A giant python found on a Malaysian building site, that may be the longest ever caught, has died, officials say.

The estimated eight-metre-long (26ft) snake was spotted Thursday under a fallen tree on the island of Penang.
It died on Sunday after laying eggs, Herme Herisyam, operations chief for Penang's Civil Defence Department's southwest district told the BBC.
The current record for longest snake ever caught is 7.67m (25ft), Guinness World Records says.
Medusa, a reticulated python weighing 158kg (24st 12lb), is kept at a haunted house in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Malaysian snake, also thought to be a reticulated python, has not been officially measured by record keepers.
Mr Herisyan said it weighed 250kg (39st 5lb) and took 30 minutes to rescue.
Another civil defence official said that the snake's capture and the attention it received likely compounded the stress of laying eggs.
Muhammad Aizat said the snake laid one egg, before going "quiet".
It was due to be transferred to the government's Department of Wildlife before it died.


Police have said the killing of a man in north Belfast's Ardoyne area on Friday night bore all the hallmarks of a paramilitary murder.

Michael McGibbon, 33, was shot three times in the leg in an alleyway at Butler Place at about 22:05 BST.
He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where he later died.
Police said Mr McGibbon was not known to police and they did not know why he had been murdered.
He was married with a young family.
Police held a press conference on Saturday afternoon to give more details about the killing.
They said Mr McGibbon had contacted police to inform them that two masked men had turned up at his house on Thursday evening.
The men asked him to come out of the house but he refused and the men told him they would come back.
The officer leading the investigation into Mr McGibbon's murder, Det Supt John McVea, said nothing could justify or explain the senselessness of it.
"Michael was brutally and callously shot a number of times in the leg in an alleyway in a densely populated urban area," he said.
"Despite the best efforts of his wife Joanne immediately after the attack, she was unable to save him and Michael tragically passed away following emergency surgery at the RVH.
"What happened in that alleyway last night robbed a family of a treasured husband and father."
He also revealed that Mr McGibbon's murder had been referred to the Police Ombudsman.
Det Supt McVea also appealed for information about the two men who called to Mr McGibbon's home on Thursday.
He said the first man was described as in his early 20s, slim and was wearing a red hooded top, baseball cap and had a scarf over his face.
The second was in his late teens, wearing a grey hooded top, baseball cap and also had a scarf over his face.
The alleyway has been cordoned off to allow forensic officers to carry out an examination.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, said: "This callous and shocking murder appears to have the hallmarks of the paramilitary-style assaults which too often ruin lives and scar Northern Ireland.
"My sympathy is with Mr McGibbon's young family."
Sinn FÃ©in MLA Gerry Kelly visited the victim's family.
"I unreservedly condemn the murder of a father-of-four in Ardoyne last night," he said.
SDLP North Belfast councillor Nichola Mallon said the community had been left "shocked and horrified by this brutal murder".
"My thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family whose lives have been plunged into darkness by this unspeakable crime," she said.
Alliance councillor Nuala McAllister condemned those behind the attack.
"There can never be any excuse for carrying out such a heinous act and I utterly condemn the thugs behind it," she said.


Rory McIlroy will go into the final round of the Northern Trust Open in California two strokes behind leader Bubba Watson.

The Northern Irishman, ranked third in the world, shot a third-round 67 to move to 10 under for the tournament.
Watson also shot 67 for 12 under to lead by one from fellow Americans Jason Kokrak, Chez Reavie and Dustin Johnson.
McIlroy is in a group of five players that includes Australian Adam Scott and South Korea's KJ Choi.
More to follow.


Nottingham Forest have signed Switzerland midfielder Pajtim Kasami on a season-long loan from Olympiacos.

Kasami, 24, has made 67 appearances for Olympiacos since joining from Fulham in 2014 and won the Greek double in 2015.
During his three-year spell with the Cottagers in the Premier League, Kasami made 55 appearance in all competitions.
The former Palermo man has made 12 appearances for the Swiss national team and was part of their squad at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


Tesco has admitted responsibility for a petrol leak into a Lancashire river.

The supermarket's Haslingden filling station leaked underground into Langwood Brook, a tributary to the River Irwell, in July 2014.
Tesco Stores Limited pleaded guilty to contravening the requirements of an environmental permit and contravening health and safety regulations at Burnley Crown Court on Monday.
The company will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court in January.
The prosecutions were brought by the Environment Agency and Lancashire County Council after 23,500 litres of petrol escaped from the filling station at Syke Street, Haslingden between 2 and 3 July 2014.


A teacher at a special school in Vale of Glamorgan left three of his pupils unsupervised, a hearing has been told.

Ben Williams, a  teacher at Ysgol-y-Deri in Penarth, denies unacceptable professional conduct over three separate incidents in December 2014.
Two involved pupils with Down's Syndrome and the third a pupil with autism spectrum disorder and behavioural difficulties.
The Education Workforce Council hearing in Cardiff continues.
A fitness to practice committee was told Mr Williams was suspended from the school after the third incident at the school, which had opened two months earlier.
Matthew Richards, representing Mr Williams, said he had been the victim of a "vendetta" by headteacher Chris Britten and governors following earlier disciplinary issues.


Animal rights activists say they have obtained video showing exported Australian cattle being killed with sledgehammers in Vietnam.

The Australian government says it will investigate the footage.
The video comes four years after Australia had to suspend cattle exports to Indonesia because of mistreatment.
Animal rights activists say the footage shows cows having their skulls smashed by sledgehammers at an abattoir in Vietnam.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Wednesday that the government would probe the incident, but not suspend live cattle exports to Vietnam.
Although not released yet due to its graphic nature, the video has caused the Animals Australia rights group to file a complaint with the agriculture department in Canberra.
Meanwhile, Australia's Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has called on the government to halt the live cattle trade with Vietnam.
Sales of Australian cattle to Vietnam increased more than 700% between 2008 and 2014, and will be worth A$117m ($92m, Â£60m) in the upcoming season starting in July.
Animals Australia has tweeted about the situation in Vietnam, urging people to demand their MPs ban the export of live cattle using the hashtag #BanLiveExport.
The group plans to stage a rally against live cattle trade on Saturday at Adelaide's Parliament House.


Captain Scott Brown has been a "terrific influence" on players looking to make their Scotland debuts, according to coach Gordon Strachan.

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The 30-year-old Celtic midfielder will win his 50th cap if he features in a friendly against Denmark on Tuesday, when six players could earn first caps.
"He's not only been a good footballer, but he's been a good help to young players now," said Strachan.
"He's been a big part of my career over the last 10 years."
Brown was signed from Hibernian by the Scotland coach when he was in charge of Celtic and also made him captain while Darren Fletcher was absent through prolonged illness.
"He is good with people, he likes being with people, he makes everyone welcome here and then he trains to the maximum," said Strachan.
"He is a leader and Darren Fletcher is too."
Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean won his first cap after starting in Thursday's 1-0 friendly win over the Czech Republic in Prague.
Tony Watt, the Charlton Athletic striker currently on loan with Blackburn Rovers, and Birmingham City full-back Paul Caddis also made their Scotland debuts from the bench.
On Tuesday, it could be the turn of Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney and Nottingham Forest midfielder Oliver Burke to earn their first senior caps at the age of 18.
Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain, Leeds United defender Liam Cooper, Hibs midfielder John McGinn and Brighton winger Jamie Murphy are also possible debutants.
Burke has only made six starts and come off the bench 13 times for his English Championship club.
However, Strachan said: "I've seen him a right few times now and seen his debut and he impressed and I've got to say he has impressed everyone here so far.
"If you are playing in a successful team, you are ready for international level.
"It doesn't matter to me if you are Gordon Greer at 34/35, or Oliver Burke at 18."
Tierney has ousted Honduras international Emilio Izaguirre from Celtic's starting line-up this season.
"He has played European football against top sides, so that's been a benefit to him and to Celtic and to us," said Strachan.
"He did not look out of place in the games I seen him and he's got a good way about him - determined and he's got a bit of humility about him.
"I think it's helped that Scott Brown's been round him and people like that."
Brown, who thinks Tierney's progress this season "has been exceptional", was looking forward to matching the feat of Alan Hutton, the Aston Villa right-back having earned his 50th cap on Thursday.
"It feels like I'm getting old," said the Scotland captain. "I was told that Kieran was eight years old when I had my first international cap."
Brown praised Strachan for his role in his own progress when asked how he had changed since that debut against United States in 2005.
"I was a bit of a hothead from Hibs at the time and now I'm a hothead at Celtic, so not too much," he joked.
"He has put a lot of faith in me and I've got a lot to thank him for over my career, for signing me and making me a better player since signing from Hibs.
"He understands the game way more than anyone I have ever worked with."
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Dundee), Craig Gordon (Celtic)
Defenders: Ikechi Anya (Watford), Paul Caddis (Birmingham City), Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Gordon Greer (Brighton), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Steven Whittaker (Norwich City)
Midfielders: Liam Bridcutt (Leeds United, on loan from Sunderland), Scott Brown (Celtic), Oliver Burke (Nottingham Forest), James Forrest (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Hull City), John McGinn (Hibernian), Jamie Murphy (Brighton), Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth)
Forwards: Steven Fletcher (Marseille, on loan from Sunderland), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Chris Martin (Derby County)


England interim boss Gareth Southgate has defended Manchester United's Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw after criticism from their club manager, Jose Mourinho.

