184 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



fishermen of the Thames to regulate the proper distance at 

 which to work their floats. 



Poaching? Fish is not only unlawfully entering on 

 another's fishery in order to capture fish, but also taking 

 them by illegal means (q.v. " Laws, Fishery "). An owner 

 would be guilty of poaching on his own waters were he to 

 capture fish during the close time or use an illegal net in 

 the river, or angle for salmon with rod and line without 

 having a license, or do several other illegal acts. A man is 

 a poacher if he angle in any river rented or owned by 

 another without having proper permission from the owner 

 or his agent. In England and Ireland navigable rivers are 

 prima facie free, and where anyone can fish, he can catch 

 salmon as well as e^ery other fish with legal and licensed 

 engines. But there is an exception to this generality 

 a grant from Magna Charta ; and as this has been given 

 in very many instances to proprietors, care should be 

 exercised to acquire this knowledge before fishing in any 

 manner on a navigable river. When a poacher is caught 

 in the act, he may be apprehended by the owner of 

 the fishery. All rods, lines, &c., may be seized by the 

 owner or his keepers, watchers, or other servants ; or by a 

 river bailiff. This can only be done while he is on the spot. 

 If he escapes to the highway or into adjoining lands he 

 cannot be arrested, but he can be summoned for the offence 

 before the justices. The law of Scotland differs considerably 

 from that of England or Ireland with regard to poaching. 

 In Scotland salmon stands on a different footing from all 

 other fish, and prima facie belongs to the Crown, so that no 

 person is entitled to fish for salmon (except by angling) 

 unless he can produce a charter or grant from the Crown ; 

 but nearly all the great fishery proprietors are already in 



