HI'!TORY OF CA ""\!BRIDGES HIRE. 29

some chain one; thence it runs eastward through the fens forming the southern and south-eastern boundary of the isle of Ely, till at some distance above Denny Abbey it assumes a northerly direction, and passing Ely and Littleport, and afte1· receiving the Cam at Harrimere, the Lark which is navigable to Bury St. Edmund's, at Prickwillow, and the Little Ouse at Brand Creek, Norfolk, it passes northwards to the wasl1. It is navigable in its whole course through the county. The Cam, navigable to Cambridge, has three branches, the chief of which rises near Ashwell, in Hertfordshire, and enters this county to the west of Guilden Morden ,· thence flowincr to the north-east it • 0 ' receives several rivulets ; and near Grantchester has its current enlarged by the united waters of its sister streams which flow into this county from Essex. Hence, taking a northerly course, the Cam glides through the walks of the principal Colleges at Cambridge, and, having passed several villages, falls into the Ouse at Harrimere, in the parish of Stretham. Its length above Cambridge is 25 miles; and from Cambridge to its junction with the Ouse 15 miles. The Nene in its old course, enters the county at Benwick, runs through March, Up­ well, and Out well, and there enters N mfolk. The N ene, in its present course, divides Huntingdonshire from the isle of Ely, till it enters the isle at l\Iorton's Learn: passing by Whittlesea, Guyhirn, and Wisbech to Cross Keys wash. Besides the above rivers, the channels of which appear to have been marked out by nature, there are numerous streams in the north part of Cambridgeshire, which were dictated by the conveniences, and formed by the industry of man. These intersect the county in various directions; and by carrying off the surplus waters of the fens, have been the means of bringing many thousand acres into cultivation. Canals. A navigable canal called Vermuyden's or the 40 foot drain, com­ mences at Ramsey ; it enters the isle of Ely near Ramsey mere, and passes by Puttock bridge, and between Chatteris and Doddington, to Welches dam, where it enters the old Bedfmd river, and proceeding in the old course of that river, leaves the county a little to the west of Welney. Most of the canals which in­ tersect the isle of Ely in various directions, were made for the purpose of drain­ age; but the greater part of them are applicable also to the purposes of naviga­ tion. The Hundred Foot, or the New Bedford river, is the main channel for vessels passing from the upper to the lower parts of the Ouse. The old Bedford riverJ from Earith to Denver sluice, is now scarcely ever employed for the pur­ pose of navigation, excepting the lower part near Denver sluice ; having nearly been choaked up since the new Bedford river was made. There is a short canal from the Ouse commencing near Barway chapel to Soham; another to Reche, and a third to Burwell. The Cambridgeshire rivers abound with fish ; pike and eels are particularly