202 FISH CULTURE. 



To these facts some will probably demur, and use 

 a common argument, that "They never saw the 

 swans eat fish-spawn, although they have seen swans 

 at feed hundreds of times." This is very probable. 

 Gentlemen usually go on the water, and take par- 

 ticular note of thiags appertaining to the water, 

 during the pleasant warm months of the year, when 

 fish do not spawn, and therefore, of course, they 

 see nothing of this. Besides, such an argument, if it 

 be argument, is nothing in the face of facts. I have 

 seen them, and I know very many other people 

 who have. The late Mr. Arthur Smith and Mr. 

 Frank Buckland were appointed, by the Thames 

 Society, to try and mitigate the swans. They went 

 up the river some miles, for the sole purpose of 

 assuring themselves of the facts first, never having 

 previously actually noticed them; and they came 

 back thoroughly convinced of all that I have stated, 

 from ocular demonstration. Many, many times I have 

 striven to drive the swans away from their disgusting 

 meal, and with very little success. They will suffer 

 you when thus engaged to come near enough to 

 strike them with a stick — nay, they wiU almost fight 

 for the spawn, and the moment your back is turned 

 they commence anew. I dwell upon this point with 

 special force, because all poaching and all other 



