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Definition :

Thames. See (English) Thames Conservancy Act, 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. c. clxxxvii.); defined in s. 3 as meaning and including:-

So much of the rivers Thames and Isis respectively as are between the town of Cricklade and an imaginary straight line drawn from the entrance to Gantlet creek in the county of Kent to the City stone opposite to Canve Island in the county of Essex and so much of the river Kennet as is between the Common landing-place at Reading in the county of Berks and the river Thames and so much of the river Lee and Bow creek respectively as are below the south boundary stones in the Lee Conservancy Act, 1868, mentioned and all locks, cuts, and works within the said portions of rivers and creeks:

Provided that no dock, lock, canal, or cut, existing at the passing of this Act and constructed under the authority of Parliament and belonging to any body corporate established under such authority, and no bridge over the river Thames or the river Kennet belonging to or vested in any county council or municipal authority or to or in any railway company shall be deemed to form part of the Thames.

The (English) Act of 1894 repeals thirty Acts, from 21 Jac. 1, c. 32, to the (English) Thames Preservation Act, 1885. The 'conservators' under the Act ae partly elected by shipowners, dock-owners and wharfingers, and partly appointed by Water Companies. In them are vested (see s. 58) the bed and shores of the river, and they have ample powers (see s. 191) to make bye-laws for prevention of obstruction; for regulation of vessels, of persons using tow-paths, piers, etc., and of passage through locks; for regulation of bathing, fishing, and exhibition of advertisements; 'for prescribing the numbers of persons who may be carried in or on randans, wherries, skiffs, dingeys, shallops, punts, canoes, rafts, and other small boats and craft however navigated on the Thames above Teddington ock, and for preventing the overcrowding of such vessels'; and for very many other purposes. See also the Port of London Act, 1908, repealed, except as to the Upper Thames, by the Local Act of 1920 (10 & 11 Geo. 5, c. clxxiii.), dealing with the Thames from and below Teddington and providing for the Port of London Authority, and SANITARY AUTHO-RITY; LONDON, PORT OF; and Land Drainage Act, 1930 (20 & 21 Geo. 5, c. 44).

Thames Embankment, from Westiminster Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge (25 & 26 Vict. c. 93; 26 & 27 Vict. cc. 45, 75). As to the Southern Embankment of the Thames, see 26 & 27 Vict. c. 75. See also Local Government Act, 1929, providing for the transfer of functions relating to the Thames Embankments to the London County Council upon Order: see S.R. & O. 1933 (No. 114) and 1934 (No. 523), and many other statutes, both public and local, indicated in Appx. VI. of the Index of Statutes in Force; and 50 & 51 Vict. c. 34 (Chelsea).

Thames Watermen.--By 7 & 8 Geo. 4, c. lxxv., the watermen, wherrymen, and lightermen of the Thames were consolidated into one body corporate, in the freemen and apprentices whereof was vested, subject to certain exceptions, the exclusive right of navigating that river for hire; and see Part IV. of the Thames Conservancy Act, 1894 (local). The powers of this body were transferred to the Port of London Authority by the (repealed) Port of London Act, 1908, s. 11. See now THAMES AND LONDON, PORT OF.