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The United boss questioned the pair for missing Sunday's 3-1 Premier League win at Swansea, saying: "For the team, you have to do anything."
Smalling has a foot injury, while Shaw played in United's Europa League defeat by Fenerbahce on Thursday.
Southgate said there was "obviously something wrong" with both players.
Central defender Smalling, 26, and left-back Shaw, 21, have been left out of the England squad for Friday's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Scotland and next week's friendly against Spain.
Shaw has played six league games this season since returning from a double leg break last September.
Asked by media if the two players were "flaky" characters, Southgate replied: "That wouldn't be my impression.
"Luke I know well and Luke's had a really tough injury. I think very often it's easy to look from the outside or to make judgements on people without knowing them really, really well."
Shaw and Smalling have played with pain-killing injections this season and there are reports that former Southampton full-back Shaw is "baffled" by Mourinho's criticism.
Before the Swansea game, the Manchester United manager said: "Smalling doesn't feel that he can play 100% with his pain. Shaw told me this morning that he was not able to play.
"There is a difference between the brave, who want to play at any cost, and the ones for whom a little pain can make a difference."


President Donald Trump is due to give a major speech in Poland's capital Warsaw, laying out his vision for America's relations with Europe.

Mr Trump can expect a warm welcome when he addresses crowds at Krasinski Square - as Poland's conservative government shares his hostility to immigration and a strong sense of national sovereignty.
And he will promote trade at talks with Central and Eastern European leaders.
The visit comes ahead of a G20 summit of world leaders in Hamburg, Germany.
Five reasons why Trump is visiting Poland
First on Mr Trump's busy Thursday agenda will be the Three Seas summit - a Polish and Croatian initiative bringing together 12 nations between the Baltic, the Adriatic and the Black Sea.
The US president is expected to bang the drum for US trade, telling the gathering that American gas imports could reduce their reliance on Russian energy.
The Polish government is trying to become less energy-dependent on Russia, and last month the first ever US liquefied natural gas shipment arrived.
Warsaw and three Baltic states have also voiced their opposition to Russia's plan to build a gas pipeline to Germany.
Central Europeans do not want to extend their dependence on Russian gas, but Berlin supports the project. This has caused tensions between the so-called "old" and "new" EU members.
After the Three Seas summit, Mr Trump will address crowds at the monument to the 1944 Warsaw Uprising at about 1200 BST.
The president is expected to urge the EU to take inspiration from Poland's resistance to the Nazis.
He will also set out his vision for America's future relationship with Europe.
And he will reaffirm US support for Eastern Europe ahead of his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit, the BBC's James Landale in Warsaw reports.
Last week, Mr Trump's national security adviser HR McMaster said: "He (President Trump) will lay out a vision not only for America's future relationship with Europe, but the future of our trans-Atlantic alliance, and what that means for American security and American prosperity."
But the big question will be how strongly Mr Trump will emphasise America's commitment to Nato's mutual defence, our correspondent says.
Mr Trump once described Nato as an "obsolete" alliance, saying that many members have failed to meet the military spending target of 2% of their gross domestic product.
Nato and Trump: What future for Atlantic alliance?
Later on Thursday, the US leader will travel to Hamburg for what could be a potentially fractious summit.
He has fallen out with some EU nations over climate change and trade - the issues that are expected to be discussed in Germany.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May will challenge President Trump over climate change, saying that an international agreement on the issue should not be renegotiated.
"She will say that we don't see any need for renegotiation - we support the Paris Agreement because it delivers," an official within the UK government said.
Security has also been beefed up in Hamburg, where thousands of people are planning more protests to disrupt the gathering.


Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to the UK later this year, a foreign office minister said.

Hugo Swire referred to the visit during an appearance before the Commons foreign affairs committee.
The Foreign Office said it was "discussing a possible visit with the Chinese", and Buckingham Palace said any state visit would be announced "in the normal way".
David Cameron and other British ministers visited Beijing in 2013.
Sino-British relations have improved since a row in 2012 over David Cameron's decision to meet exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
Mr Swire was being questioned by the MPs about Beijing's refusal to allow the committee into Hong Kong as part of their inquiry into British relations with its former colony.
This came after months of protests in Hong Kong by pro-democracy activists.
Mr Swire said he had spoken to the Chinese ambassador about the issue, and went on to say that 2015 would be a "an extraordinarily important year" including "amongst other things, the visit of Prince William the Duke of Cambridge for the first time, and a state visit from President Xi later on in the year".
A state visit would include a meeting with the Queen, a visit to Parliament and a meeting with the prime minister.
The last one by a Chinese leader to the UK was a decade ago when Hu Jintao visited in November 2005.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "If we were hosting a state visit, we would announce it in the normal way."
The Foreign Office said: "We are discussing a possible visit with the Chinese.
"Any future state visit would be announced in the usual way."


West Brom boss Tony Pulis will take charge of his 1,000th game as a manager at former club Stoke on Saturday and says that one of the biggest changes during his career has been footballers becoming "film stars".

The 58-year-old, who drew his first game in management with Bournemouth in 1992 on a plastic pitch at Preston, admits that a return to Stoke "could not have been scripted better".
"Players live a different life now," he said. "In a world where they get everything, they've become film stars."
Pulis managed the Potters for 464 matches over two spells and comes up against his old side with them bottom of the early Premier League table.
But the Welshman - who has also managed Crystal Palace in the Premier League - expects current Stoke boss Mark Hughes to steer his side away from trouble.
"You couldn't have scripted it better to be honest, the fact that I'm going back to Stoke," Pulis said.
"It's fantastic. Whichever way the result goes, my 1,000th game will be at Stoke and I had great times there.
"Everything changes so quickly. A couple of games and Stoke could be two-thirds of the way up the table. What you've got to do, and I don't have to tell Mark how to manage, is to keep your feet on the ground. Keep looking ahead, keep pointing ahead and hope that things change.
"They have a very strong squad there and it's a surprise that they are down at the bottom. I'm sure they will get out of it - I just hope that it's not on Saturday that they start."
Pulis first took charge of Bournemouth in the third tier of English football in August 1992, as the first Premier League season got under way.
His big signing that summer was striker Steve Fletcher for £30,000. This summer he broke West Brom's transfer record to spend £13m on Nacer Chadli.
He has been in charge for 277 Premier League games, 282 in the second tier, 258 in the third and 46 in the fourth.
Pulis has also won games in the FA Cup, League Cup, Football League Trophy and the Europa League.
"I could sit here all afternoon and talk about what has changed," Pulis said.
"Human beings have changed, the world has changed. Professional football, especially the Premier League, is no reflection on real life to me now.
"I would never have changed apprentices coming in and doing apprenticeships and realising how fortunate they are, even to be apprentices, never mind make the professional grade. But we can't change life - you have to move with the times.
"Everybody wants change now. If you don't like a programme straight away you can turn it over. Years ago we had ITV and BBC and that was it. You were stuck with it. Today there are a million channels.
"People are like that. You have a brand new phone, two months later a new one comes out and the lads are queuing up for it. I've had my phone for about 30 years and I still can't use it properly.
"But I still love the game. I have been very, very lucky. I have been blessed really. I understand how lucky I have been."
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The new Conservative government should make bringing down the deficit a priority, members of the Institute of Directors (IoD) have said.

A survey of 1,211 IoD members indicated they believe that the deficit reduction should be achieved mainly through spending cuts rather than tax rises.
Infrastructure and education were other major policy areas the business body's members would like to see addressed.
IoD director Simon Walker said it was time for "decisive action".
More than half of those who took part in the survey, which was conducted immediately after the general election, also strongly opposed increases in national insurance, income tax, VAT and business rates.
The research also found support for improving the UK's broadband capability, investing in energy generation, and spending on railways.
In addition, there was also overwhelming support for a crackdown on tax avoidance.
Mr Walker said: "The election result was more decisive than most expected, and now is the time for the new government to take decisive action.
"Returning the budget to surplus must be the overriding goal in this Parliament, but businesses want the emphasis to be on finding further reductions in spending, not significantly raising taxes."


Brett Johns has had a change of opponent for the Welshman's second bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The 25-year-old Swansea fighter had been set to take on Mitch Gagnon at UFC Glasgow on 16 July, but will instead face American Albert Morales.
It is the second time Johns has suffered the late withdrawal of an opponent, as he was due to face Ian Entwistle at the O2 Arena in March.
That bout was cancelled but luckily he has a replacement opponent this time.
Johns is undefeated in his 13 professional MMA fights and the bantamweight won his debut UFC fight over South Korea's Kwan Ho Kwak in Belfast in November 2016.
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Morales (7-1-1) made his UFC debut in September 2016 when the 26-year-old fought Alejandro Perez to a majority draw.
The Californian's one loss in his pro MMA career came against Brazil's Tomas Almeida in November 2016 and Morales' trip to Scotland will be his first time fighting in Europe.
UFC Fight Night 113 takes place on Sunday, 16 July at the 10,500 capacity SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
Johns will be joined on the bill in Glasgow by fellow Welsh fighter, Jack Marshman. The 27-year-old middleweight from Abertillery will face Canadian Ryan Janes.
UFC Glasgow will be headlined by Gunnar Nelson taking on Santiago Ponzinibbio.


Wales and British Lions rugby star Adam Jones is the mystery runner for the 2014 Nos Galan road race.

More than 1,000 adults and children joined the Cardiff Blues prop forward near Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, which celebrates legendary local runner Guto Nyth Bran.
Jones carried a torch from Guto's graveside at St Gwynno's Church to the town centre four miles (6.5km) away.
The annual New Year's Eve event sees competitors arriving from far and wide.
"Being a part of such a major event as this is brilliant," said Jones.
"The magic of the Nos Galan road races is something special and is held very dear by so many people.
"It has been an immense pleasure for me to be a part of it on New Year's Eve, following in the footsteps of so many mystery runners before me.
"It was good to see the town centre packed out with people of all ages enjoying the wonderful atmosphere that is the Nos Galan road races."
The two 2014 support runners were father and daughter duo Rebecca and Jeremy Horton, of Aberdare Valley Amateur Athletics Club.


