The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-14 00:00:00

FISH PASSES ON THE SEVERN.

The following report has been hande 1 to the
Committee of Works and Finance by Mr. E.
Leader Williams, the engineer to the Severn Coln'
mission :

" A copy of Mr. Buckland's report upon the flail
passes in the Severn weirs has been forwarded to
me by Mr. Southall, and I have now to lay before
you my reply to the recommendations contained
therein, and to inform you how far any of these
recommendations may injuriously affect the int'
rests of the navigation of the river.
C 4 With reference to Diglis weir, it is satisfactory
to find that the pass recently constructed at its
east end meets with Mr. Buckland's approval/ as
I believe that it will give increased facilities to the
fish at that state of the water in which there
has heretofore been some impediment to their ascent
when heavy with spawn. The pass in the centre
of the weir was constructed in accordance With ti
plan furnished me by the late Inspectorsof Fisheries+
Messrs. Ffennell and Eden, who approved of its coo'
struction ; Mr. Buckland has nevertheless surf
gebted various alterations in the pass, some °
which have been already carried out, being evii
dent improvements. There is one, however, Oaf
would so seriously interfere with the safe passage
vessels over the weir in periods of heavy fresh as t°
be entirely inadmissible. I allude to that which gr.
Buckland calls a flood-guard,' which he propoSel
should be fixed nine inches above the upper sill 0
the weir, in order to lessen the quantity of water
flowing into the pass during a fresh. Any erectlei.o
standing above the upper sills of either of tP,
Severn weirs cannot, in the interest of the navig3o
tion, be allowed. No such erection is required/ be
whenever there is so much water coming down
river as to overcharge the pass, there is sufficient
to
enable the fish to ascend any part of the weir aPro

without difficulty. a
"In addition to the two passes already aloma.%
to Mr. Buckland suggests a removal of five rSi
feet of the cap-sill of the weir at its western angle'
stating chat in the event of this being effected `the
natural conformation of this corner is such as viallici
enable the fish to run up without further assistanehee
In order to meet his wishes I have cut down t`is
cap-sill, at the angle in question, for a length oath,
feet. I therefore submit to you that nothing an
tional, whether in the shape of diagonal boards vio
otherwise, should be asked for, especially when it of
considered that you have been at the expense
aG
erecting, at various times, fire different Vo°,o;
this weir, involving in their erection and the reP3lO
consequent thereon, an outlay of £5OO of the ftill
of the commission.
stated
"In the report under consideration I find it sw; pt,'
that the length of Diglis weir is ' about 200 le'
This is an.error, it is 485 feet. writ,
" r. Buckland omits all notice of Bever° - ass
the next above Diglis, and in which there is a 1)00
that has met with universal approval, btl
directs his attention to Holt weir, and deseribe:so
its western angle ' a splendid run of water ab°ll
feet in length, with a gradient of about one in 00
up which the fish can easily get, a portion ocilia
1-
cap-sill of the weir having been removed to ill aii
tate their doing so.' In addition to this 431°100
run,' Mr. Buckland, however, wishes to have 3:300
constructed at the eastern end of the weir by 003,'
of that which he describes as a diagonal bc4ioi-
but which practically means a timber structure Soiog
lar to that recently completed at Diglis, Con there;
about 100 cube feet of timber, and which is t ard.
fore something widely different from
There is in this weir, besides the splendid ri" and
the NI, eAern angle, one of Messrs. Ffennei ova
Eden's ladders, which Mr. Buckland reports Wit,
been acting beautlf ally' when lie was at ,
-
therefore submit to you that all that is nee-
ul
has already been accomplished. A witli
"The weir at Lincomb is also furnished An
ladder similar to that above alluded to, fixed at 0
0
inclination of one in seven, a gradient so c:11of the
afford every requisite facility for the pa3engeiroia'
fish. This weir has long required repair, c_oder
stances having prevented the work being it, tbi,
taken. It will, however, claim my attentio.n
earliest fitting opportunity, notwithstainndde'nfigaite.l,ll
Bueldancl's wish that its repair may be vial
t prove.te
r "
take postponed.al?
possible A 'h
care
anr thee :h awt -tohre fish k iss hu
anrdee
nr io
SirLiak e ', tea
from ascending the river at all states of the
I—Worcestershire Chronicle.

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