PERCH AND PERCH FISHING 219 



that the budding tips of the willows, which usually at 

 that season just kissed the shining surface of the water, 

 were dipping some feet beneath the flood. Here is 

 a brand-new, clean, and pleasant support expressly 

 intended by Nature for the propagation of our race,' 

 thought Madame Perch ; and when the water fell 

 there were bands upon bands, millions upon millions, 

 of perch eggs apparently growing upon willow trees. 

 Then came the swans, also blessing mother Nature for 

 having placed such an easily obtained and luscious 

 supply of food within their reach ; and I saw them 

 myself, running their clattering bills down the , withy 

 boughs, stripping them one after another of that year's 

 supply of infant perch. No wonder that enthusiastic 

 perch fishers become heated, and use language unfit for 

 the ears of polite society, when swans are the subject of 

 conversation. It may be admitted at once that they 

 are beautiful birds and notable ornaments on a great 

 pleasure river such as the Thames, but the destruc- 

 tion they wreak on the hapless perch and other fish 

 is simply immeasurable. 



It is difficult to understand why birds which are 

 so inimical to sport should be so greatly encouraged, 

 in some instances by men who are in other respects 

 good sportsmen, and wield both rod and gun with 

 no little skill. On a reach of the Thames near 