Thousands of children in England started school underweight last year, according to official figures highlighted by MPs.

Rising numbers of children do not get enough to eat, says the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger.
"For a minority of children, the school lunchtime represents the only chance each day to eat something substantial," the group reported.
The government said it was committed to an "all-out war" on food poverty.
The report urges the government to use some of the money from the new sugar tax to extend free school meals for poor children into the school holidays.
The government should also make greater efforts to ensure poor families take up their entitlement to vouchers for free milk, fruit and vegetables, it adds.
"In an age of rampant child obesity there has been a shock increase in the number of children starting their first and final years of school who are underweight," say the MPs.
They highlight data from the National Child Measurement Programme for England last year which showed:
In addition, House of Commons Library analysis of the most recent data suggested that more than half a million under-fives were anaemic in 2011, the highest level in 20 years.
The report also sets out evidence from a small scale study in Birkenhead showing more than a fifth of pupils in some schools arrive hungry, with some complaining of "persistent hunger".
There is a not enough data to build a full picture, says the report, but there is evidence to suggest "too many children have hunger as their most constant companion".
In "maybe most" of these families, parents do not have sufficient income properly to feed their children, say the MPs.
But in certain cases, childhood hunger is in part down to poor parenting and is "part of a bigger picture of neglect", they add.
"Something very troubling is happening and there are at least two forces operating," said the group's chairman, Frank Field.
"One is the breakdown in parenting and the second is an increase in the numbers on a low income.
"It's a tragedy if one of these strikes a child, but it's an unbounded horror if a child is hit by both. How can the world's fifth richest nation not know the extent of physical damage caused to its own children by a lack of food?"
But he suggested the issue was failing to get political traction as voters "no longer believe the data that is published" because of "political warfare" between the government and the Trussell Trust which runs almost half of the food banks around the country.
Former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has accused the charity of "scaremongering" in its figures on food poverty.
The MPs say they are working with the United Kingdom Statistics Authority in a bid to obtain better data.
The government said it wanted "to eliminate child poverty and improve life chances for all".
"In the last Budget, we announced Â£10m of funding per year to expand breakfast clubs in schools up and down the country and have vowed to continue free school meals for more than 1.3 million children," said a spokeswoman.
"We agree with the all-party group that nobody should go hungry, especially when surplus food goes to waste. We will therefore carefully consider the recommendations made in this report."


The body of a man found in Bristol's Floating Harbour has been formally identified as missing man Jason Gurgul.

The 33-year-old father of two was last seen in the early hours of 29 April during a night out in the city centre.
Avon and Somerset police divers recovered a body yesterday near Welsh Back.
An initial post-mortem examination indicates "no evidence of any suspicious circumstances", a police spokesman said.
"We would like to thank the public for all their calls and help with our appeals to find Jason, and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very difficult time," the spokesman added.
A message left on a Facebook group set up to help find Jason from Gemma Charlie Davies read: "I have been asked to make it clear to you all that Jason was not pushed and police confirmed that there was no evidence of any suspicious circumstances.
"The family would like to thank every single one of you for all your support and help with everything through this distressing time. It is much appreciated and has been overwhelming."
Mr Gurgul was last seen on Baldwin Street at about 02:40 GMT on Saturday and was reported missing by his family when he failed to return home.
His disappearance is the latest in a spate of deaths involving men falling into the city's Floating Harbour.
Three other men â€” Deakon Wilkins, Lewis Ball and Abdulkadir Mahamoud â€” have died this year, leading to social media speculation that someone is pushing men into the water.
Police have insisted the deaths are not related and are tragic accidents, and have called for people to "refrain from being disrespectful on social media and from engaging in unhelpful speculation".


Winter is a very busy time of year for hospitals, with more people needing to see a doctor.

10 February 2017 Last updated at 09:27 GMT
Some people are worried hospitals are now getting too busy and overcrowded, meaning patients are having to wait a long time to be seen by a doctor.
How is this affecting children who get injured and need to go to hospital?
Jenny went to a children's hospital in Sheffield to speak to a doctor and find out.
She also meets Lilly and Jake, who have come to hospital needing treatment, to see how their experience went.


The Belfast Giants have added experienced forward Dustin Johner to their roster for the forthcoming Elite League season.

The 34-year-old Canadian joins the Giants from the Austrian Hockey League side Villacher SV.
Johner was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 2001 NHL draft but has played in Europe for the past decade.
He won the Swiss A League with the Zurich Lions and had a successful spell in the Swedish League.
Johner becomes the fourth new signing of the summer for the Giants following the arrivals of Darcy Murphy, Jonathan Ferland and Sebastien Sylvestre.
"Johner is one of those guys that no matter who you speak to about him, they have nothing but positive things to say - as a player, person and team-mate," said Giants head coach Adam Keefe.
"We are really excited to add a player of Dustin's pedigree to the Belfast Giants. He's another new signing that will leave it all out on the ice for this city."


The sister of a 15-year-old boy shot dead almost 40 years ago has said she wants the soldier responsible brought before the courts.

On Friday jurors at the inquest of Daniel Hegarty unanimously found that he posed no risk when he was shot twice in Londonderry during Operation Motorman in July 1972.
His cousin Christopher was wounded.
Daniel's sister Margaret Brady said she wanted the courts to tell the soldier he had committed a crime.
"Justice has been done, but at the end of the day this man should be prosecuted.
"I'm not out for revenge, I'm just out for the truth."
The family's solicitor, Des Doherty, said prosecutions were now a "definite possibility".
"The full rigour of the law has to be applied and it is now of course a matter for the coroner," the solicitor said.
"This case was not about vengeance. It was about justice."
The jury rejected claims that warnings had been shouted to the two teenagers before they were shot.
The operation was aimed at reclaiming "no go areas" in the city from the IRA.
Daniel, who was a labourer, was shot twice in the head by a soldier close to his home in Creggan. His cousin Christopher, 16, was shot in the head by the same soldier but survived.
The jury found that none of the soldiers present attempted to "approach the injured youths to either search them or provide medical assistance".
Mr Doherty said the record had now been "set straight".
This is the second inquest into Daniel's death.
The initial inquest was held in 1973 and recorded an open verdict. A second inquest was ordered by the Attorney General in 2009 following an examination by the Historical Enquiries Team.
The report found that the RUC investigation at the time was "hopelessly inadequate and dreadful".
The inquest opened on Monday and heard from Daniel's sister Margaret Brady. She described how her mother continued to set a place for him at the table and call him for dinner for months after his death.
In 2007, the British government apologised to the Hegarty family after describing Daniel as a terrorist.


The Glasgow Subway is to close for about four weeks in the summer while modernisation work is carried out.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) said all services would be suspended from 2 July. They are due to resume on 1 August.
A replacement bus service will be provided for subway passengers during the closure.
It will follow the subway route, with additional direct services to the city centre from key stations.
They include park and ride facilities at Bridge Street, Kelvinbridge and Shields Road. Services will run every five minutes at peak times and every 10 minutes during off-peak.
All passengers will pay £1 for a single journey, £2 for a return and £2.50 for an all-day ticket. Child fares will be 50p for a single and £1 for a return.
The modernisation work involves replacing a 40-year-old section known as "ramps and turnouts", which permits trains to access the tunnels from the surface depot at Broomloan and cross over between the inner and outer circles.
SPT said the section had to be fully replaced to ensure a reliable subway service in the future.
SPT chairman Jonathan Findlay said: "To date, SPT has achieved all of the modernisation works without any disruption to passenger service which is a considerable achievement.
"We have now reached a crucial stage in the modernisation plan that requires us - for reasons of safety for everyone involved - to suspend services for a short time during July.
"We apologise for any inconvenience to all our passengers but our full replacement bus service will mean that they can still get to where they want to go."
He added: "All our passengers are encouraged to turn up at their designated stop, allow a little longer for the journey, and leave the rest to us."
All the information on the subway suspension and the replacement bus service is available on the SPT website.
The Glasgow subway is the third oldest underground system in the world and is 120 years old this year.
It is currently undergoing a £288m modernisation plan to upgrade or replace trains, signalling, platforms and stations.
The Scottish government is contributing £246m towards the cost.


Wales coach Warren Gatland believes his team are stronger now than when they beat England in the 2015 World Cup.

