Highlands of Asturias 295 
have come to the conclusion that for angling purposes they have been 
hopelessly ruined—by dynamite, cloruro, lime, coca, and various other 
things. There may be deep pools here and there where fish have 
escaped, but they are very few. If your book is not finished you can 
put this in, as it is accurate, and may save many a disappointment to 
the free fisherman. 
Farther south, in Leén and northern Estremadura, are also 
rivers of first-rate character. The Alagén, for example, with its 
tributaries, is well adapted for trout—dashing streams with 
alternate stretches of pool and rapid. These still hold trout in 
their head-waters among the mountains; but lower down the’ 
speckled beauties are well-nigh extirpated. 
In this region one frequently observes, not without surprise, 
evidence of the introduction and acclimatisation of exotic products 
by old-time Moors—often in most outlandish nooks, wherever 
their keen eyes had spotted some fertile patch: probably, ere this, 
that energetic race would have preserved and cultivated the trout! 
The success of such enterprise in New Zealand and South Africa 
(it is even promising to succeed under the Equator in B.E. Africa), 
and indeed in Spain itself (at Algeciras), attests how easily these 
Iberian waters might be endowed with a new interest and a new 
value. 
Such, however, is existent apathy that, although the local 
natives (N. Estremadura) were aware of the presence of fish in 
their rivers, and told us that some ran to 10 or 12 lbs. in weight 
(these were barbel), yet they knew no distinctive names for 
the various species. All fish, big or little, were merely pesces— 
Muy buenas pesces. None could describe them, whether as to 
appearance or habit, nor did they know whether some species 
were migratory or otherwise. 
The only angling we have seen practised in this province was 
at Trujillo, where in some lakes adjoining that old-world city 
Tencas (we presume tench) up to 5 or 6 lbs. are taken with bait. 
(2) SALMon 
To such an extent used these to abound in Asturian streams 
that maid-servants stipulated on entering domestic service that 
they should not be given salmon more than twice a week. At 
the present day the pollution of rivers by coal-mining and other 
impurities has in some cases banished the salmon entirely, in 
