FAIR PLAY FOR THE OTTER 179 



few years ago, and, realising that otters form a very 

 important and interesting species of the river fauna, 

 have rendered the kilHng of otters on the Thames an 

 offence punishable by law. Then, as before stated, 

 anglers raised a great outcry against the Thames otters, 

 which, they declared, were destroying the fish to an 

 alarming extent, and the Conservators decided to go into 

 the matter thoroughly. 



We are inclined to believe that, if it were possible to 

 examine all, or even a tithe, of the fish killed by otters 

 in this country, a very considerable percentage would 

 be discovered to be diseased or weakly specimens. In 

 point of fact, upon more than one occasion we have 

 found on the banks of the Kentish Beult, and once in 

 the River Cherwell, diseased fish partially devoured 

 by otters. Surely the decimation of such finny de- 

 generates is advantageous to any water, even though 

 the much-despised otter performs the good work. 



" Have you, sir, either kingfishers or dabchicks on 

 your fishing? " 



" Ah ! your stream boasts both those beautiful species 

 of birds, and you receive pretty frequent visits thereto 

 from an old heron." 



" Being yourself a lover of nature, you like to see 

 them there, and wouldn't have one shot for any money, 

 although you suspect them of doing a good deal of 

 damage to the water." 



" Well, as a matter of fact, if you will take the trouble 

 to walk over to your local police-station and request to 

 see a copy of the schedule of the Wild Birds Protection 

 Acts, you will find that not only are the heron, king- 

 fisher, and dabchick protected by a wise law during the 