The teams meet at Twickenham on Saturday in a "cup final" which the New Zealander says will effectively decide the 2016 Six Nations.
An injury-hit Wales team shocked the hosts 28-25 in a Pool A match in September.
"It was a great performance to get out of that group, but we feel we're in much better shape now," said Gatland.
"There's a lot of confidence in the team and we're treating Saturday as a final.
"It's going to be one heck of a game, and to be honest whoever wins on Saturday probably wins the Six Nations."
Both teams are unbeaten going into Saturday's match, with England boasting a 100% record under new coach Eddie Jones in pursuit of their first Grand Slam since 2003.
Wales have beaten Scotland and France after drawing 16-16 with Ireland in their opening game.
Gatland has named an starting XV unchanged from the one that began the 19-10 win over France.
But there are three changes among the replacements as scrum-half Rhys Webb returns to the squad for the first time since September.
Lock Luke Charteris is also on the bench after missing the win over France, while prop Paul James replaces injured loose-head Gethin Jenkins.
Wales' starting XV shows only four changes from the team that won at Twickenham in the World Cup.
On that day, Hallam Amos and Scott Williams were among the backs, while Gethin Jenkins and Tomas Francis were the starting props.
But Wales have fewer injuries to contend with now, and have a much stronger bench.
"We feel like there's a lot of strength in depth, especially with the two locks - and the two young props have continued to get better and better," said Gatland.
"Samson Lee was coming back from injury at the World Cup so we feel he and Rob Evans have done really well.
"Scott Baldwin is getting better and better so, up front, we feel confident and settled.
"And in the backs, we have [centre] Jonathan Davies back with that experience as well and I'm pleased to see [wing] Alex Cuthbert is getting a little bit of his mojo back."
Gatland believes England are "very similar" to the side Wales played in the World Cup but concedes new coach Eddie Jones has "added an edge" to their play.
"The two wings have changed over and the six and seven have changed over, but apart from that it's pretty much the same team that was on show at the World Cup," added Gatland.
"They're a good side. I don't think they are too far away from cracking it.
"They've got a lot of strength in depth and young players who are improving the longer they are in the side."


Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes says the decision to scrap the toss in the County Championship this season looks like it is working.

The England and Wales Cricket Board made the move in an attempt to improve the standard of pitches and Rhodes says it has already made a difference.
"I think it has," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.
"If you look back, there have been some very poor wickets - maybe this was the only way they could do it."
The 51-year-old former England wicketkeeper added: "I think, to a certain extent, it's worked.
"There have been some criticisms about wickets being too flat but if you're prepared to bat for a long period of time and concentrate, you'll get runs."
Worcestershire's two Championship matches so far  - which have both been draws - have produced eight centuries, with five coming in the match against Gloucestershire and three more in their last game with Essex.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali, Joe Clarke, Brett D'Oliveira and Tom Kohler-Cadmore have all reached three figures for the New Road side and Rhodes says better pitches will help sort out the best players.
"Too many good players were playing forward defensive shots and getting out to average bowlers - that's what was happing before with the wickets," he added.
"Now those bowlers are struggling a little bit - which I think is a good thing."


North Korea has detained a 24-year-old US tourist, reportedly for "rash behaviour" at immigration, the state news agency says.

KCNA news agency said the American, named "Miller Matthew Todd", 24, had been taken into custody on 10 April.
This was due to "his rash behaviour in the course of going through formalities for entry" into North Korea, it added.
The news was released as US President Barack Obama held talks with his South Korean counterpart on his Asia tour.
KCNA said Mr Todd had torn up his tourist visa, shouting that he had "come to the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) after choosing it as a shelter".
The agency said such an action constituted a "gross violation" of North Korean law.
No reason was given for the two-week delay in the announcement of his detention.
The US has no ties with Pyongyang, with Sweden usually acting on its behalf in cases involving US citizens.
The US state department said it was aware of the report and had been in touch with the Swedish embassy.
North Korea is currently holding US-Korean missionary Kenneth Bae, who was arrested in November 2012.
He is serving 15 years of hard labour after being convicted of trying to overthrow the government.
Efforts from Washington to secure Mr Bae's release have so far been unsuccessful.
Merrill Newman, an 85-year-old US national, was briefly held by North Korea last year.
He was freed after confessing to committing crimes during the Korean War - a statement he said was given under duress.
US President Obama earlier said America stood "shoulder to shoulder" with South Korea over North Korean provocation.
He spoke after holding talks with South Korean leader Park Geun-hye.


Labour peer Lord Falconer is to table a private members bill that will seek to legalise assisted suicide for the terminally ill in England and Wales.

It is expected that under the bill, mentally-capable adults with less than six months to live would be able to request help to end their lives.
The government has said the issue is a matter of conscience for each MP.
Opponents say changing the law could put vulnerable people under pressure "not to be a burden on others".
Under Lord Falconer's bill a patient would have to prove they have the mental capacity to make a voluntary and informed choice, were not being unduly influenced by others and had a "settled intention" about their wish to die.
Before proceeding, their condition would have to be independently assessed by two doctors as well as other healthcare professionals.
They would also have to be informed about alternative treatments and end-of-life care options.
By Clive ColemanBBC News legal correspondent
Assisting someone to commit suicide is a crime punishable with up to 14 years imprisonment.
It can be committed in many different ways, from obtaining and handing someone a syringe full of lethal drugs which they then use to kill themselves, to purchasing a plane ticket so that they can travel to Switzerland (where assisted suicide is legal) to end their life.
Lord Falconer's bill is a result of the Commission on Assisted Dying (CAD), which he chaired.
It published a report in January last year which concluded the laws on assisted dying were "inadequate, incoherent and should not continue".
The bill would not have helped people like the late Tony Nicklinson, who suffered from "locked-in syndrome", and the severely disabled Paul Lamb who is currently challenging the law on the "right to die".
Neither man could demonstrate a terminal illness and both were too severely paralysed to assist in their own suicide.  Such cases require a doctor to intervene directly to end a life, and under current law that amounts to murder.
In comparison, Lord Falconer's bill might seem to some to be a modest step in changing the law.  However, those who oppose it point to rises, in assisted suicides that followed legalisation in other countries, and see it as a dangerous first step towards euthanasia.
Other safeguards being proposed include guarantees about the storage and transportation of lethal medication, the reporting of assisted deaths and the powers for cases of non-compliance to be investigated.
Lord Falconer said: "The current law which forces some terminally ill people to travel abroad to die or attempt suicide behind closed doors is not fit for purpose.
"This new law will safeguard patients, protect family members and ensure that the medical profession can be involved.
"Furthermore, strictly limited to terminally ill, mentally competent adults, the bill will not result in more people dying, but in fewer people suffering."
Last year a commission chaired by Lord Falconer, the former lord chancellor, concluded that a small number of people felt the extreme suffering caused by their condition could be relieved only by ending their own life or the knowledge they could do so.
The bill is supported by some groups, such as Dignity in Dying. Chief executive Sarah Wootton said: "The experience in jurisdictions which have legalised and regulated some form of assistance to die shows that, in reality, safeguarded assisted dying laws provide transparency in end-of-life decision making and provide both greater choice and protection."
However, it is opposed by others who point to the example of places, such as Oregon in the US, which have legalised assisted suicide. They say relatively low numbers of assisted suicides immediately after the law was changed have subsequently risen.
Campaign group Care Not Killing said: "Any change in the law to allow assisted suicide would inevitably place pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives so as not to be a burden on others.
"These pressures would be particularly acutely felt at a time of economic recession when many families are struggling to make ends meet and health budgets are being slashed, especially when fears about the NHS are actually fuelling support for assisted suicide."
Any change in the law is likely to be strongly opposed by Church of England bishops sitting in the House of Lords, where the bill is expected to have its first detailed debate in the autumn.
The British Medical Association has also rejected calls for it to soften its opposition to assisted dying.
Private members' bills rarely become law unless they are supported by the government of the day.
Assisted suicide is illegal in Northern Ireland. There is no offence of assisted suicide in Scotland, however, depending on the particular facts and circumstances of the case, the law of homicide may apply.
Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.


A man has died after being knocked down in an alleged hit-and-run in south London.

The 66-year-old pedestrian was hit by a van near a row of shops in Croydon on Friday evening.  He died at the scene.
The van did not stop after the crash, but a 34-year-old man later handed himself in, the Met said.
He has been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene of an accident and causing death by dangerous driving. He remains in custody.
Detectives have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which happened at about 17:45 GMT at the King Henry's Drive junction and Calley Down Crescent in New Addington.


Bombardier has hailed an "historic moment" for the company, after its CSeries passenger jet obtained clearance to enter commercial service.

The wings for the new aircraft will be made in Belfast, supporting 800 jobs.
Certification of the CS100 was received from Transport Canada after 3,000 hours of test flying.
The move paves the way for the first passenger flights with Swiss International Air Lines early next year.
Michael Ryan, vice-president of Bombardier Belfast, said: "This is an achievement of which all our employees and our supply chain should be justly proud."
The CSeries project has been troubled by delays and a $2bn (Â£1.34m) cost overrun.
Firm orders have been stuck at 243 since late 2014.
The CSeries - versions of which seat between 110 to 150 - is the firm's attempt to expand from executive jets into a market dominated by Airbus and Boeing.
The programme has placed Bombardier under huge financial strain, prompting a bail-out from the provincial government in Quebec earlier this year.
Certification is a milestone for the CSeries and Bombardier needs it to be a momentum-changer.
2015 ends with a zero in the sales column and certification must now reinvigorate the order book.
Bombardier will look to turn the corner in 2016, but it will not happen quickly.
Investors have been told to expect lower profits and 20% savings need to be made in its Belfast operations.
When a CSeries test plane flew to Belfast in June, a worker, admiring the aircraft, told me: "All we have got to do now is sell it."
Six months later - with certification at last obtained - sales now become an even greater priority.
But the company is at least ending a gloomy year on a celebratory note.
Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell said: "I congratulate the whole team at Bombardier and especially Michael Ryan and his staff in Belfast on this marvellous achievement.
"This is a hugely significant development and the last major milestone ahead of the aircraft's entry into commercial service."


Rangers chairman Dave King says the club "won't relax" after their Scottish Cup semi-final win over Celtic.

