114 TEE OPEN AIR. 



preservation of fish is in a measure responsible for 

 the destruction of water-fowl, which are cleared off 

 preserved places in order that they may not help 

 themselves to fry or spawn. On the other hand, the 

 societies may claim to have saved parts of the river 

 from being entirely deprived of fish, for it is not long 

 since it appeared as if the stream would be quite 

 cleared out. Large quantities of fish have also been 

 placed in the river taken from ponds and bodily trans- 

 ported to the Thames. So that upon the whole the 

 fish have been well looked after of recent years. 



The more striking of the aquatic plants — such as 

 white water-lilies — have been much diminished in 

 quantity by the constant plucking, and injury is said 

 to have been done by careless navigation. In things 

 of this kind a few persons can do a great deal of 

 damage. Two or three men with guns, and indifferent 

 to the interests of sport or natural history, at work 

 every day, can clear a long stretch of river of water- 

 fowl, by scaring if not by actually killing them. 

 Imagine three or four such gentry allowed to wander 

 at will in a large game preserve — in a week they 

 would totally destroy it as a preserve. The river, 

 after all, is but a narrow band as it were, and is 

 easily commanded by a gun. So, too, with fish 

 poachers ; a very few men with nets can quickly 

 empty a good piece of water : and flowers like water- 

 lilies, which grow only in certain spots, are soon 

 pulled or spoiled. This aspect of the matter — the 

 immense mischief which can be effected by a very 

 few persons — should be carefully borne in mind in 

 framing any regulations. For the mischief done on 



