34 MAKING A FISHERY. 



Keepers. Before possession is given to the lessees, the 



question of keeper or keepers will have to be 

 considered by them, unless it be one of the 

 lessor's covenants in the lease. If the number 

 of keepers is not defined in the lease, it should 

 be decided by the members. The extent of the 

 water, its distance from the villages in which 

 quarters would have to be found, as well as 

 their prevailing views on the question of cost, 

 will all have to be duly weighed. For their 

 guidance, they may take it that, provided there 

 are no extraordinary difficulties in getting from 

 one part of the fishery to another, that the 

 keeper is not expected to carry anglers' baskets 

 or attend on them when fishing, and that all such 

 work as weed -cutting and netting is done by 

 labourers engaged for the purpose, a thoroughly 

 active strong man can look after something like 

 two miles of water. Under the same conditions 

 two keepers, i.e., a head keeper and an assistant 

 working under him, can easily manage six or 

 seven miles if the keepers' cottages are near the 

 river and two or three miles apart. 



Whether it is decided to have only one 

 keeper or to work with two or more, the first 

 point to ascertain is whether there are local 

 men fit for the post. If so they should be 

 taken on temporarily, and, if found suitable, be 

 permanently engaged. If, however, there should 



