THE article "MP speaks out for ban on hunting" recently appeared in the Bolton Evening News.

At the outset, let me say that I am swayed neither one way nor the other on the subject of hunting.

What I cannot see is how the devil those who oppose it (including MPs such as Mr Lewis and Dr Iddon) can differentiate between the pain suffered by fox, deer, mink and hares to that of fish.

Surely, if we are to behave humanely towards wild creatures, this must include those under the water as well as those above it!

I am not sure which I would prefer, a poorly-aimed gunshot wound, being torn apart by dogs, or being pulled from my environment by a huge (from the fish's point of view) metal hook in my head, or in a small-meshed net, and then into an alien environment! It could be argued that not all fish are killed, true, but, those who are, are then usually hit on the head by a heavy lump of wood, sometimes several times, or left to "drown" in our atmosphere. Those that are not killed are undoubtedly traumatised. In other words, I fail to see any substantial difference.

The pro-hunting lobby says that 78 per cent of the public are in favour of hunting. Well, the truth of that could be tested by referendum.

I agree that it is an important and emotive subject for most people, therefore a referendum would take away the onus from our MPs to allow them to get on with dealing with other matters. It could even be included in the forthcoming local government elections by the extra piece of paper with the ballot form; easy stuff, problem solved.

If we are to ban hunting, do it properly, ban the lot!

Ivan Millington

Spindle Croft

Farnworth