THE NATURALIST ON THE THAMES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Your interesting article, " The Naturalist on the Thames," in the Spectator of July 29th, perhaps gives too much credit to the clause preventing shooting on the river, which was based on my evidence on the subject before the Select Committee on the Thames. The increase of the king- fisher has been at least as great on the navigable Wey as on the Thames, and mast in part be due to the general legislation with regard to the preservation of birds. The improvement which is pointed out by your contributor as regards the con. dition of the water vegetation is perhaps not so absolute as it might be. The summer snowflake, or Loddon lily, which in the years in which I best knew the whole course of the Thames, 1869-1882, was common on all the islands, is now, I fear, extremely scarce. The water-lily has again increased after a rapid diminution, but while now not much picked by ordinary Thames users, is still carried off in great masses, and with much rude tearing, on Saturday afternoons by gangs of professional pickers, who row rapidly away and sell the flowers. The Conservancy handbill is not mach seen ; and Thames users have still to complain of the throwing into the water of paper, and the leaving of bottles and other rubbish on the banks. It is to be hoped that the new Thames Preservation Committee will be able early next season to circulate a handbill which will lead to the discontinuance of objectionable practices which are struck at in the little-known by-laws of the Conservancy. The best means of enforcing these by-laws must be one of the earliest matters to be considered by the new Committee, and it is probable that the gentlest methods will be the best, except where extremely rowdy gangs have to be dealt with, such as those who loot the haunts of the water-lily between Chertsey and Laleham, and at the entrance to Dockett Eddy, opposite Dockett Point, every Saturday afternoon.-1 am,
Sir. &c., CHARLES W. DUKE. 76 Sloane Street, S.W., August 1st.
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