King stressed that, if Rangers are going to challenge for the Premiership, it's important they strengthen the squad and get "a few more players in".
He also admitted that achieving European football next season would have an effect on their recruitment.
"We still have a plan to improve on the team during the summer," King told the Rangers website.
"We are back, but we won't relax about it."
Rangers only named five substitutes at Hampden Park.
"The squad was very light," said King. "I think the players that we had on the park were fantastic, but next year, if we're going to challenge for the title, it is important that we still strengthen the squad and get a few more players in.
"The target for the season was always to win the Championship. I think we did that quite comfortably."
Mark Warburton's side will face Hibernian on Wednesday evening in their final Championship encounter of the season before meeting again in the cup final on 21 May.
"If we're fortunate enough to win the cup final - it will still be a tough game against Hibs - it would get us into Europe and that's a year ahead," King explained.
"Our original plan was to win the Championship this year, improve the squad and challenge for the Premier League next year and hopefully be in Europe the following year.
"So it would be a real, real bonus if we could accelerate the European part of it by a season. But they've still got to win the cup final to do that.
"I had a chat to Mark in the dressing-room and I just said, 'let's see how the final goes and we might need to kind of plan differently some of the player acquisitions in the close season'."
King, who led a successful boardroom takeover last year, described the semi-final win over Celtic on penalties as "absolutely astonishing".
"When we were up there after the final whistle and I saw grown men cry, there were tears rolling down the faces of every single board member," he added.
"I think every single director, including me, was in tears and, as we looked at each other and hugged each other, everyone was crying.
"All the people who have gone through the last year, the regime change and everything we have done, this is what it is about.
"We have been doing it for this and to see the reaction of the fans it was absolutely phenomenal for everybody."


New Zealand drew their first Test with South Africa in Dunedin as heavy rain washed out the entire final day.

The tourists were unable to add to their overnight lead of 191 as play was abandoned shortly after lunch.
New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has been ruled out of the second Test in Wellington with a calf injury, with Neil Broom in line to make his debut.
Bowler Trent Boult will be monitored in the build-up to the game, which starts on 16 March, as he has a hip problem.
Taylor could return for the final Test of the three-match series in Hamilton, which begins on 25 March.


Chancellor George Osborne increased VAT from 17.5% to 20% and cut welfare spending as he moved "decisively" to tackle Britain's record debts.

Child benefit and public sector pay will be frozen and 25% cut from public service spending - but alcohol, tobacco and fuel will escape tax hikes.
Unveiling his first Budget to MPs, Mr Osborne said "tough but fair" action on debt was "unavoidable".
But Labour said it was "reckless" and would "throw people out of work".
Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman said Mr Osborne's budget would stifle growth and hit hardest "those who can least afford it".
Key points: At-a-glance
Harman attacks 'reckless' Budget
How the VAT rise will work
UK to 'balance books' by 2016
In quotes: Budget reaction
Readers' reactions to the Budget
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson described the financial statement as a "massive gamble economically and politically".
It represents a major departure from the previous government's economic policies, with business leaders saying they hoped it would be a "defining moment" in Britain's economic recovery.
But trade unions have warned hundreds of thousand of jobs could be lost in the public services, potentially wrecking local economies and sparking a "double-dip" recession.
Setting out his plans in the Commons, Mr Osborne said "decisive" action was needed to prevent a "catastrophic collapse" in economic confidence but stressed it would be done in a "fair" way with the better-off shouldering most of the burden.
"Everyone will pay something but the people at the bottom of the income scale will pay proportionately less than those at the top. This is a progressive Budget," he said to jeers from Labour MPs.
UK households, on average, will be about £400 a year worse off, Budget documents suggest, with the poorest 10% losing £200 and the richest £1,800, although the poorest will be hit harder than most as a percentage of their income.
Mr Osborne vowed to balance Britain's books within five years, with the bulk of the savings to come from cuts to benefits and public services rather than tax increases.
And he laid the blame for the state of the nation's finances squarely at the door of the previous Labour government, saying: "The years of debt and spending make this unavoidable."
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Tax credits will be cut for families earning more than £40,000 a year - and there will be a two year pay freeze for public servants paid more than £21,000. Those earning less will get a £250 rise for two years.
Mr Osborne also announced real terms cuts across all government departments of 25% over four years - except health and foreign aid which are ringfenced.
Will Hutton, of the Work Foundation, who is advising the government on public sector pay, described the cuts as "brutal" and questioned whether they were achievable without wrecking the coalition government.
He described Mr Osborne's Budget as the "biggest gamble a post-war government has made".
The full details of the impact of the cuts will not be revealed until Wednesday 20 October, when Mr Osborne publishes his spending review.
The VAT increase, which Mr Osborne said would raise £13bn a year, is to come into effect in January.
Capital gains tax will be increased to 28% for top rate taxpayers - less than the 50% some Conservative backbenchers had feared. This will come into effect at midnight.
In other moves, Mr Osborne pledged to pledge to link pensions to earnings - or prices or 2.5% if they are higher.
Housing benefit will be reformed with a maximum limit of £400 a week, in a package saving £1.8bn a year by the end of the Parliament.
Other benefits to be cut include the health in pregnancy grant while the Sure Start maternity grant will be restricted to the first child only and lone parents will be expected to look for work when their youngest child goes to school.
But there will be an extra £150 a year for the poorest families, through changes to family tax credits.
The government is also to introduce a medical assessment for Disability Living Allowance from 2013 for new and existing claimants.
Mr Osborne also announced plans to help the low paid by raising personal tax allowances, taking an estimated 880,000 people out of the tax system and give millions of basic rate taxpayers a tax cut of £200 per year.
From January 2011, the government will introduce a bank levy, which will apply to the balance sheets of UK banks and building societies and the UK operations of foreign banks. Mr Osborne said the move would raise £2bn a year once it was fully in place.
Mr Osborne said public sector workers paid more than £21,000 a year would have a two year pay freeze with those paid less getting a flat pay increase of £250 for the next two years.
The plan is the first step towards a key Liberal Democrat coalition demand of taking all those earning less than £10,000 out of tax.
The chancellor must find £3.5bn to pay for the giveaway - which will be clawed back from top rate taxpayers - and Labour are likely to argue it is irresponsible in the current climate.
Mr Osborne also froze the Civil List payments to the Royal Family at £7.9m a year and said in future years they would be subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office.
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He stressed that the pain of his austerity measures would be shared by "everyone" - but said all would share in the proceeds of the "enterprise-led recovery" that he promised would follow.
"Yes it is tough, but it also fair," said Mr Osborne of his first budget, adding: "Everyone will share in the rewards when we succeed. When we say that we are all in this together, we mean it."
He said that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) now estimated growth this year of 1.2% and 2.3% next year - compared to its previous forecasts of 1.3% of 2.6%.
Giving her response to Mr Osborne's statement, acting Labour leader Harriet Harman poured scorn on the Liberal Democrats for providing a "fig leaf" for their Conservative coalition partners, arguing "this reckless Tory budget would not be possible without the Lib Dems".
"The Lib Dems leaders have sacrificed everything they ever stood for to ride in ministerial cars and to ride on the coat tails of the Tory government," she added.
Plaid Cymru also lashed out at the Lib Dems, with Treasury spokesman Jonathan Edwards accusing party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg of sitting next to Tory leader David Cameron "like a nodding dog, agreeing with every word as VAT was raised".
Lib Dem reaction to Budget
"They are running out of major election policies on which to U-turn," he added.
The SNP welcomed some Budget measures, such as the freeze on whisky duty and the restoration of the pensions and earnings link, but branded planned spending cuts "irresponsible".
In a message to Liberal Democrat supporters, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the government had "no choice except to clear up the financial mess that Labour left us".
And he said the Budget had taken "difficult decisions in an honest and fair way and with the clear stamp of Liberal Democrat values running through it," citing examples including the restoration of the pensions and earnings link and the tax boost for the low paid.
Lib Dem Deputy Leader Simon Hughes, who has vowed to protect the party's core values, issued a statement in support of Mr Clegg after the Budget statement, saying it would protect the "needy and vulnerable".
So far only one Lib Dem MP, Bob Russell, has publicly suggested he might vote against the Budget, as the party had campaigned against VAT increases at the election because "the low paid disproportionately pay more".
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I am not at all happy. I need to discuss with colleagues how it is we have got into this situation."
Dave Prentis, general secretary of public service union Unison accused the coalition government of "declaring war" on public services, saying the Budget would "raise the spectre of breadline Britain" in some parts of the country.
"Public sector workers will be shocked and angry that they are the innocent victims of job cuts and pay freezes".
But CBI director general Richard Lambert called the Budget "the UK's first important step on the long journey back to economic health".
Green MP Caroline Lucas called Mr Osborne's statement a "budget for pointless austerity" full of cuts that were "neither unavoidable or fair".
But in an e-mail to Conservative supporters, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "In this emergency Budget I believe you have the measure of this government.
"Will it provoke debate? Certainly. Will it cost our coalition some popularity? Possibly. But is this the right thing to do - for the health of our economy, for the poorest in our society, for the future of our country? I passionately believe it is."


Over recent weeks, many people may have felt bombarded by EU referendum coverage.

