Page:VCH Worcestershire 1.djvu/172

 A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE to say. Since 1678 barbel, if it existed then, has become extinct in the Severn. The list is clearly not exhaustive, as no mention is made of perch, ruffe, dace, roach. The Act makes it illegal to kill elvers or young eels, a provision which was repealed and is now only partly re-enacted. It will be seen from the following list, which represents the fishes of Worcestershire at the present time, that out of the thirty-five English freshwater forms thirty are met within the streams of the county. There is no modern record of the barbel being a Severn fish, and although common in the Trent it cannot get into the upper tributaries of that river in Worcestershire from the Birmingham pollutions ; the same cause stops the burbot. The Crucian carp has never been introduced into the county. There are no lakes, so no lacustrine fish such as the char. TELEOSTEANS ACANTHOPTERYGII 1. Perch. Perca fluviatilhy Linn. Found commonly in the Severn, Teme, Avon, Salwarp, and most of the brooks, but not nearly in such numbers as formerly. In some large pools, such as Pirton and Sharply, there are a considerable quantity, but the Perch must be regarded as one of the forms decreasing in number in the county. 2. Ruffe [Pope, Daddy Ruffe, Boar Pig]. Acerina cernua, Linn. A very common, perhaps the commonest, fish in the Severn and in the lower parts of all the tributaries. It is steadily increasing in numbers. 3. Miller's Thumb [Bullhead, Cull]. Cottm gobio, Linn. Although not often seen, unless specially looked for, this is a very common form in most streams. It hides under stones and roots in the day-time, and seems to feed mostly at night. ANACANTHINI 4. Flounder. Pleuronectes fiesus, Linn. This fish used to ascend the Severn in considerable numbers, and to be very com- monly taken by anglers using a worm, but since the erection of the navigation weirs at Tewkesbury and Gloucester, its numbers have fallen off considerably, probably because it is only able to surmount these obstacles at high tides. There are still a good many in the Teme between the mouth and Powick Weir. HEMIBRANCHII 5. Three-spined Stickleback. Gastrostcus aculeatui, Linn. Common in most of the ditches and back- waters, but not often noticed, as when in the water they are put down as minnows or young fish. Probably most of those in Worcestershire are the smooth-tailed form (G. liwrus, Cuv.). 6. Ten - spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus pungittus, Linn. Much more local than G. aculeatus, but not uncommon ; when it occurs in brooks it is said to be very destructive to ova and fry. HAPLOMI 7. Pike [Jack]. Esox lucius, Linn. A very common and rapidly increasing form in the Severn and all the tributaries. The prohibition of freshwater netting in the Severn a few years ago has led to an enormous increase in the number of small pike, which may now be found in almost all the streams in the county. OSTARIOPHYSI 8. Carp. Cyprinus carpio, Linn. The carp is fairly common in ponds and is occasionally found in the rivers, but it can nearly always be traced to some pond from which it has escaped. 9. Gudgeon. Gobio Jiuviati lis, Flem. A very numerous species in the Severn and most of the tributaries, and one that seems increasing. 10. Roach. Leuciscus rutilus, Linn. A very common and increasing form in all deep still waters, especially in the Avon.