190 THE LAWS OF ANGLING. 



that golden rule, "To do to all men as we would 

 ourselves be done unto." 



" Now, concerning the art of angling, we may 

 conclude. Sir, that as you have proved it to be of 

 great antiquity, so I find it favoured by the laws 

 of this kingdom ; for where provision is made by 

 our statutes, primo Elizabeth, cap. 17, against 

 taking fish by nets that be not of such and such 

 a size there set down, yet those law-makers had 

 so much respect to anglers, as to except them, 

 and leave them at liberty to catch as big as they 

 could, and as little as they would catch. And 

 yet, though this apostolical recreation be simply 

 in itself lawful, yet no man can go upon another 

 man's ground to fish without his licence, but that 

 he is a trespasser. But if a man have a licence 

 to enter into a close or ground for such a space 

 of time, there, though he practise angling all 

 that time, he is not a trespasser, because his fish- 

 ing is no abuse of his licence : but this is to be 

 understood of running streams, and not of ponds, 

 or standing pools ; for in case of a pond, or 

 standing pool, the owner thereof hath a property 

 in the fish, and they are so far said to be his, 

 that he may have trespass for the fish against 

 any one that shall take them without his licence, 



