io8 THE ANGLING CLUBS AND PRESERVATION 



They therefore resolved themselves into a Society for " the 

 protection of fish from poachers ; " and one of the earliest 

 steps taken was the appointment of a staff of river-keepers, 

 selected principally from amongst the professional fishermen 

 who gained a livelihood upon the Thames. The valuable 

 action of this small preservative body was from the outset 

 fully recognised by the Lord Mayor, and warrants were 

 then granted to the river-keepers to act as water-bailiffs, 

 while certain bye-laws were framed for the better protec- 

 tion of the fisheries of the river. Under these by-laws 

 the position and power of the river-keepers is thus defined : 

 They are empowered " to enter any boat, vessel, or craft of 

 any fisherman or dredgerman, or other person or persons 

 fishing or taking fish or endeavouring to take fish, and 

 there to search for, take and seize all spawn, fish, brood of 

 fish, and unsizable, unwholesome, or unseasonable fish, and 

 also all unlawful nets, engines, and instruments for taking 

 or destroying fish as shall then be in any such boat, vessel, 

 or craft in and upon the river, and to take and seize on 

 shore or shores adjoining to the said river all such spawn, 

 fish, and also all unlawful nets, engines, and instruments 

 for taking and destroying fish as shall there be found." 



The extent of water taken under control was from 

 Richmond to the City Stone at Staines, and immediately 

 efforts were made to preserve the various deeps in the 

 course indicated, thus making them " harbours of refuge " 

 for the fish. The position of such preserves may be shortly 

 pointed out as follows. 



Richmond. The preserve is westward of the bridge to 

 the Duke of Buccleuch's, 700 yards. Twickenham. The 

 preserve is the west end of lawn, Pope's Villa, to the ait, 

 400 yards. Kingston. The preserve is from the Lower 

 Malthouse at Hampton Wick to the east end of Mr. J. C. 



