Salmon, the king of British fishes, Salmo salar, comes legitimately within our radius of twenty miles. It has been taken from the Eel traps in the River Tame at Tamworth; in the River Trent at Yoxall; and in the River Severn at Bewdley. At the last mentioned place a specimen weighing 40 lbs. has been captured.
Common Trout, S. fario, Bourne Brook, Fazeley, 7 lbs.; River Tame, 5½ lbs., 4 lbs. several, and many below that weight; River Trent, 4 lbs. 2 ozs.; River Cole, Packington.
Lochleven Trout, S. Levenensis. In April, 1884, the Water Department of the Corporation of Birmingham stocked their new reservoir (90 acres) at Shustoke with 3,000 of this fish. The reservoir at Witton was stocked with 2,000 fish at the same time. They were yearlings, about 3 inches long, and are now (August, 1886) from 2 lbs. to 3¼ lbs. in weight. These reservoirs will therefore in a few years be good places for this species of Trout.
Grayling, Thymallus vulgaris, River Trent, Shenstone, 2 lbs.; Alrewas, 17 ozs.; Bourne Brook, Fazeley.
Subbrachial Malacopterygii.
The Burbot, Lota vulgaris, the only British species of the family of the Gadidæ that lives permanently in fresh water, is found in the River Anker at Tamworth, the largest fish recorded being 5 lbs.; 3 lbs. 2 ozs.
Apodal Malacopterygii.
The Sharp-nosed Eel, Anguilla acutirostris, and the Broad-nosed Eel, Anguilla latirostris. In rivers and pools generally. Fine specimens of A. acutirostris are taken in the River Blythe, some weighing 4 lbs. each. The third species of Eel mentioned by Yarrell, the Snig, A. mediorostris, occurs with the two others in the Worcestershire Avon, and doubtless finds its way into the Arrow and other tributary streams. It differs from the two preceding species, being much smaller, individuals rarely exceeding half a pound each; and in its habit of roving and feeding by day. It is of superior flavour to its congeners. The Snig may easily be distinguished by the first five cervical vertebræ, which are smooth and free from spinous processes, always present in the sharp-nosed and broad-nosed Eels.
Chondropterygii.
Lampern or river Lamprey, Petromyzon fluviatilis. In the River Trent, and also the Tame and in streamlets, Sutton Park, &c.