Roast swan for Xmas dinner anyone?

[Guest]

Its only illegal in London apparently.

Since the 12th century, the Crown has
held the right to ownership over all
wild, unmarked mute swans in open
water. However, the Queen only
exercises her right over parts of the
Thames and its tributaries. This right
is shared with the Vintners’ Company
and the Dyers’ Company, livery
companies of the City of London.
Every year, the Swan Upping
ceremony is carried out by the Crown
and the Companies to record and
mark all the swans in the area.
Killing one of the Queen’s mute
swans may be unlawful, but it has
never been an act of treason.
Furthermore, tame swans and all
other varieties of wild swan (eg
whooper and Bewick’s swans) are
free.

http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/docs/Legal_Oddities.pdf

 

[astonion]

Blooming heck GT I cant be reading that lot, cant you just tell us what they taste like.

 

[Guest]

Sorry buddy, just reading up on some crazy laws and came across the one about swans.

Also its a shame the allowed killing a of Welshman in Chester is only a myth.

 

[mike_field]

Not a myth is it, it was on the books somewhere, but it's been repealed along with most of the other 'dumb English laws' you can google, but it was based on a somewhat truth somewhere.

Same as a Hackney Carriage to this day should still carry a bail of hay I think.

 

[Guest]

Swans are beautiful creatures but they are also evil fecker, me and my mate walking from college many years back down the canal was approached by about three of the barstools flapping there wings at us my mate clinging to me behind me as i was swining my bag to fend them off, we had to make a run for it in the end, so i say kill and eat the little ba*tads!

 

[Wurzel]

They would give you a nasty suck Clive.

 

[Thomas Holte]

When I lived in the UK it was fairly close to the river Avon, there was always swans around and to be honest, I've never liked the hissing bastards.

Looks like this eagle won't bother cooking it!