WEEDS AND WEED-CUTTING 343 



tion restraining him from repeating the offence in the 

 future. 



Recognizing the strength of this position, it is 

 customary for all fishing leases 

 Weed-cutting or agreements to contain a 



by the lessor. clause regulating the weed- 



cutting. In some instances 

 the lessor undertakes to cut weeds, and as a rule 

 carries out this duty in the most economical way he 

 can. Generally he will let the weeds flourish until the 

 stream is quite unfishable and then set to work and 

 mow away every vestige of vegetation with the chain- 

 scythes. The result on the season's sport can be well 

 imagined. As the season advances and as the growth 

 progresses the poor tenant finds himself continually 

 thwarted by the profusion of the weeds. With the 

 advent of hot weather when the shelter is a necessity 

 for the fish the weeds are generally shorn away and 

 the few trout which do not migrate to more favourable 

 parts are quite unapproachable. 



Where in his lease the tenant has to cut the weeds 



the usual proviso is that this 



Weed-cutting must be done twice a year. 



by the lessee. This suggests a very similar 



treatment of the river to what 

 takes place when the landlord undertakes weed- 

 cutting. The principles of scientific weed-cutting can 

 be laid down in a very few words. Seeing that the 

 presence of a considerable quantity of weeds is, as 

 shown before, necessary at once for the well-being of 



