314 APPENDIX. 



endeavouring to induce others to 'go and do likewise.' 

 There are ample opportunities afforded in the highland 

 districts both in Ireland and Scotland for artificial river 

 making and artificial propagation of salmon ; and I would 

 recommend any one disposed to speculate in this direction 

 to visit Doohulla and see for himself. 



"W. J. Ffennell." 



VII. 



THE THAMES ANGLING PEESERVATION SOCIETY'S 

 EXPEEIMENTS. 



FoEMBRLT the Thames was perhaps one of the most pro- 

 ductive rivers in the kingdom. But poaching, over-fishing, 

 unfair and unsportsmanlike fishing, its conversion into 

 a sewer and into a canal, the abstraction of a very large 

 quantity of its water by Water Companies, and the super- 

 abundance of swans, which a mistaken and extravagant 

 appetite for the picturesque has crowded it with, have all 

 contributed to render fishing on it for a very considerable 

 portion of the year, and, save under very favourable cir- 

 cumstances, a very bootless occupation. I can remember 

 the fishing of the Thames for twenty-five years, and I do 

 not hesitate to say, that it has been steadily growing worse 

 and worse. It is certainly very praiseworthy of the 

 Society to do what they can to arrest the progress of the 

 evil, but they cannot do impossibilities. 



Unfair fishing and poaching they can do something to 

 check, but these are the least of the evils the river suffers 



