THE FAUNA OF THE NEW RIVER.
71
Catchers, Curlews, Snipe, Great Northern Divers, and several
other species of Divers, Pochards, Sheldrake, Golden-eyes, Goos-
anders and several varieties of Geese, Muscovy Duck (probably
from London Parks), Little Stint, Dotterel, Golden Plover and
Water-rails. Now and then a greedy Cormorant is to be seen
fishing.
During the war rod and line fishing was suspended, during
which period the fish increased considerably. The fish inhabiting
the Reservoirs consist of Pike, Roach, Barbel, Dace, Bleak,
Tench, Carp, Eels, Chub, several species of Bream, a few Trout,
besides several species of smaller fish. In 1918 some of the
Reservoirs were netted for food, but with no great success on
account of the depth of water, the varying level of the bottom,
and the great growth of aquatic vegetable matter; however,
some tons of fish were taken out, among which were some very
fine specimens of Bream, Roach, Chub, Perch and Pike. Eels
were at one time abundant in the New River and Reservoirs,
but for some reason or another that mysterious fish has decreased
enormously and also in the River Lee and streams adjoining.
The Reservoirs and streams contain a variety of inverte-
brates, particularly mussels and snails, but the beautiful Cray-
fish have entirely disappeared both from the New River, the
River Lee and the Reservoirs. I learn, however, from Mr.
Tween, Engineer of the Lee Conservancy, that the Crayfish
still exists in the Stort by Sawbridgeworth. It was once very
abundant in the New River, and died out all at once, undoubtedly
from some specific disease. At the same time it disappeared
from many of the Rivers in the south of England and particu-
larly the tributaries of the Thames, as I received many
applications at the time for New River Crayfish to restock the
streams.