SOCIETIES OF LONDON AND THE PROVINCES. 17 



sole and only reason for the immense increase in late years 

 of the stock of trout in the river. 



The new by-laws as to snatching and night-lining were 

 approved by Her Majesty at the Court of Balmoral on the 

 28th of October, 1879. They are as follows : 



"Snatching of fish. — It shall not be lawful for any 

 person to fish for, or to take, or attempt to take, any fish 

 by using a wire, or snare, or hooks (baited or unbaited), or 

 any other engine for the purpose of foul hooking, commonly 

 called ' snatching or snaring.' 



" Night lines. — It shall not be lawful for any person to lay 

 night hooks or night lines of any description whatever 

 between the ' City Stone ' at Staines and Kew Bridge ; and 

 any person laying fixed lines of hooks by night or day 

 (commonly called night lines), or taking, or attempting to 

 take, eels or fish of any description by such means, shall be 

 deemed as committing a breach of this by-law." 



The Thames Angling Preservation Society continues its 

 jurisdiction as far as Staines, and at that point the first of 

 the local associations for the preservation of the river 

 commences its work. This is the Windsor and Eton 

 Society, which is supposed to look after something like 

 about twelve miles of water extending from Staines Bridge 

 to Monkey Island. Throughout that stretch, some of the 

 finest water in the Thames is to be found, and if this 

 society were more thoroughly supported by the public, it is 

 probable that no similar length of water would be more 

 splendidly productive. It is the fashion, however, to rail at 

 the promoters and managers of any incorporated body 

 whose objects may not appear to be carried out well and 

 to the point. It escapes probably the notice of those who 

 gibe and speak harshly about the work done by the 

 Windsor and Eton, that it is simply impossible for the 



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