Swan Poaching By Eastern Europeans In UK...

Sorry, Poached Swan's Off:
Calls For Clampdown On River Bandits From Eastern Europe

By MATTHEW HICKLEY, DAILY MAIL (UK)
Last updated at 13:14pm on 7th August 2007

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...in_article_id=
=3D473578&in_page_id=3D1770&ICO=3DNEWS&ICL=3DTOPAR T

"There are few sights so serene as a swan sailing majestically along the
Grand Union Canal.

Except, that is, when it is being chased by a gang of hungry, knife-wielding
Eastern Europeans.

Polish and Lithuanian immigrants have been seen trying to drag the 20 lb.
birds away, while the remains of some have been found butchered on the
towpath near Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire. Hundreds are believed to have
disappeared from the area.

Now, just in case the newcomers are unaware of the law protecting swans,
members of Luton Angling Club have come up with a sign making it clear that
they are not for human consumption.

Luton Angling Club's sign makes it clear that swans are not for human
consumption

They hope British Waterways will erect it along the canal, along with
similar notices featuring carp.

The custom of feasting on roast swan died out in Britain a century ago and
killing wild swans - which officially belong to the Queen - is now
punishable by six months in jail and a GBP 35,000 fine.

Club official Joanne Edwards, 44, who patrols the canal regularly, described
a number of tense confrontations with Poles and Lithuanians.

"Every time I try to explain to them that they can't treat our waters as a
larder they just pretend they don't understand," she said.

"On one occasion there were four of them fishing and they'd already taken a
fish without putting it back.

"Then they got a swan round the neck and pulled it back up on to the bank
and the four of them were fighting with it, but luckily it was strong enough
to pull away."

Miss Edwards, 44, from Dunstable, added: "A few years ago there were lots of
swans on every section of the canal. I recently patrolled a six-mile stretch
and saw just two. They're virtually gone from quieter stretches.

"Even the number of ducks seems to be less. It's dismal, and the police and
Environment Agency don't seem to want to react."

She added that the migrants had failed to grasp the concept of catching fish
for sport and returning them to the water.

"They think they can catch the fish for food, but the club leases the
fishing rights on this stretch and our rules are clear that all fish caught
must be put back.

"We first noticed the problem two or three years ago. Now the carp have
nearly all gone. You're lucky to catch one at all in this canal."

/

Comments:.

These migrants are destroying Great Britain. Time to close ourborders.
- Graeme Carter, London, UK

But it's worth it, isn't it, for the sake of the wonderful
multicultural utopia we all live in?
- Malcolm Watson, Manchester, UK

I am sure someone will decide it is their human right to catch swans and
roast them for Sunday lunch.
- William D. Fillingham, Wisbech, Cambs."

/

Absolutely ho hum


"Gregory Morrow" a écrit dans le
message de ...

Sorry, Poached Swan's Off:
Calls For Clampdown On River Bandits From Eastern Europe

By MATTHEW HICKLEY, DAILY MAIL (UK)
Last updated at 13:14pm on 7th August 2007

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...in_article_id=
=3D473578&in_page_id=3D1770&ICO=3DNEWS&ICL=3DTOPAR T

"There are few sights so serene as a swan sailing majestically along the
Grand Union Canal.

Except, that is, when it is being chased by a gang of hungry,
knife-wielding
Eastern Europeans.

Polish and Lithuanian immigrants have been seen trying to drag the 20 lb.
birds away, while the remains of some have been found butchered on the
towpath near Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire. Hundreds are believed to
have
disappeared from the area.

Now, just in case the newcomers are unaware of the law protecting swans,
members of Luton Angling Club have come up with a sign making it clear
that
they are not for human consumption.

Luton Angling Club's sign makes it clear that swans are not for human
consumption

They hope British Waterways will erect it along the canal, along with
similar notices featuring carp.

The custom of feasting on roast swan died out in Britain a century ago and
killing wild swans - which officially belong to the Queen - is now
punishable by six months in jail and a GBP 35,000 fine.

Club official Joanne Edwards, 44, who patrols the canal regularly,
described
a number of tense confrontations with Poles and Lithuanians.

"Every time I try to explain to them that they can't treat our waters as a
larder they just pretend they don't understand," she said.

"On one occasion there were four of them fishing and they'd already taken
a
fish without putting it back.

"Then they got a swan round the neck and pulled it back up on to the bank
and the four of them were fighting with it, but luckily it was strong
enough
to pull away."

Miss Edwards, 44, from Dunstable, added: "A few years ago there were lots
of
swans on every section of the canal. I recently patrolled a six-mile
stretch
and saw just two. They're virtually gone from quieter stretches.

"Even the number of ducks seems to be less. It's dismal, and the police
and
Environment Agency don't seem to want to react."

She added that the migrants had failed to grasp the concept of catching
fish
for sport and returning them to the water.

"They think they can catch the fish for food, but the club leases the
fishing rights on this stretch and our rules are clear that all fish
caught
must be put back.

"We first noticed the problem two or three years ago. Now the carp have
nearly all gone. You're lucky to catch one at all in this canal."

/

Comments:.

These migrants are destroying Great Britain. Time to close ourborders.
- Graeme Carter, London, UK

But it's worth it, isn't it, for the sake of the wonderful
multicultural utopia we all live in?
- Malcolm Watson, Manchester, UK

I am sure someone will decide it is their human right to catch swans and
roast them for Sunday lunch.
- William D. Fillingham, Wisbech, Cambs."

/