§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras. W.)asked the First Commissioner of Works, Why the public are prevented from angling in the ornamental waters of the Regent's Park and the other Parks of the Metropolis; and, whether he will rescind the prohibition?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER (Mr. PLUNKET) (Dublin University)I can assure the hon. Member that it is my wish that Regent's Park and the other Parks of the Metropolis should be made available for the recreation of the public as much as is possible. But there are very great difficulties in the way of allowing angling in these ornamental waters. In the first place, it is obvious that it would be impossible that all the inhabitants of London should be allowed to fish there. And it would be a very invidious and difficult matter to arrange any system of selection of particular individuals. I am informed that the main 263 reason why the prohibition was originally introduced was that it was found by experience that the banks of the waters, and, indeed, all the grass in the neighbourhood, were seriously damaged by people tearing up the ground in search of bait and in other ways; and it was considered that the disfigurement thus caused to the appearance of the Parks was quite out of proportion to the enjoyment of those actually engaged in the sport of angling.
§ MR. LAWSONinquired whether the right hon, and learned Gentleman was aware that the privilege was enjoyed up to the year 1869?
§ MR. PLUNKETsaid, that he regretted to say that at the present moment he did not see his way to withdrawing the existing restriction.