The Devonshire Avon - A Survey of Stocking

The Devonshire Avon - A Survey of Stocking

On a yearly basis from 1949 until 1963 the Avon Fishing Association stocked significant numbers of brown trout into the Devonshire Avon (see Footnote #1.

In December 1960 the committee considered a letter from a colleague with suggestions about re-stocking:
Get permission from the Devon River Board to allow out of season netting to reduce the late salmon run, and thereby increase food stock for remaining fish stocks

Discontinue stocking because the food supply is already low

There are adequate stocks of small trout in the river that would benefit from the removal of salmon parr
As a result of this suggestion, a survey of fish stocks was carried out by the Devon River Board.

Here is the design and results sections from the final survey report. The full report is available here.

On 2nd and 3rd May, 1962, 490 tagged brown trout were introduced into the river at the following points:-
125 at New Mill Bridge, Loddiswell

114 at Hew Bridge, Loddiswell.

125 at Avonwick Station,

126 at Hazelwood Boathouse,

A fishing returns leaflet was distributed and anglers were invited to send in details of all fish caught whether tagged or otherwise. At the date of writing this report (20,11,62) 48 returns have been received and the information contained thereon can be summarised as follows:-

(a) Twelve tagged fish with confirmed tag numbers were taken and Table 4 shows the places and times of introduction and recapture of these fish.

(b) Two returns were made quoting a tag number which had not been used in the survey and the tag was not enclosed for confirmation. One angler reported that, he had caught a tagged fish but had lost the tag before being able to read the number-,

(c) A number of anglers reported that they had caught undersized tagged fish but, as requested, returned them to the river without trying to read the number. One of these returns read:- "Two tagged fish caught and returned, both 8” and in good trim. Above Hatch Bridge on day's fishing, 7th May, 1962,

(d) Sixteen ’Nil* returns were received.

(e) The 32 anglers who disclosed the number of untagged fish they had caught since 1st May had a total bag of 457. Individual success varied enormously, one fisherman having 56 fish in two weeks whilst only three others had over 30.

Since there are an enormous number of unknown factors influencing the total number of fish an angler will catch, it is not considered worthwhile to derive an average catch per angler or a ratio of tagged to untagged fish taken. These figures would have no scientific significance or practical value, and the statistics given above are for general interest only.

Information resulting from Tagging experiment
It is difficult to derive much information from so few recaptures but it is significant that a number of the marked fish which were recovered had undergone a considerable downstream migration from the point of stocking. No upstream migration was recorded although some fish were shown to have remained in roughly the same area in which they were introduced. That the downstream migration can occur immediately after stocking is illustrated well by 4397 which was caught at Topsham Bridge after having migrated about one mile downstream less than 24 hours after its introduction to the river.

It is not known whether tagging itself in any way influences the behaviour of a fish and it is difficult to account for these migrations. It is possible of course that some of the marked fish went out to sea and it will be interesting to see whether any return next season as sea-trout.

In February 1963 Gordon Bielby, described as an official from the Devon River Board, attended a committee meeting. "Mr Bielby explained that the Survey was not as comprehensive as he would have liked, but it did show that very few of the tagged fish which had been put into the River earlier in the year had been caught [by anglers]. An explanation given was that quite a number of the fish may have moved right down the River. He was of the personal opinion that to improve fish stocks in the River it would be better for the association to open up the banks, except of course for the deep pools, than to continuously restock. "

Bielby's comments created a dilemma for the Association. The dilemma is illustrated in this chart which shows the numbers of trout of different sizes across the nine sampling stations that were electrofished as part of the 1962 survey.

Some of these fish may have been those stocked by the Association in previous years before the survey was carried out. If the Association was to abandon or reduce stocking, then, as these fish and their replacements declined, this might cause a deterioration in anglers' catches.

Bielby was careful to make clear that his advice on how to improve fish stocks in the Avon was his personal opinion, because as Giles (2007) and Wellard (2007) pointed out, stocked fish disappear from the stocking area, but their fate is unclear.

The Association did take steps to honour their obligation to their Rule #1 " This Association .. is formed to improve the fishing in the River Avon" One problem that frequently arises is measuring if a change has, or has not brought about improvement. Anglers' Catch Reports are often used. "The submission is a legal requirement for all salmon and sea trout anglers" but for an historical reason, is not a legal requirement for brown trout anglers.

This chart shows that, in some years, little attention was given to recording overall catch returns in the Association's minutes. The large catches in the 1950s may be the result of the size limit (7 in.) at that time.

The Association took a number of iniatives to improve the fishing:
The daily bag limit was reduced from 9 to six trout.

