170 THE ANGLING CLUBS AND PRESERVATION 



more to help to stock the waters, at present absolutely in 

 the London anglers' hands, and get them more efficiently 

 protected and watched, and there would be still more 

 left vested, and ready when needful, to help and assist the 

 sacred cause of charity. 



I quote Mr. Geen again, because no language of my own 

 could make the question of how is this desirable result to 

 be obtained more clear than he does. 



He first of all tells us that there are 4117 enrolled 

 members of one or other of these split-up associations. 

 Some belonging to one, some to another, but few to all 

 three combined. Upon the question of ways and means 

 he says : 



" I have left the important matter of ways and means 

 until the last, as I thought it best you should first be 

 informed as to the nature and extent of my other sug- 

 gestions. 



" At present we pay is. to the association of whom we 

 get a privilege ticket, and is. to the Fisheries Society; so 

 that the yearage is now 2s. Then the Benevolent steps in 

 and asks us to voluntarily pay them is. Six hundred and 

 ninety-one out of the 4117 responded to that appeal, and 

 paid over 37 8s. yd. How much easier, how much fairer 

 and more satisfactory that we should all pay 3^. ! I hope 

 no one will accuse me of being unmindful of my poorer 

 brother anglers. I would not be a party to taking a single 

 penny unnecessarily from their pockets, and before I could 

 bring myself to consent to make this suggestion, I had 

 ascertained that it is the poor angler that is paying 

 the is. now. I have also asked myself the question, 

 ' What do I offer in return ? ' The answer is, your railway 

 concessions shall be guarded, and, if possible, extended ; 

 your free rivers shall be protected, and private waters shall 



