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CHAPTER VII 



THE GROUND GAME ACT 



It may be said without much fear of contradiction 

 that no Act of Parliament in modern times has caused 

 more misunderstanding, ill-feeling and general dis- 

 satisfaction than the Ground Game Act of 1880. It 

 has pleased nobody, except perhaps the promoters of 

 it. Naturally it has not pleased the landlord, for, 

 regardless of the legal maxim aijus est solum ejus est 

 usque ad coelum, it has deprived him of the liberty of 

 contract, and the right of doing what he pleases with 

 his own. It has decreed that from the date of the 

 passing of the Act his interest in hares and rabbits 

 shall be shared with his tenants, who are to have as 

 much right to kill or take them as he has himself. If 

 he does not shoot, or preserve game for his friends to 

 shoot, this might not at first sight appear to be of 

 much consequence ; but if he lets his shooting it 

 makes all the difference in the world — a difference, 

 that is to say, in the value of the shooting, or the 



