The river upon which this play is based in the Parret. The river rises in Dorset and flows into Bridgwater Bay on the Somerset coast. It is 36 miles long and is tidal for a good deal of its length. For generations fishermen have trapped and netted salmon in the dangerous tidal waters that surge and flood across the Somerset flats. But advancing civilisation has polluted the river, the fish are dying and t here are now only three licensed fishermen left.1 woman, 2 men