22 9 



posted prohibiting any one taking the eggs or destroying the 

 young birds. Perhaps that might be necessary, but he did 

 really think the Legislature should be asked to cause 

 the number of swans on the Thames to be reduced to 

 some extent, because they did an immense amount of evil. 

 With regard to the traffic on the Thames, he hoped a bill 

 would soon be passed in Parliament for its better regu- 

 lation ; but he did not think it applied exclusively to 

 launches. No doubt they did a large amount of harm, 

 but it was certain that every boating season, although the 

 anglers of London have very few rights, they were cer- 

 tainly despoiled of them by boating crews continually prac- 

 tising on the Thames. On the previous day he was fish- 

 ing, when an eight-oared boat of some kind came down, 

 manned by a crew of College boys ; Eton boys were 

 grand young fellows, but they were a very great nuisance 

 on the Thames, and to anglers generally all oarsmen were 

 of the same character. These young fellows came down 

 the stream, and though they were not in the way, de- 

 liberately rowed smack into the punt, nearly cut their 

 own boat in two, broke two outriggers, and then assailed 

 them with a volley of Eton abuse. It was quite certain 

 the question of anglers' rights and privileges and coarse 

 fish culture was one which ought to receive more attention. 

 The CHAIRMAN informed the Conference that a bill 

 for regulating steam-launches passed both Houses of Par- 

 liament, as he had just been informed by a letter from the 

 Solicitor to the bill. He must say he should like to see 

 the discussion get more practical. If they could persuade 

 the owners of waters to do all they could to produce fish 

 for the pleasure and food of man, it would be a great 

 thing, and his opinion was, that you could fish as much 

 as you liked, provided you fished fairly. With respect 



