SWAN UPPING ON THE THAMES, c1885
With their long poles and feathered hats, these Swan Uppers are ready for the peculiar tradition of catching, counting and checking the swan population of the River Thames. Swan Upping is a royal affair as the British Crown claims the right to all unmarked mute swans in open water. While the annual event was originally used to divide ownership of the swans between the Crown and landowners, today it enables experts to check the health of the birds.