The Thames flounders once more reappeared off their old haunt
at the head of the Bishop of London's fishery near Chiswick Eyot. Only one
good catch was made, and none have been taken since; but this had not been
done for twelve years, and there is a prospect of their increase, for, in
the words of old Robert Binnell, Water Bailiff of the City of London in
1757, we may "venture to affirm that there is no river in all Europe that
is a better nourisher of its fish, and a more speedy breeder, particularly
of the flounder, than is the Thames." Eels were also taken in considerable
numbers between Hammersmith and Kew; but the main supply of London eels
came from Holland even in the days of London salmon. In a very old print
of the City, with traitors' heads by the dozen on London Bridge, "Eale
Schippes," exactly like the Dutch boats lying at this moment off
Billingsgate, are shown anchored in the river. Besides the estuary fish
which naturally come _up_ river, dace and roach began to come
_down_ into the tideway, and during the whole summer the lively
little bleak swarmed round Chiswick Eyot. Later in the year the roach and
dace were seen off Westminster, and several were caught below London
Bridge, and in 1900 roach were seen and caught at Woolwich, but were soon
poisoned and died.
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