FISHES AND FISHING. 285 



Randall* 8 Park, Leatherhead. The jury, on the trial 

 in the Queen's Bench, gave a verdict for the plaintiff 

 (Mr. Bland), with £10 damages ; and the costs 

 amounted to £154. The insolvent, who was heard 

 on 2l8t of July, 1855, maintained that he had aright 

 to fish, and that the fish belonged to Mr. Ladbroke, 

 the Lord of the Manor ; it appeared that there is a 

 public /oo^-path along the side of the river. Mr. 

 Commissioner Murphy adjourned the case for enquiry 

 whether the inhabitants believed they had a right to 

 fish. If so, he would not keep the insolvent in pri- 

 son ; but if the insolvent had persisted, well knowing 

 he had no right, then he should feel it his duty to 

 give a very serious judgment. The Commissioner 

 has since been satisfied upon that point ; and Lips- 

 combe was discharged on 24th July. 



In the case previously, as stated by the newspa- 

 pers, of this action, it was then said that there was a 

 towing path by the side of the river Mole, from whence 

 the inhabitants of Leatherhead were, by immemorial 

 custom, entitled to angle with rods and lines ; now a 

 towing path would indicate that the [river was navi- 

 gable, which, according to legal authorities on aquatic 

 rights, would alter the case very materially ; for all 

 rivers which maintain a perpetual stream, and are 

 capable of being navigated, are public rivers. But a 

 public foot-path hj the side of a river, bounded by 



