Cruel hobby

The photograph of Britain’s 
biggest freshwater catch looks very fishy indeed (“Fisherman lands biggest UK freshwater fish ever caught”, 1 August).

People would be horrified if anglers did to dogs what they do to fish – impale them through their sensitive lips and yank them into an environment in which they can’t breathe – for nothing more than sport.

Common sense and ichthyologists tell us that when it comes to feeling pain, fish are equal to dogs, cats and even this writer.

No-one should be hooked on fishing, and there’s no excuse for hooking fish at all.

Anglers should hang up their rods and switch to hobbies that do not involve harming sentient beings.

Ben Williamson

Peta (People for the 
Ethical Treatment of 
Animals)

Southwark Street

London