‘Twaite. 
298 SH pA. Clafs IV. 
in the river about two months, and then is fucceeded 
by a variety which we fhall have occafion to men- 
tion hereafter. 
The Severn fhad is efteemed a very delicate fifh 
about the time of its firft appearance, efpecially in 
that part of the river that flows by Gloucefter, where 
they are taken in nets, and ufually fell dearer than 
falmon: fome are fent to Loxdon, where the fifhmon- 
gers diftinguifh them from thofe of the Thames, by 
the French name of Alofe. | 
Whether they {pawn in this river and the Wye is 
not determined, for their fry has not yet been afcer- 
tained. The old fith come from the fea into the 
river in full roe. Inthe months of Fuly and Auguft, 
multitudes of bleak frequent the river near Glou- 
cefter ; fome of them are as big as a {mall herring, 
and thefe the fifhermen erroneoufly fufpect to be the 
fry of the fhad. Numbers of thefe are taken near 
Gloucefter in thofe months only, but none of the 
emaciated fhad are ever caught in their return*. 
The Thames fhad does not frequent that river till 
the month of Fuly, and is efteemed a very infipid 
coarfe fifh. About the fame time, and rather earlier, 
the variety called near Gloucefter the IT waite, makes 
its appearance, and is taken in great numbers in the 
Severn, and is held in as great difrepute as the fhad 
of the Thames. The differences between each va- 
riety are as follow: 
The true Shad weighs fometimes eight pounds, 
but their general fize is from four to five. 
‘* Belon alfo obferves, that none are taken in their return on 
les prend 4n moutant contre les rivieress et janais en de/cendant. 
The 
