Now let's ban fishing

Colin Brett · #1 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 15:35

From the Letters page of the Cambridge News 4th September 2002.

Now let's ban fishing!!

from Teresa Thom

I had the considerable displeasure of witnessing an act of great cruelty on a visit to a popular fishing spot near your offices on Saturday.

A group of people were engaged in a fishing match.

I could not believe that this hideous and grotesquely cruel practise is still permitted under British law.

Now that we are banning hunting with dogsin this country I am sure that we must ban this evil practise as soon as possible.

Please tell your readers that if they ever see this evil practise they are to approach the fishermen and women and tell them to stop.

I shall be returning to your area at the end of the month and looking for people who will support a ban on fishing.

James Street,
London W1

Enough said??????????????????????

Colin

#2 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 16:15

People want to ban boxing, but it isn't going to happen.

I wouldn't be surprised if Teresa Thom was on the C.A. march.

#3 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 17:10

Colin,I hope you intend to write to the newspaper concerned and explain some of the good that anglers do.

In particular you could point out to Teresa Thom that there would be no fish if it were not for the anglers.

She has already told us it is a "popular fishing spot" why would she visit such a place if she knew she would not like what she saw?

#4 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 18:22

This post appears twice. I don't think we should rush to man the barricades because of one rather twee and naive letter in a local paper. Can you seriously imagine the readers being moved to approach anglers and declare, "I say. Stop this evil practice at once". As Derrick says, people are always writing to papers, requesting the banning of something or other.

DAVE COOPER · #5 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 18:33

The address says it all! A west end of London , probably ex public schoolgirl, that has lost all touch with rural reality.

Can't see further than the end of her nose. Misses entirely the fact that the urban development she is participating in by living in an ever expanding community is causing far more harm to fish than we fisherman ever will.

#6 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 19:50

Suggest it should be seen as CA propaganda. When will anglers learn! Any angler who supports the CA is playing into their grubby hands. Thankfully people like Colin exist in bringing this to everyones' attention. There's an excellent reply for you to post to your local paper, if Mss Thom writes to it, on AnglersNet from a Peter Sharpe. A good model for us all.

Colin Brett · #7 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 19:54

John, below is my reply to the Cambridge News sent out earlier this evening.

So Teresa Thom wants to ban fishing? I wonder, would there be any fish if it wasn't for fishing and fishermen/women making sure the waters of this land are clean enough to support fish and other aquatic life? The efforts that a considerable number of Anglers go to just to improve the environment are quite considerable, derelict waterways and overgrown lakes are cleared and renovated, trees planted along with a multitude of other plants. Restocking with not just fish but the food to sustain them as well as fish breeding. Far from practising a cruel and grotesquely evil sport, anglers do more good for the environment than any of the "we don't do it, so ban it" brigade.
Many anglers also hold and support charity events around the whole of the UK. I assume that because they take part in a sport she sees a cruel and grotesque, they would no doubt be viewed in the same light. Now most of these charities are devoted to relieving human misery in one form or another, perhaps Teresa Thom would be better employed [if indeed she is employed] in doing something to help alleviate these problems instead of making threats [why Cambridge] against a perfectly legitimate activity enjoyed by millions both in the UK and world-wide!
I must also assume she doesn't eat fish!

Hope you approve [ha ha]
Colin

#8 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 19:56

Actually Laurie I think this post appears three times so I thought I'd post this response again.

"Please tell your readers that if they ever see this evil practise they are to approach the fishermen and women and tell them to stop."

If approached by these people I suggest we respond in a calm and rational manner by asking them to rearrange the following words into a well known phrase or saying:-

"Off P**s!!"

#9 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 20:13

Colin
Excellent reply my mate.
I bet this Teresa Thom women even gets out of the bath for a wee
Tight lines and happy fishing
Dave

#10 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 21:46

the same or a very similar letter has apeared this week in at least 4 diferent regional newspapers up and down the country....she must have a jet to have got around to all of them on Saturday.

all posted by the same woman.....