MANAGEMENT. 39 



injured. For the same reasons it is desirable 

 to have stiles provided over all hedges and 

 fences placed in the line of the planks. 



Wherever there are water-meadows on the Hatches in 

 banks of a stream, hatches leading from the meadows, 

 main river into the various irrigation cuts and 

 carriers, as well as other hatches in these 

 carriers themselves, are provided for the purpose 

 of being able to regulate the watering of the 

 meadows, i.e., either covering them with water 

 or keeping them dry according to the require- 

 ments of the farmers from time to time. It is 

 desirable for the fisherman, and essential for 

 the farmer, that these hatches should be kept in 

 proper repair, and fortunately there is no differ- 

 ence of opinion as to the expense of repairs to 

 or renewals of hatches, being a matter entirely 

 outside the limits of the fishing lessee's 

 responsibilities. 



Usually a number of farmers employ the 

 same man or set of men to regulate these 

 hatches, and pay them by a fixed annual con- 

 tribution, rateably according to the acreage 

 of water-meadow comprised in each farm. On 

 the Kennet these men are called floaters, and, 

 strange to say, on the Test and Itchen, 

 drowners, and they are held responsible for any 

 damage accruing to crops through negligent or 

 improper raising or lowering of the hatches. A 



