22 



NOTES— ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 



Destruction of Otters in Essex. — We, regretfully, find no dearth of 

 records with which to continue the dismal story of the persistent persecution of 

 these interesting animals in our county (see list in THE Essex Naturalist, 

 vol. vi., pp. 41-42). We have noticed in the papers the following cases : — 



Maldon — " xMr. Harry Poole this week came upon another oiter on the banks 

 of the canal, and shot him dead in a clean and workmanlike manner. The 

 animal is a splendid and well-grown specimen, in the ' puppy ' stage, good in 

 shape, colour, and symmetry, and is altogether a typical example. Its destiny, of 

 course, will be the usual glass case." — " Essex Weekly News," March 4th, 1892. 



Chappel. — " On Monday, Mr. J. S. Goodey, of Broom Hall, shot a remarkably 

 fine dog otter, measuring 47^ inches from the tip of the nose to the end of the 

 pole, and weighing 22lbs. 50ZS. This makes the fourth otter which Mr. Goodey 

 lias shot almost at the same spot in the river." — "Essex County Chronicle," 

 January 6th, 1893. 



Wether sfield. — " A fine dog otter was shot in the River Pant on Tuesday, from the 

 land occupied by Mrs. Marsh. The otter has been about for some time, but was 

 eventually got after a couple of shots." — "Essex County Chronicle," February 

 loth, 1893. 



Colchester. — " Early on P'riday, Feb. 3, p.c. Stannard, of the Borough Police, 

 saw a fine otter in the river, lying on the mud near Mr. Chisnall's boats. On 

 being observed it plunged into the water, and made off in the direction of 

 Sheepen Farm." — "Essex County Standard," February iilh, 1893. 



The actions of these " noble sportsmen " are not, however, allowed to pass 

 without protest. .\ writer (" C. C. S.") thus admonishes them in the " Essex 

 Herald " for January loth : — " Among the paragraphs in your papers, I occasion- 

 ally read, 'Another otter shot,' and in the last number I see that Mr. J. S. 

 Goodey, of Broom Hall, Chappel, is credited with having recently shot no less 

 than four, nearl}' in the same place. What pleasure he or anyone can find in 

 shooting these rare and interesting wild animals I cannot conceive. For my part, 

 I think it a great pity, and if I had it in my power, instead of endeavouring to 

 exterminate otters in this senseless manner, I would afford them all the pro- 

 tection 1 possiblv could. They are very harmless, and extremely scarce in most 

 parts of Essex, and I think the sight of one to any person with a love of natural 

 history in its living condition would be infinitely more gratifying than the same 

 animal stuffed in a glass case. Something may, no doubt, be said for otter 

 hunting, where they are numerous, with a pack of otter hounds, which affords 

 amusement to a large number of people ; but shooting them is another matter 

 altogether, and one which I think justly merits the disapproval of all right- 

 minded persons. Anybody who has had an opportunity of seeing an otter at 

 play in the water would indeed feel sorry to see his gambols ended by a charge 

 of shot through his head ; and I hope the next time Mr. Goodey finds himself 

 within sight of an otter at this favourite spot, he will refrain from shooting it, 

 and confine himself to watching the interesting exhibition of aquatic skill which 

 no doubt the animal will afford him." 



Some excellent observations were printed in a late number of the " Fishing 

 Gazette," which confirm the conclusion we have more than once alluded to that 

 the otter is not an enemy of the fisherman, but is, in reality, one of his best friends : — 

 " The otter is still found, though in decreasing numbers, in nearly e\ery part of 

 Great Britain and Ireland ; and we would say a word in its behalf, for with its 



