Letter: Cruelty to fish

Sir: I have noticed two common themes in the arguments of those who wish to deny the obvious animal cruelty that is so much a part of hunting, shooting and fishing. First, the use of the epithet "do-gooder" as an insult and then, inexplicably, lentil-eating as a sure sign of mental enfeeblement in those who disagree with their freedom to torture wild animals.

On the effects of lentil consumption I cannot comment, but may I assume that these defenders of the indefensible consider themselves the very opposite of "do-gooders"?

JOHN F WOOD

St Austell,

Cornwall