But how much influence do the front pages, social media and broadcasters have on the way we will vote?
The Sun and The Times have both taken different sides in the Brexit debate, while Welsh titles are among those that have hinted at an allegiance.
Politicians have long courted a supportive front page but one newspaper veteran is sceptical of the practice.
Mario Basini covered countless elections for the Western Mail, although he has confessed his memories of the 1975 European referendum are hazy.
Nevertheless, he has been in the business long enough to form the opinion that a newspaper's endorsement is over-egged.
"I've always been extremely weary about whether or not the printed press actually leads public opinion," he said.
"It has always seemed to me that the most practiced, professional exponents have always been able to tune in to what the public want very, very quickly and take the argument on from there."
Mr Basini added that the current referendum campaign has needed little encouragement from hard-nosed newspaper hacks.
"This time it seems to me the difference is you don't need the hyperbolic sub-editors or the hyperbolic headline writers to create hot air and sensationalism, because all of that is coming from the politicians themselves," he said.
"In this case it's the politicians who are leading the journalists."
So if the printed press is not influencing voters, who is paying attention? The answer is the rest of the media, according to Dr Mike Berry from Cardiff University.
"The press doesn't just influence public opinion, it also has an impact on other news outlets, particularly the broadcasters," he said.
"Newspapers have a direct influence on the audience, they have an influence as well in terms of setting the agenda in other parts of the media, and they also have an effect on policy makers and politicians themselves.
"Alistair Campbell, famously, was very interested not so much in the broadsheets but in how things were reported in the tabloids, because there was an expectation that the tabloids were very significant in influencing public opinion."
Talking about the influence of the press may seem outdated when circulations have plunged since the famous front pages of the past.
While the newspapers' online sites are generally matching their printed coverage of the referendum, the furnace of the online debate is fired by social media.
Thousands of messages flood Twitter during every hour of the referendum campaign. Short statements argue one side or the other, sometimes sharing the latest campaign image or publicity stunt.
The fog of comment can be hard to penetrate. But one Welsh company has been wading through the messages in an attempt to present a clearer picture of social media's reaction to the EU referendum.
Cardiff-based Blurrt has worked with Twitter and the Press Association to convert millions of tweets into graphs and visualisations that show the strength of feeling, and the personalities getting the most attention.
Blurrt chief executive Jason Smith said its research showed Vote Leave was "getting more traction on Twitter than the Remain campaign".
"They probably see themselves as the underdog, so for them to overcome the natural obstacles that are in place, they and their supporters will promote themselves a lot more on social media than perhaps the Remain campaign, where it's more of a status quo," he said.
Mr Smith said there were "spikes in conversations" on social media in reaction to campaign events reported by the mainstream press, but that its research showed much of the online debate was tinged with negativity.
"We measure not just the sentiment but the emotions that people are expressing. What's quite striking is the very strong negativity that's being expressed, in terms of fear and anger."
With just a few days to go, both sides will be shouting even louder in print, online and on air as polling day approaches.


Naturists have branded a decision to deny their bid to extend a section of nudist beach as "old-fashioned".

It was hoped the size of the clothing optional section of coastline in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, would be increased after tidal activity rendered the current area "uncomfortable" to sit on.
But the town council blocked the move.
British Naturism said the decision was "ridiculous" and "offensive" to its members.
The council was unconvinced by the argument the tide had washed away pebbles on the beach and left rock behind, making it "too uncomfortable" for naturists.
Its foreshore and footpaths committee said naturists could still use the beach if they put a "towel or lilo down" and voted against extending it by 200 yards (183m) eastwards.
Andrew Welch, from British Naturism, said: "Naturism is not illegal and we don't need designated places so it is offensive for any social group like ours to be treated in this way.
"It harks back to the 1950s and we want to show these ridiculous authority figures that they are wrong and completely out of touch."
Town mayor Courtney Richards said if the nudist beach was extended it would be about 200 yards from the town's beach huts.
"Budleigh Salterton is a family friendly town and I feel it is something families could do without, so I have a problem with them coming nearer to the town," he said.
"And I think the majority of people in Budleigh Salterton would not want that either."
However, Mr Welch said the council should designate a new beach for naturists.
The closest alternative is Weston Mouth, near Branscombe, about 10 miles away.
East Devon District Council, which owns the beach, has also been asked if the site can be moved but has made no decision.
A spokeswoman said it would work with the town council on the request.
The "nude" section of Budleigh beach was first designated in the 1970s.


Bank of England governor Mark Carney has overhauled the Bank's interest rate policy to reflect falling unemployment and the economic recovery.

He said the Bank's forward guidance policy "is working" and had helped to secure growth.
The Bank's rate policy will now be determined not just by unemployment, but by a wider range of indicators.
But Mr Carney warned the recovery was not secure and that when rates rose, they would do so only "gradually".
By Hugh PymChief economics correspondent, BBC News
August seems a long time ago. Then forward guidance on interest rates was linked firmly to the rate of unemployment. Today with the jobless rate nearly at the Bank's 7% chosen threshold, the Bank has been obliged to launch forward guidance Mark 2.
No longer will there be a single indicator. The Bank's governor, Mark Carney, said a range of economic variables would be considered, including the output gap (the gap between potential and actual output). He gave a strong hint that rates would rise only gradually to reach 2% by 2017.
The problem for the Bank is that what seemed clear last August is now rather more complicated. Households and businesses may be scratching their heads.
However, investors took this as an indication that rates could rise next year, sending the pound higher on the money markets.
Introducing the Bank's forward guidance policy last August, Mr Carney said that the Bank would not consider raising interest rates from their current low of 0.5% until unemployment had fallen to 7% or below.
He said the policy had reduced uncertainty and encouraged businesses to hire and spend.
"Forward guidance is working - expected interest rates have remained low even as the economy has recovered strongly, uncertainty about interest rates has fallen, and most importantly, UK businesses have understood the message," the governor said.
But he said the policy needed to be revisited "as a result of exceptionally strong jobs growth".
"The unemployment rate has fallen much faster than anticipated... and is likely to reach 7% by the spring," he said.
The Bank's inflation report said that the "Bank rate may need to remain at low levels for some time to come".
"Forward guidance has clearly been effective in influencing companies' expectations of when interest rates will rise and in cementing their confidence in the recovery," said Katja Hall, chief policy director of the CBI business group.
"The Bank's new guidance will give businesses further peace of mind that interest rates will stay low for some time, until investment and incomes are growing at sustainable rates."
By Robert PestonBusiness editor
Outlining the Bank's revised forward guidance policy, the governor said the Bank would now be looking at a wider range of indicators, including wages, productivity and spare capacity within the economy.
"We have taken stock," he said. "We're still looking to maintain the momentum of the recovery, but we have to make more nuanced judgements."
The Bank will be producing forecasts on a range of indicators, and these will be based on market expectations of 2% interest rates by 2017 and a first rise in spring next year.
"On the basis of the economy following the Bank's expected path, the first rate increase is now pencilled in for the spring of 2015," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit.
"Rates are then projected to rise to 2% by early 2017. Beyond 2017, the message from the Bank is that 'even when the economy has returned to normal... the appropriate level of Bank rate is likely to be materially below the 5% level set on average by the [Bank] prior to the crisis'".
While highlighting the UK's improved economic performance, Mr Carney said there was still a great deal of work to do to secure the recovery.
"Households are saving less and spending more and business investment is likely to gather pace this year," he said.
As a result of this improved outlook, the Bank has increased its forecast for growth this year for the UK economy to 3.4% from 2.8%.
However, Mr Carney also warned that the recovery was "neither balanced nor sustainable", and highlighted the fact that economic activity was still below pre-financial crisis levels. He added that productivity growth had been disappointing.
"A few quarters of above trend growth driven by household spending are a good start but they aren't sufficient for sustained momentum," he said.


Nurse Victorino Chua, found guilty of murdering and poisoning patients at Stepping Hill Hospital, has been jailed for a minimum of 35 years.

Chua killed Tracey Arden, 44, and Derek Weaver, 83, at the hospital in Stockport by injecting insulin into saline bags and ampoules.
The father-of-two was convicted on Monday following a three-month trial.
Judge Mr Justice Openshaw described Chua as an "experienced nurse who used cunning" to poison patients.
He was found guilty of tampering with saline bags and ampoules while working on two acute wards at the hospital in Greater Manchester, in June and July 2011.
These were unwittingly used by other nurses, causing a series of insulin overdoses to mainly elderly victims.
Detectives described Chua as a narcissistic psychopath.
His victims' families were at Manchester Crown Court as Chua was told he would serve at least 35 years in prison before being considered for parole.
Speaking outside court after the verdict, Mr Weaver's sister, Lynda Bleasdale, said: "My sister had a heart attack the day before Derek died. Seeing all the stress of it was obviously a contributory factor to that."
She said Chua "obviously enjoyed watching people suffer".
Gary Arden, whose sister Tracey was murdered by Chua, said he felt "surprisingly nothing" for his sister's killer.
He added: "He's been sentenced and the important thing is he's not able to do this to anybody else."
Judge Openshaw said it was "strikingly sinister and truly wicked" that Chua did not personally administer the insulin to most of the patients, so it was left to chance which of them were poisoned.
He said Chua poisoned Jack Beeley, 72, to "shut up a patient who he found particularly troublesome".
Grant Misell, 41, was left brain damaged after being poisoned, as the insulin overdose starved his brain of oxygen.
Chua was found not guilty of the murder of 71-year-old Arnold Lancaster but convicted of poisoning him in an act the judge described as "indescribably wicked".
In all, Chua was convicted of two murders, 22 counts of attempted grievous bodily harm, one count of grievous bodily harm, seven attempts of administering poison and one count of administering poison.
He received 25 life sentences in total and showed no emotion as he was taken down to the cells. Judge Openshaw said he would be 84 years old before he was eligible for parole.
Among the evidence produced by the prosecution was a self-penned letter found at Chua's home, in Stockport, after his arrest in January 2012 for changing prescription charts so patients would get dangerously incorrect amounts of drugs.
In the letter, described as "the bitter nurse confession" by Chua, he said he was "an angel turned into an evil person" and "there's a devil in me". He also wrote of having things he would "take to the grave".
Det Supt Simon Barraclough, who led the investigation for Greater Manchester Police, said Chua failed to show "any form of remorse" throughout the investigation and trial.
Even when being sentenced "there was not a flicker of emotion on his face, apart from what appeared to be just a general contempt for all the proceedings", he added.
Investigations by police found inconsistencies in Chua's medical qualifications, which they raised with the Department of Health and the Home Office, as well as contacting the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Concerns were also raised by a BBC investigation which revealed that fake nursing degrees were being sold in the Philippines for Â£20.
Nazir Afzal, who was responsible for prosecuting Chua, said the Stepping Hill case raised the "extremely worrying" prospect that many untrained foreign workers could be working in UK hospitals.
However, the NMC said a review of nurses who trained outside the European economic area - including 11,500 Filipino records - found just four with fraudulent qualifications in the last 10 years.
Chief executive Jackie Smith, said: "We checked every single record - I think that was a proportionate response to this one-off but very tragic and very serious event."
She said not all the records of other overseas countries had been checked, adding: "We took advice on what would be a sample of a review across the register that would give us confidence.
"There is no such thing as a fool-proof system - we are not a fraud agency -  but do we have a system in place that doesn't just rely on documentation."
In a statement, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said: "Our thoughts have been with the victims and their families throughout this time.
"We know they have suffered great distress but hope this sentence helps provide some closure for them in terms of seeing that justice has been served."