Members were keen to stock with 9" fish, and the river was stocked in 1965.

In 1966 the Devon River Board put 300 fish into the river from above the Avon dam; the Board continued stocking fish, removed by electrofishing the dam, for the next four years.

The Devon River Authority "maintained that the best way to improve the fish feed, as to encourage weed growth." By 1972 members were complaining that the introduced weed was a problem, and a weed cutting commenced to keep it under control

The possibility of resuming stocking was discussed from time-to-time up to 1976.

In 1969 the committee agreed to purchase Betta Floating Trout Food for in-river feeding twice a week at Kerrydowns and at Gara Bridge; in-river fish feeding was discontinued after one year. The next section illustrates an important role for in-river supplementary feeding in retaining stocked fish at a particular location for anglers, particularly for dry-fly anglers who rely on fish rising to food on the surface.

Halford came to this conclusion when trout were transferred from hatchery to river: "When first thrown on their own resources they will take any fly offered to them, give little sport, and a large proportion soon succumb to the wiles of the dry-fly fisherman. Those that survive, never having had to seek their own food, rapidly fall off in condition and drop from the streamy water to deep and comparatively sluggish reaches, when they rarely feed on the surface of the stream" (Halford 1913 p393)

Footnotes

Footnote #1 Extracts from AFA minutes dealing with stocking

In 1949, a season ticket cost £5, the river was stocked in April with 1,500 6" brown trout from Exe Valley Fiheries at a cost of £97 at five locations:

Hazelwood

Railway bridge below Topsham Bridge

Avon Mill

Brushford Bridge just below Avonwick Station

Stabb's cottage

It was agreed that some form of re-stocking should take place every year, funds permitting. The association was in a healthy financial state (£360).

In 1950, 1000 6" yearling brown trout were stocked in April at the original five locations. However, members seldom reported the number of fish they caught so it is impossible to judge the results of this stocking policy. After prompting members reported catching 1350 brown trout in 1950.

In April 1951, due to the generosity of a late member's relative more than the anticipated 1000 6" yearling, and 650 3" to 4" brown trout were stocked Avonwick Bridge (500), Brushford Bridge (400), Loddiswell Road Bridge (475), and Hatch Bridge (475)

In May 1952, 1000 6" yearling brown trout were stocked. Members caught 972 fish that year. 1952 saw the ntroduction of the Devon River Board (Contribution to Several Fisheries) Order that included reference to levying a rate on riparian owners of fishing rights. The committee were prepared to pay the estimated £30 rates bill on water they rented. In addition, if the Devon River Board was not prepared to bear the cost of stocking the river, then the AFA were prepared to continue to cover that cost as well.

At the 1953 AGM, it was suggested that the river be stocked with larger 9" and 10" trout. The committee agreed to stock 500 9" fish (cost c£90). Steps were taken to improve the amount of food available in the river for fish. The committee discussed a report from the Devon River Board Fisheries Officer that covered fly boards, wire netting cages filled with bracken and damming. The Devon River Board bailiff placed fly boards in the river, and 2 of the 3 in-river bracken tubes remained in place. Catch returns for the 1953 season: Brown trout (total 1127)
March 22

April 123

May 95

June 224

July 251

August 250

September 162

Sea trout 66
Salmon 4
No decision was taken on reducing the daily catch limit, and reducing the size limit from 8" to 7". Members reported that during a 'rise', there seemed to be plenty of fish in the river, at other times very few fish were seen.

In 1954 it was agreed to stock with 500 larger 9" fish at the three bridges below below Loddiswell station. This stocking was agreed a success, and should be continued at the same scale in 1955 with permission from the Devon River Board. The secretary was instructed to explore like-for-like stocking with the Board. The committee met with engineers involved in constructing the Avon Dam; it was ""considered that there would be very little (f any) pollution of the river, and a consulting engineer stated : "that there would always be at least 1,800,000 gallons of water per day passing the Dam into the River" (Minutes of AFA committee meeting on 18th November 1954).

In 1954 the committee heard that: "26 Cannibals [trout] were caught in the upper reaches of the Avon, 8 of which were over 1 lb. It was unanimously agreed that Mr. Wallis should again arrange for the destruction of Cannibals." There was no news :"concerning destruction of Cannibals in the lower reaches." In 1954 members caught "over 1,500" trout.

In 1955, the association were offered "£20 worth of 6" fish by the Devon River Board". . The association also stocked the same number of 6" fish, (giving a total of 400 fish), together with 500 larger 9" trout. Mr. Wallis "reported that 22 cannibalsf had been taken out of the upper Avon - the largest weighing 4 lbs 2 ozs. " In 1955, members caught "Just over 1,500 trout, the greater majority during the months of May and June".

