170 ANIMAL LIFE UNDER WATER 



biased bird protectionist will, on principle, not 

 agree. There are many individuals, however, 

 who, though willing to give the fish in our. inland 

 Maters fair play, do not agree to the destruction 

 of their natural enemies because they are told 

 certain species will become extinct. The heron 

 is safe on the fens and marshes; the diver can 

 always elude man at sea ; gulls breed beyond our 

 reach. If the systematic destruction of fish- 

 feeding birds were carried out for some years it 

 is possible that their numbers might be reduced. 

 This is .what is required to give the fish in our 

 inland waters a fair chance. 



