully watched ; that plan alone would soon 

 work a favourable change ; but if supplemented by an extensive 

 resort to artificial nurture and protection, in the course of three 

 years the Severn would be, speaking roundly, a mine of fish 

 wealth. A series of ponds capable of breeding 1,000,000 fish 

 might, I think, be constructed for a sum of £2000 ; there 

 ought of course to be two reception ponds, and an adult salmon 

 pond as well, for fish about to spawn. Thus, in a year's time, 

 half a million of well-grown smolts would be thrown into the 

 river from the ponds, a moiety of which would in the course of 

 ten weeks be saleable grilse I The following year that number 

 would be doubled, and added to the quantity naturally bred 

 would soon stock even a larger river than the Severn. There 



