The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-19 00:00:00

The English Salmon Fisheries.

WORCESTER, Wednesday.
The annual meeting of the United Association for
the Protection of the Fisheries of the river Severn
and its tributaries was held here this afternoon. Sir
E. A. H. Lechmere presided, and among those pre-
sent were Mr. Eden, one of her Majesty's inspec-
tors of fisheries. .

The report of the central committee (the 21st an-
nual report) stated that the past season has been an
unprecedentedly dry one, so much so as to prevent
the fish leaving the tidal waters. There was scarcely
a fresh on the river throughout the summer, and
the consequence was a scarcity of fish again in its
upper waters during the latter part of the season,
but in the tidal portion of the river it was univer-
sally admitted that never in the memory of man had
there been such a take of fish as was made during

the last season, especially during the summer months
when fish sold there as low as 6d. per pound and

agents from various parts of the kingdom came over
to buy. The report received of the quantity of
breeding salmon which have ascended the Vermew,
Severn, and Teme during the autumn freshes are
greater than ever. The number of fish in the spawn-
ing bed on the Teme at Powick is unusually large.
The passes on the Severn navigation weirs are now
complete, and passes have been placed on two weirs
on the Teme, namely, at Powick and Martley. The
number of prosecutions instituted by the associa-
tion in the year was 37, of which there were 27 con-
victions. The report expressed general approval of

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the new Salmon Fisheries Bill, but suggested cer.

taro alterations.

The report having been adopted,
Mr. EDEN, her Majesty's inspector of fisheries,
addressed the meeting on the proposed new Salmon
Fisheries Bill. Alluding to the proposal to raise
funds for the protection of the rivers by taxing all
engines used for the capture of salmon, he said the
Shannon, a river about the size of the Severn,
had last year produced £1,300 by a tax
of a like nature, and this year's tax
would exceed £1,400. With regard to the pollu-
tion of rivers, he agreed with Sir E. Lechmere
that it was most desirable that they should be
cleared of their noxious stuff, but he thought a sal-
mon fisheries bill was not the best way of endea-
vouring to purify them. He had reason. to believe
that this matter was under the serious consideration
of the Government, and he believed that a compre-
hensive measure would be introduced by them next

session dealing with the whole question of the sew-
age. With regard to the proposal of a rate in aid
where the funds raised by taxing salmon engines
were insufficient for the requirements of the Board
of Conservators, a difference of opinion had been
expressed as to the proper mode of levying it. It
had been objected that a frontage rate would press
unequally. The Severn had 70 or 80 miles of water
free for everybody to fish. He was himself of opin-
ion, too, that water bailiffs ought to have power not
only to examine fixed engines, but also to pass along
any part of the river bank. At present they had not
that power, and he could be warned off by any
owner. He,knew a case in Wales where a proprietor
who owned a fishery warned off the water bailiff
and carried on poaching to a great extent. He con-
sidered the sale of salmon spawn should be discoun-
tenanced. The act of 1861, in giving permission to
take salmon for the purpose of obtaining spawn for
scientific purposes, did not contemplate the removal
of spawn from one river to stock another. He saw
no reason, too, why the protection given to salmon
should not be extended to trout. It would give great
assistance to salmon protection, and would enlist
the co-operation of many persons. He was glad to
be in a position fully to corroborate the statement
in the report about the increase of salmon in the
Severn, and he attributed this result to the success-
ful, energetic, and spirited manner in which this as-
sociation had aided the carrying out in this district
of the act of 1861. In conclusion, he would advise
the association not to relax in their efforts, but en-
deavour, now that public feeling had been fully ex-
cited, to obtain such amendments of that act as would
make the law efficient. The Government was anxious
to give every assistance to the object in view, which
they regarded as one of national importance, and both
Houses of Parliament had shown their anxiety to
devote their time to its full considetation. (Ap-

plause.)
Mr. COOKE, agent to Earl Fitzhardinge, com-
plained of the hardship of the weekly close time on
the firth fishers.
Mr. EDEN said there was no probability of the
regulation being withdrawn, but thought inquiry
should be made about it. The feeling of Parliament
was so strong against fixed engines in the estuaries
of rivers that there was a probability of their being
swept away altogether.
Resolutions were then adopted re-electing Lord
Coventry as president, and reappointing the officers
of the association, to all of whom thanks were voted.
Mr. EDEN, in seconding a vote of thanks to the
honorary secretary, spoke in the highest terms of
the services rendered by that gentlemanto the move-
ment of the preservation of our salmon fisheries.
A memorial to the Home Secretary, pointing out
the defects of the Salmon Export Act, was adopted,
and a resolution approving of the new bill generally,
but suggesting certain alterations, was also passed.
The meeting was then broke up.