MARCH 63 



to that fear if there were no hope of 

 anglers at large taking a more enlightened 

 interest in the subject ; already, indeed, 

 in every region beyond a two -hours 

 journey from London, there are many 

 streams which, although they contain 

 trout in great abundance, are ruined 

 from the sportsman's point of view. 

 Fortunately, however, there is cause 

 for hope. In all parts of the United 

 Kingdom anglers are realising the need 

 for precautions against the possibility 

 that their sport may become a thing of 

 the past. 



As was hinted in our last chapter, the 

 chief precaution needed is the establish- 

 ment of a rule against the retention of 

 trout that are of less than a certain 

 weight. All fish under the standard 

 should be carefully restored to the water. 

 A rule to this effect would have striking 

 results within three years. At the end 

 of that time the average weight of trout 

 in any stream would be much more 

 than it is at present. Many rivers in 



