So much importance has been attached to the Severn as the means both of
supplying food and innocent recreation, that many Acts of parliament have
at various times been passed for its protection. One sets forth that:
“The King our Sovereign lord James, &c., &c. Having certain
knowledge that in his stream and river of Severn and in other rivers,
streams, creeks, brooks, waters and ditches thereinto running or
descending, the spawn and brood of trout, salmon and salmon-effs and
other fish is yearly greatly destroyed by the inordinate and unlawful
taking of the same by the common fishers useing and occupying unsized
and unlawful nets and other engines,” &c., &c.