SOCIETIES OF LONDON AND THE PROVINCES. 71 



caused me to work for the society was the hope that 

 begging would be done away with, I feel certain that 

 there have been more journeys undertaken, and more 

 earnest pleading, and eloquent speeches made to get 

 members to join the Anglers' Benevolent than was ever 

 made for the needy angler under the old system. 



" And what does all this begging for members produce ? 

 £Z7 8j. yd. — actually a smaller sum than they took out of 

 it. No one could possibly take exception to a single item 

 of the expenses, yet they amount to ^^31 Si". 4d., which is 

 only ;^ 5 15^-. less than the members' subscriptions." 



The last good working of the London anglers, or at 

 any rate its outcome, is the establishment of the " United 

 London Fisheries Association," having for its object the 

 renting and stocking of various waters for the use and 

 pleasurable enjoyment of its members. 



Now the business working of these five associations 

 means simply and totally, apart from their admirable 

 objects, a sheer waste of both time, labour, and money. 

 Mr. Geen's great idea, and in this I fully and entirely join 

 issue, is that all might be comprised under one general 

 head, and that in lieu of five sets of officers, embracing 

 three presidents, two vice-presidents, five chairmen, five 

 treasurers, fifteen trustees, five committees of twelve each, 

 and five secretaries, all might be well and efficiently done 

 by one set of officers alone, and that in opposition to the 

 ridiculous issue of three sets of privilege tickets for rail- 

 way purposes, all might be easily comprised in one, saving 

 trouble, expense, and a lot of entirely unnecessary round- 

 about business. 



What would be the result .■' There would be more 

 money at command to help the various Preservation 

 Societies, at present greatly neglected ; there would be still 



