I read with interest the letters on August 13. I don't know whether fish feel pain when hooked by anglers.

I suspect it does them no good at all and nor does throwing stones into the water to frighten them - as the armchair eco-warriors did when they attempted to disrupt a children's angling event.

On balance, however, I would rather young people hooked the odd fish to get their daily adrenaline instead of the myriad of antisocial and dangerous pastimes into which they might otherwise channel their energies.

Would it be better if they endangered their own lives and those of others by leaping off piers and breakwaters? Or by driving cars at crazy speeds up Madeira Drive?

Or even hanging around shopping centres getting into mischief?

The depressing truth is that antisocial and illegal activities against humans are becoming the only options left for lively teenagers once the self-appointed moral guardians have had their way.

-Dave Booth, Lewes