Swan upping

[The Black Rabbit]

Just in case anyone in the area is at all interested - they're "Swan Upping" on the Thames now.
4 boats have just rowed past us here at Reading on the Thames, a few minutes ago.
I think it all should finished by the 18th.
TBR

[Dae]

That has to be one of the oddest traditions I've seen, I can see why it was used in the days they started, suppose it just sort of became habit when it became outdated. It does seem like they've put it to better use to monitor the swans' health.

[Tormentil]

Under a Royal Charter of the 15th century, the Vintners' Company and the Dyers' Company, two Livery Companies of the City of London, are entitled to share in the Sovereign's ownership.

The purpose of swan upping is to mark all new cygnets with the same mark as their parents. The method is to drive each group of swans into the bank, where the cob and pen have their beaks examined to ascertain ownership, and the cygnets are then similarly marked by making nicks with a sharp knife. The Worshipful Company of Dyers marking theirs with a nick on one side of the beak, and the Worshipful Company of Vintners marking theirs with a nick on each side. The latter is the origin of the inn sign 'A Swan with Two Necks'. (i.e. two 'nicks'). Royal swans are now left unmarked.