LAWS AFFECTING WILD-FOWL. 339 



tion, should forfeit 5s. for each bird so taken ; and the hays, tunnels, 

 and nets used in taking- such wild-fowl were to be seized, and destroyed 

 in the presence of the justice before whom the party was convicted. 



The 10th Geo. II., cap. 32,* recites that the said act of Queen 

 Anne had been found ineifectual, by reason of the wild-fowl be- 

 g-inning* to moult before the 1st of July, and that they had not done 

 moulting- by the 1st of September : the time was therefore extended 

 to between the 1st day of June and the 1st of October. 



LAWS NOW IN FORCE. 



Wild-fowl. — As the law at pi'esent stands, no certificate is requu-ed 

 to kill wild-fowl, whether in a decoy or elsewhere ; but no person is 

 allowed to shoot wild-fowl so near to an old-established decoy as to 

 disturb it, or prevent wild-fowl from resorting- there (vide ante, page 

 76 — "■ The Law of Decoys") ; nor may any person kill wild-fowl on 

 private property, without leave of the owner or the person legally 

 authorised to give permission. 



Snipes and Woodcocks. — By the 52nd Geo. III., cap. 93, any 

 person using- a dog- and gun for the purpose of shooting or killing 

 snipes or woodcocks, is liable to, and must obtain, a game-certificate. 

 This enactment is still in force. But snipes and woodcocks may be 

 taken with nets or springes by persons who have not obtained a 

 game-certificate, such methods of fowling- being specially exempted 

 from game-duties by the same statute. 



Wild-fowl, Snipes, and Woodcocks are not Game. — Neither wild- 

 fowl, snipes, nor woodcocks are game. The statute 9th Geo. IV., 

 cap. 69, sec. 13, defines the species of all birds that are, by law, con- 

 sidered game. The Game Act of 1st and 2nd Wm. IV., cap. 32, 

 specifies the same creatures to be game as the former statute of 9th 

 Geo. IV. 



Killing Wild-fowl, &c., on a Sunday. — Sec. 3 of this statute (1st 

 and 2nd Wm. IV., cap. 32) prohibits, under certain penalties, the 

 killing- of game of all kinds, and bustards, on a Sunday or Christmas- 

 day ; but it does not mention wild-fowl, woodcocks, or snipes : con- 

 sequently, persons shooting such birds on those days are not liable to 

 the penalties imposed by this section of the act. 



Tenants' Rights. — Where the landlord reserves to himself simply 

 the right to kill the game, the tenant may kill snipes and woodcocks, 



* Repealed >iy 1st iiuil •lm\ Win. lY., cap. 32. 



