THE THAMES. 39 



Could we not stock the Thames witii sahiion via the 

 Severn ? Let us have a joint-stpck concern to do it—" The 

 Severn and Thames Salmon Company, Limited." I make 

 the commercial world a free gift of the gigantic idea. 



The Thames, however, independent of salmon, does not 

 receive full justice from the prejudiced public. Not long 

 since, at the opening of the trout season, a leading article in 

 a daily newspaper, with a sort of wink of the eye, humbly 

 wished to be informed what had become of the good old- 

 fashioned Thames trout ; the insinuation clearly being that 

 he was, like Messrs. Mastodon and Co., a thing of the remote 

 ages. It so happened that during the immediately succeeding 

 weeks most gratifying answers to that question came from 

 many a fishing station. Yet it may be accepted as a fact 

 about which there is no room for doubt that there has not 

 been of late years — we have nothing to do with the olden 

 times, when salmon were supposed to be numerous enough 

 to hold crowded indignation meetings under London Bridge 

 on their way to the upper waters — so many trout moving as 

 in the season of 1874. It is quite possible to bring facts and 

 figures to support this position, but if I put them into the 

 witness-box it would be chiefly that they might prove how 

 highly beneficial and successful have been the labours of the 

 Thames Angling Preservation Society, and the energetic 

 officers who carry out its objects. During the first week in 

 April, when the trout season opened, the anglers found little 

 to do beyond shivering in the bitter winds and bewailing the 

 high colour of the water ; but according to that high court 

 of appeal the Field, trout of goodly size afterwards began to 

 be slain in various parts of the river with live bait, spinning 

 tackle, and the iiy, while one splendid fellow of nine pounds 