Three pensioners - all over 70 - have been awarded for their bravery after they tackled and pinned down a burglar.

The trio were returning to a family member's home in Heanor in Derbyshire when they caught the intruder taking some jewellery in June.
The thief has since been jailed for 27 months for burglary.
The three heroes, one from Germany and two from America, tackled the man and pinned him to the ground before police arrived and arrested him.
Peter Mueller, 70, and his friends, aged 78 and 81, were given awards by Derbyshire police on Friday.
Mr Mueller said his friends now call them "the three musketeers".
"I was astonished. It was instinct," he said.
"I have enjoyed that the British Police make a special day for me. They said 'maybe you are a hero'."
Chief Constable Mick Creedon said: "To have them here and give them the award ... is really important."


MPs have said it is unacceptable that disabled and sick people have to wait six months or more to find out if they are eligible for benefits as a result of government changes.

The Commons Work and Pensions Committee said delays to decisions about the new personal independence payment (PIP) were causing stress and uncertainty.
They also questioned the language used by ministers and the use of statistics.
Ministers acknowledged the delays but said benefits were being backdated.
New claims for the personal independence payment (PIP), the replacement for the disability living allowance (DLA), began in April 2013. They are worth between Â£21 and Â£134 a week.
Most people applying for PIP have a face-to-face assessment to determine eligibility, which is carried out by the private contractors Atos Healthcare and Capita Business Services.
In a report last month, the National Audit Office found claimants were waiting an average of 107 days, and terminally ill patients 28 days, for a decision on their cases - much longer than had been predicted.
Some of the claimants affected by these delays are people with terminal illnesses.
Labour MP Dame Anne Begg, who chairs the cross-party committee, said any delays were regrettable but the time that it was taking in such cases was "completely unacceptable".
The MPs say the average time taken to process new cases should be reduced to the expected 74 days, and seven days for terminally ill people.
Dame Anne said basic failures - such as appointments being cancelled without notice or unsatisfactory responses to queries about claims - were happening too regularly and claimants had often been unable to get any information about when a decision would finally be made.
"This not only leaves people facing financial difficulties whilst they await a decision, but causes severe stress and uncertainty," she said.
"It is vital that all disabled people, but especially the terminally ill, experience as little delay and stress as possible in making a claim."
Ministers, the committee added, should consider invoking penalty clauses in their contracts with Atos and Capita if the "current dire situation" did not significantly improve.
"By the end of last year, decisions had been made in fewer than 20% of new claims submitted since April 2013," Dame Anne added.
"It is essential that the backlog is cleared before the limited natural reassessment of existing DLA claims is extended any further."
Macmillan Cancer Support said the time being taken in many cases was "appalling" and the government must agree to publish waiting times for decisions on a quarterly basis.
Scope said the benefit was a "financial lifeline" for disabled people to reflect the extra costs they incurred in performing basic tasks.
The introduction of personal independence payments is one of a series of major welfare changes being pursued by the government aimed at reducing the benefits bill and encouraging greater self-reliance and incentives to work.
But the committee said ministers must "exercise care" in the language used in press releases about these benefit changes and how they present statistics about their impact so as not to "feed into negative public views about benefit recipients".
"Statistics should be used to shed light on policy implementation, not to prop up established views or feed preconceptions," the report added.
"The Department for Work and Pensions should set out the specific steps it is taking to ensure that statistics are released in a way which is accurate and fair to benefit claimants."
In response, the Department for Work and Pensions said PIP was a new benefit, based on face-to-face assessments and regular reviews.
"In some cases this end-to-end claims process is taking longer than the old system of Disability Living Allowance, which relied on a self-assessment form," a spokesman said.
"We are working with providers to ensure that all the steps in the process are as smooth as they can be and the benefit is backdated so no-one is left out of pocket."
Claims by those with terminal illnesses were fast-tracked, the department added.
"Latest statistics show over 99% of people with terminal illnesses who have applied have been awarded the benefit, which means over 9,500 terminally ill claimants are now receiving PIP."


Farmers do not trust the Welsh Government to deliver a fit-for-purpose subsidy system after Brexit, the Welsh Conservative leader has said.

Andrew RT Davies said they had more confidence in Westminster to design a Common Agricultural Policy replacement.
But Rural Affairs Secretary Lesley Griffiths said there was "little appetite" from farmers for Westminster to take control.
The comments came on the first day of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.
Under the current EU Common Agricultural Policy, Wales receives approximately Â£250m per year in direct payments to farmers.
That is in addition to more than Â£500m between 2014-2020 to run a rural development programme.
Mr Davies, who runs a farm in Vale of Glamorgan, said the ability to set the core principles governing farm payments should transfer directly to Westminster after Britain leaves the European Union.
But he stressed devolved administrations should have the ability to make localised policies under any new system.
"There is a view among most farmers and most businessmen and women in the rural economy that they would not trust the current Welsh Government to deliver a package of support that would be fit for purpose - they would have greater confidence in the UK government being able to do that," Mr Davies said.
Mr Davies, who was a well-known Brexit supporter, said: "From my conversations with people in agriculture, and I am a farmer myself, most people seem to identify a role, an important role, for the UK government in shaping UK government policies because there is such a thing as UK agriculture."
With so much meat processing spread throughout the UK, Mr Davies said: "We don't need to set artificial borders to complicate things post-Brexit."
Ms Griffiths said it would be up to the devolved administrations to decide if a UK-wide framework should be developed with Westminster after Brexit.
"I have detected little appetite for Westminster to retake responsibility over agriculture in Wales.
"Indeed, many have indicated a keen willingness to work with me to develop distinctively Welsh agriculture policies, responsive to the unique needs and interests of Wales' farming communities."
But she added that the Welsh Government was working closely with the UK government on the issues, and was focussing on getting the "best deal" for Welsh farmers.
Plaid Cymru's rural affairs spokesman Simon Thomas said the UK government had "completely failed to offer any security to farmers whose livelihoods are on the line".
"Be it sending powers back to Westminster or pulling out of the single market, the Tories simply cannot be trusted to defend rural Wales," he added.
NFU Cymru President Stephen James said Brexit was a "unique opportunity" to implement a framework that would deliver a productive, profitable and progressive agricultural industry for Wales.
He said it was vital support for Welsh farmers was the same offered to the rest of the UK and Europe.


Despite their best efforts, the Conservatives still lag behind Labour when it comes to attracting black and minority ethnic voters.

But a new campaign group hopes to capitalise on the "disarray" in the opposition's ranks to regain ground.
The organisation, Modern Britain, held a packed fringe event at the party's conference in Birmingham.
One of the panellists, former minister Helen Grant, offered a blunt verdict on her party's record, warning it would "let down millions of people" and miss out on black and minority ethnic (BME) voters in 2020 unless it properly addressed issues of racism, integration and community cohesion.
She said government policy on these issues had become "completely intertwined" with counter-terrorism and extremism, causing suspicion which was undermining its policies.
In 2015, the Conservatives secured an estimated 21% of BME voters - a record high. But according to Modern Britain, this increase was mainly limited to Indian and Bangladeshi communities, with Labour remaining the "dominant force" amongst other groups.
Ms Grant, a sports minister and a justice minister in the last Parliament, focused on the EU referendum, and the "dramatic increase" in hate crime since the result was announced.
"In the last few months I have heard of more reports and references to use of the N word than I have in the last 35 years," she told delegates.
It was as if the Brexit result "legitimised the unacceptable", she said.
"Politicians need to work much, much harder to rebuild trust in the black and minority ethnic community," she said.
"The relationship wasn't brilliant before the campaign. But the damage done during the campaign and following the campaign should not be underestimated."
She said "great care" was needed to ensure Brexit was not at the expense of the UK's diversity.
Ministers should spend much more time outside Westminster, she said, and while not everyone who complains about immigration was a racist, racism is "alive and kicking above and below the radar".
Leading Conservative MEP Syed Kamall disagreed with people "going on about" Brexit, describing the UK's departure from the EU as a "huge opportunity".
"We need no lessons from any other EU country when it comes to tolerance," he said.
The Tories are "way behind" Labour in some communities, Mr Kamall said: "But let's be quite clear what diversity is.
"Diversity is not replacing white Etonians with black Etonians.... or white millionaires with Asian millionaires," he said to murmurs of approval from the audience.
"It's about making sure we have people from all backgrounds in this party."
Rather than gestures and photocalls, he said the Tories should "be part of the solution" for example by setting up free English lessons for migrants.
The liveliest debate came when an audience member raised Zac Goldsmith's campaign - branded divisive and racist by critics - for London mayor in May.
"Stupid question," said one man in the audience.
"No, we have to learn the lessons," replied another.
Ms Grant said Mr Goldsmith was a "really good man" but said his campaign had "done an awful lot of damage".
"If Zac was sitting here now he would agree with us as well, that given the time again he would probably do things differently," she said.
Mr Kamall agreed, saying the way the campaign attempted to target different communities was "awful".
"I think we have to be very careful about the way we target voters," he said, warning against treating all minority groups in the same way.
Key to the Tories' chances, the panellists agreed, was reaching out in a "non-patronising way" to different areas.
"We know what we need to do," said Ms Grant. "We just need genuine political will, genuine leadership and we need a little bit of money."


