434 MR. T. SOUTHWELL ON SOME ANCIENT CUSTOMS WITH 
poacher. Fish were taken at all times, and by every conceivable 
method, many of the modes employed being terribly destructive, 
until the waters were so depleted as to alarm the lovers of the 
angle, for which the banks of the Yare have always been so 
celebrated. The result was that a society called the “ Norwich 
and Norfolk Anglers’ Society ” was established at Norwieh in the 
year 1857, having for its object the protection of the fish inhabit- 
ing the waters so dear to Norwich anglers, by putting in force 
some of the ancient powers vested in the Corporation of Norwich, 
to which reference will be made further on. This society laboured 
incessantly to restrict the wholesale and unsportsmanlike destruc- 
tion of fish which prevailed so extensively ; but at first, owing, 
amongst other causes, to the limited jurisdiction of the City 
Corporation, with very little success. Nothing daunted, however, 
their efforts were continued until this at first humbly constituted 
body so increased in numbers and influence, as eventually to succeed 
in obtaining a special Act of Parliament known as the “ Norfolk 
and Suffolk Fisheries Act, 1877 and the counties of Norfolk 
and Suffolk enjoyed, and do still enjoy, the proud distinction of 
having an Act of Parliament all to themselves. Under this Aet a 
body of conservators was appointed, who framed a code of efficient 
bye-laws, whicli are enforced by the anglers’ society now known as 
the “ Yare Preservation and Anglers’ Society,” the due observance 
of which has been attended with the most beneficial results.* 
But this excellent society did not rest satisfied with having 
done its best to protect for the benefit of the many the bounteous 
supplies of fish which were unfairly swept away by the few. 
Under its auspices the “National Fisheries Exhibition” was 
held at Norwich in 1881 ; the first of a series which culminated 
in the Great International Fisheries Exhibition, held in London 
in 1883. The movement originated in this obscure corner of 
the kingdom may therefore be said to have lead to results of 
even national importance. From these exhibitions great things 
* I regret to find in some quarters a tendency to undervalue the privilege 
thus obtained at a cost of so much labour and expense, and a desire to 
relinquish our e.xceptional legi.slatiou in favour of a more general Act 
providing a close-time for rod fishing, a precaution which, however beneficial 
it may prove in w'aters of limited extent, is certainly not necessary in the 
abundantly watered district to which our Act applies. 
