SEWAGE UTILIZATION BILL. This Bill which our readers may remember was brought in the House of Commons by Lord R. Montagu, was read a second time in the House of Lords on the 16th May. This Bill is purely of a permissive character. It enables local authorities in towns and villages to take such steps for purifying the rivers and streams in their neighbourhood as they may think desirable; and also for the distributing of the sewage. Lord Ravensworth in moving the second reading made some admirable remarks on the filthy condition of most of our principal rivers, and on the inestimable value of the sewage by which this result was produced. SEVERN FISHERIES ASSOCIATION AND NEW SALMON BILL. A special meeting of the United Association for the protection of the Fisheries of the River Severn and its tributaries, was held at the Guildhall, Worcester, on Monday last. T. Chalk, Esq., vice-president, took the chair, in the absence of the president, Sir E. A. H. Lechmere, Bart., and among those present were Rev. G. Hodson, Mr. E. Webb, J.P., Mr. A C. Sherriff, J.P., Mr. Î. R. Hill, J.P., Mr. Willis-Bund (Powick), Mr. Hughes (Shrewsbury), &c. The object of the meeting was to consider the provisions of the "Bill to amend the Salmon Fishery Act, 1861." The Chairman having stated the object of the meeting, called upon the hon. secretary, Mr. Henry George, to read a digest of the new Bill which he had prepared, and which he stated was generally in accordance with the views which the association had always entertained. The results of the discussions and resolutions which followed are embodied in the annexed petition, which was ordered to be presented to parliament : "The Petition of the United Association for the Protection of the Fisheries of the River Severn and its tributaries, humbly showeth "That your petitioners hail with satisfaction the Bill now before your honourable house "To Amend the Salmon Fishery Act, 1861,' and fully approve of the principles of the said Bill, but humbly submit that such alterations should be made in the various clauses as shall change its character from a permissory to an obligatory bill. "That your Petitioners desire to represent to your honourable house that in their opinion (which is based upon twenty-two years' experience in their endeavours to protect the fisheries of the River Severn and its tributaries), in addition to the provisions contained in the said Bill, it is absolutely necessary that some further regulations and restrictions to the following effect should be passed into a law, in order to insure an efficient protection of salmon rivers, that is to say, a modification in the size of meshes of nets used in the fresh water portions of salmon rivers; a clear definition of 'unseasonable salmon;' a prohibition against fishing in any manner (angling excepted) within 100 yards of a weir, either above or below it; a provision for making the possession of salmon during fence time (angling within the allotted time only excepted) of itself an offence, without the necessity of proof that it is for sale, with other amendments of the 17th, 19th, and 20th clauses of the Act of 1861 relating to fence time; and lastly, a prohibition against the import of salmon during fence time. Your petitioners therefore pray your honourable house to amend the said Bill in the beforenamed particulars, and to pass the same into law. "THOMAS CHALK, Chairman." FISHING REGISTER FOR JUNE. SALMON and Trout fishing of course continues and on many rivers are improving. On the 1st of June the close season ends on the Thames, and fishing of all kinds commences, but many species, and especially the Jack are still weak from the effects of recent spawning. They will generally be found in or close upon the sharp streams, weirs, &c., where a spinning bait is the most killing method of fishing for them. THE FISHERMAN'S MAGAZINE AND REVIEW. THE PRUSSIAN CARP. HE representation opposite is that of the Prussian, or Gibel Carp, as it is called by ichthyologists, (cyprinus gibelio) a much rarer fish than the common Carp, and probably by anglers very often confounded with it. From the common Carp, however, it is entirely distinct, the following being the most obvious structural differences :-The whole general appearance of the fish is much more thick and chublike than the common Carp, resembling in fact the Rudd in external form more than any other fish,-the common Carp much more nearly approaching that of the Barbel. In the common Carp the length of the head is almost invariably greater than the depth of the body in the deepest part, whilst in the Prussian Carp it is always very much less. The scales on the Prussian Carp are larger, the number in the lateral line being about 33-and in the common Carp about 38. The mark however, by which the angler may always at once distinguish the two fish on the most cursory examination is the mouth. This in the common Carp has two little barbels or beards at each corner, whilst in the mouth of the Prussian Carp no beards whatever exist. There are a good many other minor points of difference which will be observed on a careful comparison of the fish, but the above are the principal, and are amply sufficient for all purposes of distinction. Some ichthyologists, including Yarrell, make a third species of British Carp, which they name the Crucian Carp, cyprinus carassius ; VOL. II. U but as this distinction is founded on one or two specimens only, said to have been caught in the Thames, I am of opinion that there is not sufficient ground for the distinction, which adds a needless complication in the way of the fisherman and student of ichthyology. By far the best bait for the Prussian Carp is a well scoured brandling, used in the manner described in a former article on the Carp. It usually spawns about April or May, and occasionally later, and in habits, food, &c., has many points in common with the ordinary Carp, from which it differs, however, in that it rarely exceeds a couple of pounds in weight. The finest that I have ever caught were in a small pond on Wimbledon Common, near Roehampton, called Elger's Pond, in which it grows to the size stated; and from whence the specimen represented in the frontispiece was obtained by the kindness of Mr. G. H. King, pisciculturist, &c., of Great Portland Street. The principal characteristics of this fish were :— The total length of the fish, head, body and tail fin inclusive being as 4, the length of the head alone is as 1. Depth of body at deepest part 1-5th more than length of head: back fin very long; tail fin forked but not quite so much so as in the common Carp. Mouth small, toothless: back and belly line both convex. Color: body and head pale straw color, rather more silvery than golden-ventral and pectoral fins a light pinkish tint. Tail and dorsal fins the same only greener. Irides silvery and green. THE CROAKING TROUT OF POOLS. AVING heard from a friend that there were certain lakes or pools in the bosom of the Radnorshire hills which swarmed with trout, though not of any size, my friend and I determined to pay them a visit, our curiosity was moreover stimulated by having been at various times credibly informed that these trout had the peculiarity of uttering a croak or grunt when caught. On a fine evening in the end of May, we started for Rhayader; an eighteen mile drive; and arrived in due time at our inn. Having secured beds and ordered the creature comforts, our next inquiry was for a guide, who knew the situation and road to the pools. We were recommended to advise with Sam Owen, the guide and attendant on gentlemen piscatorily inclined. We found Sam to be a knowing old hand, and well acquainted with the pools; which he informed us were two in number, and literally "alive with trout:" that they were situated about ten miles off, the last five over a wildish country and not much of a road; but as a Welsh mile is as fur as hir can see, and Sam described the view of the |