In 1956, due to members concerns over the congestion caused by the number of visiting anglers, ticket sales were restricted, and prices increased. Members caught 1681 trout.

In April 1957, the association stocked 500 9" trout and 300 6" trout.

In 1958, the association stocked 500 9" trout and 300 6" trout. Due to the healthy financial state of the association, rents wereincreased by 50%. The Devon River Board requested that the AFA no longer paid the a gratuity - he was an employee of the Board, and could inspect rod licence s, but he did not have the power to inspect the fishing permits issued by the AFA. The suggestion was made to appoint an assistant who would be given a £30 honorarium, as well as a season ticket for the train between South Brent and Kingsbridge. The committee discussed using in-river fly boards and bracken bundles to increase food for fish. Some members favoured stocking with 6" yearlings, others favoured stocking 12" trout. The chairman, after discussions with the Devon River Board Fisheries Officer and a Director of the Exe Valley Fishery recommended stocking 700 8" fish, and 300 6" fish. Allowing fishing on Sundays would deter poachers. This proposal was not pursued because of objections from a few riparian owners.

In 1959 the finances had continued to improve with a bank balance of £600+. The association stocked 800 9" trout on 24th February, and recommended that fishing should be delayed until 1st April "thus allowing the new fish to become acclimatized and to reach a wilder state." At the AGM the chairman, in his remarks on stocking, referred to the first Rule of the AFA "to improve the fishing in the river Avon". At a committee meeting in December 1959 there was a long discussion a long discussion about re-stocking (the term that was used throughout previous years). Was it necessary to re-stock? It was suggested that some fish be tagged to record their in-river growth. It was agreed to consult the Devon River Board. In 1959, 896 brown trout, and 218 sea trout were caught.

In 1960, After consulting Exe Valley Fiheries it was decided not to proceed with tagging fish to check on their growth "in view of the additional cost and the likelihood that fish might become diseased, no further action should be taken. The Chairman also reported on correspondence he had had with Frank Sawyer concerning the placement of groins in the river. The letter received from Frank Sawyer was considered most helpful . It was agreed that groins, consisting of concrete slabs, resting on logs held in place by wire attached to a picket driven into the riverbed should be given a trial in the Hazelwood water" (Minutes of AFA committee meeting on 21st January 1960). Four concrete slabs were placed in the river at Hazelwood. Stocking with 500 6" and 250 8" was arranged for delivery in early March 1960.

In December 1960 the committee considered a letter from a committee member with suggestions about re-stocking:
Get permission from the Devon River Board to allow out of season netting to reduce the late salmon run, and thereby increase food stock for reaining fish stocks

Discontinue stocking because the food supply is already low

There are adequate stocks of small trout in the river that would benefit from the removal of salmon parr
The minutes record that: "it might be inadvisable to re-stock for a period of say three years" (Minutes of AFA committee meeting on 15th December 1960).

In 1961 the chaiman recommended strengthening the existing stock by stocking "from another source" with 500-600 6" trout that would be paid for by the Devon River Board. He felt this would be "Helpful in keeping good relationship between the AFA and both riparian owners and visiting fishermen". At this time there were 14 riparian owners who let their fishing to the association. At the AGM the chairman commented: "The Association maintained that that the Avon was primarily a Trout River and that as such Salmon were not to be encouraged. The experiment of placing concrete slabs into the River with the intention of breeding snails etc. , so far appeared to be successful, in that they had withstood all the floods and were still firmly secured." Day Tickets for visitors were abolished unanimously.

In March 1961 there was much discussion in committee about the stocking in May with so few (500-600) 6" fish. And "A lengthy discussion followed as to whether we should keep the Avon as a Brown Trout River or whether we should encourage the Sea Trout. "

In 1962 the Avon Riparian Owners Association was formed. At the AGM the chairman reported from a meeting of various fishing interests on the Avon. "It was thought that stocks of brown trout were decreasing because of the large of Sea Trout and also destruction of fish food by artificial fertilizers , insecticides etc." The AGM agreed to "re-stock with 500 4" fish and 500 8" fish.". The committee discussed tagging stocked fish at their February meeting, and again in March where the chairman "reminded the committee that the overwhelming number of Association members who were in favour of keeping the Avon as a brown trout river". It was agreed to tag all the 8" stocked fish. The November 1962 committee meeting recorded that: "The presence of a large number of cannibals above Avonwick was no doubt the cause of the shortage of small fish in that area."

In 1962 river survey was in progress.