Page:VCH Buckinghamshire 1.djvu/165

Rh produced very remarkable trout, remarkable, that is to say, having regard to the size of the little stream. The fish, which have a high reputation among owners of trout streams, have been sent to various parts of the kingdom, and many have been turned into the Thames.

It is a matter to be proud of that Buckinghamshire produces, so far as it is a riparian county, some of the finest river trout of Great Britain; for those found in the Thames are far superior to those bred in any other home river, and to find their rivals or superiors we have to go to the great rivers of the antipodes which have been stocked by eggs sent out from England and Scotland, or to some of our great lakes. Another feature of the county connected with fish life is the large barbel which are found in the Thames. These fish are, on the other hand, almost absent from the Ouse; we say ' almost ' because they have only been introduced there within living memory and are still scarce. But the slow flowing river produces huge shoals of bream, which are wanting in most parts of the Thames, and are only found in any quantities in the lower waters. Some have been introduced in the neighbourhood of Henley, and there are indications of an increase in the upper Thames. Now and again one is caught by an angler not fishing specially for them.

Next to the Thames the most important river in Buckinghamshire is its tributary the Colne, which produces exceptionally large roach, dace and chub, and beautifully marked trout, all being noted for the excellence of their condition. The feeding for fish in the Colne is, as a matter of fact, somewhat superior to that in the Thames; but pollutions from paper mills and other sources have unfortunately much injured this fine tributary river.

Tench are comparatively common in the Thames, but are not often caught by the angler. Now and again carp are taken, but these are probably scarce. They are more of a lake than a river fish, both they and the tench usually attaining considerable size. The rainbow trout (Salmo irideus) has been placed in the Thames and in a few private sheets of water; in these latter it flourishes exceedingly well, grows rapidly and is excellent on the table. What its future will be so far as the Thames is concerned it is impossible at present to say. In many rivers where it has been placed it has forthwith disappeared, but the experiments with it have not been carried out on a large scale. Owing to its being a rapid grower and enormous eater it sometimes travels in search of food far from the place where it was turned in, and like the brown trout of some rivers it gradually drops down to the sea. There is such a large quantity of food in Buckinghamshire's chief river that we may hope this very beautiful fish will be satisfied with Father Thames's commissariat, and remain with us. The fish is a native of the United States, and is closely related to the steelhead salmon. It may be known by its being for the most part a silvery fish covered with a very large number of small spots, while along its lateral line is a broad translucent rose-coloured band.