56 



of agriculture. The consequences of this furious destruction, which has 

 lasted for years, are visible everywhere. Aroiuid Paris birds are rare. 

 In oiu" days the number of Nightingales and Swallows unceasingly 

 diminishes." 



It is difficult to foresee how any improvement on this state of 

 things can come about whilst the vicious circle remains com- 

 plete, and the paid deputies and paid mayors dance to the piping 

 of the proletariat. There are even signs of matters becoming 

 worse. At the present moment (November, 1908) a congress 

 of " chasseurs," deputies and mayors of Bayonne and district 

 is being organised with the object of doing away with all re- 

 strictions on shooting and netting. Argument : that all birds 

 are bred in other countries and killed in other countries, and so 

 they had best be killed here. The mayors and deputies attend, 

 of course, to catch votes. It is bad that there is little law, but 

 it is worse that its enforcement is a figment. Corruption and 

 favouritism quash the prosecution for offences against the game 

 and bird and cruelty to animals laws to such an extent that the 

 police and keepers do not trouble to look into matters, as their 

 papers disappear in the waste basket. A keeper in the Alderdes 

 district this year took out twenty-five summonses for illegal 

 trout netting, and obtained one conviction, and in this case the 

 offender was fined because the clerk of the court was away, 

 so that the legal document which had to pass through his office 

 went on to headquarters, and the law took its course. 



TURKEY. 



In Turkey, where hunting in all its branches is controlled by 

 a police regulation of December 30, 1882, a 10 piastre permit 

 (equals about Is. 9d.) is all that is necessary to hunt wild animals 

 and birds on Government lands, woods, and forests. Each 

 province fixes its own date for beginning and ending the season. 

 Close time is usually from April 1 to July 31. Bird-lime, nets, 

 and snares are allowed only for Quail. To the provincial 

 authorities is allotted the prohibition of the destruction of birds 

 useful to agriculture, and of others. The sale, purchase, and 

 transport of all game during the close season is punishable with 

 a fine of T£l to T£5 ; as is also the trespass in search of game, 

 and the taking of the eggs of partridges and pheasants. Land- 

 owners may hunt on their o^vn land at all seasons ; but Turks are 

 not great poachers. Villagers hunting, for their own consump- 

 tion, in the communal woods and jDastures, require no licence ; 

 and officers and men of the Imperial navy and merchant service 

 are allowed to shoot aquatic birds on sea, lakes, rivers, and 