The dead-ball skills of Lovat ace Kevin Bartlett proved to be the difference as Scotland beat Ireland 14-5 in the annual shinty-hurling international at Bught Park.

Bartlett scored all but one of Scotland's points from free hits over the bar.
It ensured the Scots retained their title after their 2015 success.
After the game, Bartlett confirmed he will be moving back to Caberfeidh in the second-tier National Division.
The Scotland-Ireland series is now reduced from two games to just one, and there were just 15 seconds on the clock when an Irish infringement gave the home side their first free hit, which Bartlett sent over the bar with consummate ease.
Ireland struck back when Scotland's goalkeeper Stuart MacDonald sent an attempted save over his own bar for a single point before Cha Dwyer equalised with a point from open play.
Within a minute, Scotland were ahead again with another Bartlett two-pointer before another free hit took a deflection off a defender, so only qualified for one.
Bartlett was also instrumental in the only Scottish point he did not score when he robbed an opponent of the ball and sent it through to Roddy MacDonald, who sent it over the bar from open play.
Shane Dooley clawed back another point for Ireland but two further quick-fire free hits from Bartlett, who also had a number of misses, made the half-time score 10-3.
There may have been no goals but that was in large measure down to Scotland keeper MacDonald, whose many fine saves included two from Mickey Boyle.
It was also Boyle who clawed a single back but, with free hits on either side of this from Bartlett the score drifted to 14-4.
With 10 minutes left, Irish keeper Eoin Reilly provided the best spectacle of the game when he took the ball on the broad blade of his stick and ran 80 yards with it up the left wing. However, Ireland were unable to cash in on the territory gained although Boyle did grab the final point in stoppage time.
It was another satisfying afternoon for Scotland manager Ronald Ross.
He said: "I'm happy in the end. It was a hard-fought game and they all competed and gave 110%.
"It's probably the first international I know where there hasn't been a goal in it but we certainly tried for it. It was closer than probably the scoreline suggested but it's great to win again in Inverness."
Scotland lost both the other games on the programme when the under-21 side went down 30-17 and the women were defeated 12-2 by Dublin County in their Camogie clash.


Glamorgan fast bowler Michael Hogan faces a second scan on a hamstring injury to determine how long he is likely to be sidelined.

The 33-year-old suffered the injury in February playing for Western Australia.
He aggravated it on the eve of a planned comeback in March and is likely to miss the start of the new season.
"It could be a couple of weeks, it could be longer," said Glamorgan's Toby Radford, coach of the County Championship Division Two side.
"As soon as we can get the proper scan done we'll know where we stand."
Glamorgan begin their Division Two campaign at Leicestershire on 12 April before facing Surrey at home a week later.
Hogan has been a crucial strike bowler for Glamorgan in the last two seasons, claiming 98 wickets in all competitions last season despite missing three weeks on paternity leave.
"He was running around [at Swalec Stadium] and looking in good shape in some ways, [but] we just don't know how bad the injury is," Radford told BBC Wales Sport.
"He only gets pain when he bowls so we'll have a scan next week, see where he's at and then we can make a real plan for when he returns."
Radford is keeping open the option of signing a loan player or going into the Leicestershire game with his current bowling resources, despite the inexperience of several players.
"It is [inexperienced], but Ruaidhri Smith didn't do himself any harm [against Cardiff MCCU], David Lloyd batted and bowled well, and Craig Meschede bowled very well."
Will Owen and Dewi Penrhyn-Jones are the other seam bowlers available to Radford.
Jack Murphy is also on the county's staff, but took two wickets playing against them for the Cardiff universities team, in Glamorgan's final warm-up match.
The match ended in a draw with Glamorgan scoring 434-7 and Cardiff MCCU 110-8.


Venezuela's Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz has refused to appear in court and is facing imminent suspension.

The Supreme Court, dominated by government loyalists, says Ms Ortega has committed serious errors.
But the country's chief prosecutor says she is being legally pursued for defying the president.
The charges filed against her come after she challenged President Nicolás Maduro over his reform plans.
Last week, the Supreme Court banned Ms Ortega from leaving the country and froze all her assets. Critics say the president is trying to push her out.
"We already know that today I will be removed from my post," she told a news conference at the public prosecution department on Tuesday.
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Once a staunch government ally, Ms Ortega broke ranks in March following what she said was an attempt by the court to strip the Congress - controlled by the opposition - of its powers.
Venezuela has faced three months of political turmoil with near daily anti-government protests. On Tuesday, a man was killed in a street protest in the western city of Táriba.
Reports indicate that the accusations against Ms Ortega refer to the appointment of judges.
Commenting on her decision to snub the court, the chief prosecutor said: "I am not going condone a circus that will stain our history with shame and pain and whose decision is foretold."
"I have committed no crime nor errors and I am not going to submit to this unconstitutional and illegitimate court," she continued.
Last week, Ms Ortega strongly criticised President Maduro after an incident in which a stolen police helicopter flew over the  in Caracas, dropping grenades and firing shots.
Venezuela helicopter attack: Who is pilot Oscar Pérez?
The president called it a "terrorist attack" but the chief prosecutor said the country was suffering from "state terrorism".
While Venezuelan security forces later found the abandoned helicopter near the coast, opposition politician and parliamentary Speaker Julio Borges said there was a possibility that the incident was a hoax.
On Tuesday, the fugitive policeman who piloted the helicopter, Oscar Pérez, posted a video online saying he was still in Caracas.
He urged Venezuelans to stand firm in the streets in protests against President Maduro.
The government and opposition have accused each other of trying to stage a coup amid a wave of anti-government protests in which dozens have been killed.


Concerns have been raised over a rise in air gun shootings of swans ahead of the annual census of the mute swan population on the River Thames.

The Queen's Swan Marker, David Barber, said there had been a "continuing increase" in numbers of the birds being killed in shootings.
Dozens of birds are thought to have been targeted in the past year.
The four-day swan census starts in Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey and Windsor in Berkshire on 20 July.
David Barber said the birds were easy targets.
"These senseless shootings cause horrific injuries and often death, with the injured swans and cygnets sometimes taking days or even weeks to die if they are not discovered soon after being shot," he said.
The census dates back to the 12th Century and sees the mute swans on the river rounded up, marked, weighed, health checked and then released.
This year's "swan upping" will end at Abingdon, Oxfordshire, on 24 July.
Swans are protected birds. The Crown retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water.
Killing or injuring them is punishable by a six-month prison term and/or a fine up to Â£5,000.


American Apparel's share price has continued to rise sharply after the clothing firm's board voted to oust controversial founder and chief executive Dov Charney.

Late on Wednesday, the board said it had terminated Mr Charney "for cause".
However, it declined to reveal the results of an investigation into alleged misconduct.
The firm - known for its provocative advertising and "made in America" ethos - has struggled recently.
Shares in American Apparel rose more than 20% in the wake of the announcement. But in recent months, investors have been shedding their holdings of the stock, sending it down over 40% for the year.
At $0.68 (Â£0.40) per share, the firm's value has declined from 2008, when it could command more than $14 per share.
The company recently reported a loss of $5.5m for the first three months of this year and said sales at its stores had fallen 7%.
Mr Charney - a Canadian by birth - founded American Apparel in 1998 with a $10,000 loan from his father.
The firm rose to prominence in the mid-2000s for its "hipster chic" apparel, as well as for its explicit advertising, which some critics alleged bordered on pornography.
However, a series of lawsuits by former employees, alleging sexual harassment and racial bias against Mr Charney, have hurt the firm.
"Dov Charney created American Apparel, but the company has grown much larger than any one individual," said newly appointed co-chairman Allan Mayer in a statement on Wednesday.
However, removing Mr Charney has come with a cost.
According to the terms of its loan agreements, American Apparel "may have been deemed to have triggered an event of default", said the board, while adding that it was working with its creditors to figure out a solution.
Mr Charney is still the firm's largest shareholder, with an ownership stake of about 27%, and reports quoting an unnamed source said he planned to "fight like hell" to keep control of the firm.
At the end of May, American Apparel had about 10,000 employees and 249 retail stores in 20 countries.


A brand new character called Julia has joined the famous puppet show Sesame Street.

The cool thing about Julia is she has autism, a condition that means she sees the world a bit differently to other people.
Check out our guide to autism here.
Here's what we know about her so far...
In her first episode on Sesame Street Julia ignores Big Bird when she is first introduced to him.
Confused, Big Bird thinks "that maybe she didn't like me". But the other Muppets tell him: "She does things just a little differently."
Julia's puppeteer, Stacey Gordon, is also the mother of an autistic son. She said the creation of Julia is "huge".
She hopes Julia will help other kids to understand that people with autism sometimes act and play differently.