138 DAYS AMONG THE PIKE AND PERCH 



but still an intelligent anticipation of this decrease can be 

 counted on, and by judicious arrangements met. Close 

 times for pike should be strictly enforced ; I say most 

 certainly from the fifteenth of February till the first of 

 October they should not be disturbed ; also a standard 

 size should be adopted ; and legal tackle and hooks should 

 be clearly defined. This, together with a small restocking 

 now and again, would improve things greatly. I feel 

 very strongly on this question, in fact, the whole fishery 

 laws as regards coarse fish want amending in various direc- 

 tions ; confusion is rampant ; but the establishment of the 

 Anglers' Federation, which embraces in its membership 

 tens of thousands of fishermen in every part of the kingdom, 

 will in the near future do much to remedy the existing 

 state of affairs. 



