273 



GAMBIR. 



GAME-LAWS. 



274 



divide the current into two equal portions, one of which was trans- 

 mitted through one of the coils, and the other through the second 

 coil in an opposite direction. When wires of different metals were 

 introduced into the two circuits, a wire of inferior conducting power 

 would show a diminution in the current and a deflexion of the needle, 

 but equilibrium was restored by varying the length of one of the wires, 

 and by comparing the lengths of the wires thus introduced their 

 relative conducting powers were arrived at. With this instrument, 

 assisted by Wheatstone's rheostat, the conducting powers of a number 

 of wires of different metals were accurately ascertained. 



There are various instruments with various names used for measuring, 

 directing, or reversing the voltaic current. Some writers do not 

 content themselves with BO simple a word as Galvanometer; but use 

 other and more recondite terms, and often so copiously that scientific 

 nomenclature, like diplomatic speech, seems to be intended pour cocker 

 la pentfe. For example, an apparatus used for generating a voltaic 

 current is no longer called a battery, but a Sheo-motor, from fifu to flow, 

 and morfo to move, while the wire which conveys the current is called 

 the rheophore, from pea and Qopiw to bear. The whole circuit is also 

 called the rheophuric circuit, while the instrument which detects the 

 existence of an electrical current is called, instead of a galvanotcope a 

 rheotcope, from pea and <rnowcu to see. If used for measuring the 

 current it is not called a galvanometer but a rheomtter. The little 

 instrument used for reversing the currents is called a rheotrope 

 (rpena to turn) ; that for periodically interrupting the current is a 

 rheotome (Tfp.i><a to cut off); while that for maintaining the current at 

 any degree of force is a rheostat (trrau to stand or remain). The 

 reader will find these instruments described in Harris's ' Rudimentary 

 Treatise on Galvanism.' 1856. 



GAMBIR. [TASXIC ACID.] 



GAMBIT. [CHESS.] 



GAME-LAWS were the remnant of the ancient forest-laws, under 

 which the killing one of the king's deer was equally penal with mur- 

 dering one of his subjects ; or, as Sir W. Blackstone somewhat quaintly 

 expresses it, " from this root has sprung a bastard slip, known by the 

 name of the game-law, now arrived to and wantoning in its highest 

 vigour, both founded upon the same unreasonable notion of permanent 

 property in wild creatures, and both productive of the same tyranny to 

 the commons ; but with this difference, that the forest-laws esta- 

 blished only one mighty hunter throughout the land, the game-laws 

 have raised a little Nimrod in every manor." Some 'portion of the 

 history of the game-laws in England will be found under FOBEST LAWS, 

 and WABBE^, FBEK. 



These laws decided what birds and beasts should be deemed 

 game, prohibited all persons not duly qualified by birth or estate from 

 killing any such prohibited creatures, or even from having them in 

 their possession as articles tff food, and inflicted severe punishments 

 and penalties upon the offenders against their provisions. 



By the last general statute on the subject (2 Wm. IV. c. 32), game is 

 declared to include hares, pheasants, partridges, grouse, heath or moor 

 game, black game, and bustards. Snipe, quail, landrail, woodcocks, and 

 conies are not game. 



The statute 13 Richard II. c. 13, the title of which was, " None shall 

 hunt but they who have a sufficient living," was the first introduction 

 of a qualification to kill game. This statute prohibited laymen who 

 had not lands or tenements of 4fl. a year, and priests who had not 101. 

 a year, from taking or destroying deer, hares, or conies, upon pain of 

 one year's imprisonment. By 3 Jac. I. c. 13, the qualification to kill 

 game was increased to 40/. a year in land and '2001. in personal pro- 

 perty. By 22 t 23 Car. II. c. 25, the qualification was limited to 

 persons who had an estate of inheritance of 1001. per annum or an 

 estate for term of life or 99 years, or upwards, of 1501. annual value. 

 On this Blackstone remarks, there was "fifty times the property 

 required to enable a man to kill a partridge as to vote for a knight of 

 the shire." Qualifications were also of a personal nature, as being the 

 son and heir-apparent of an esquire. Persons who had not these quali- 

 fications were not allowed to liave or keep game-dogs. After repeated 

 discussions in and out of Parliament, by the statute 142 Wm. IV. 

 c. 32, the necessity of any qualification for the killing of game was 

 abolished, and the right was made to depend simply on the payment of 

 an annual tax, called a game certificate. 



Certificates were first required to be taken out by persons qualified 

 to kill game by the act 25 Geo. III. c. 50. The certificate itself, which 

 costs SI. 13. 6d.,tnust be taken out annually, and it expires in July. 

 A sportsman who refuses to show his certificate when demanded by 

 collectors of taxes, gamekeepers, landlords, occupiers, and lessees, is 

 liable to a penalty of 2(M. Uncertified persons who kill' or take any 

 game, or who use any dog, gun, &., for the purpose of searcliing for, 

 or killing, or taking game, are liable, on conviction before two justices, 

 to a penalty not exceeding 51. for each offence, with additional penalties 

 under the Certificate Act of 23i. 13. 6d. Certificates are required not 

 only to enable persons to kill game, but also woodcocks, snipes, quails, 

 landrails, or conies (except by the proprietors of warrens or of any 

 inclosed ground whatever, or by the tenant of any land, either by 

 f or any person by his direction or command). 



I!y the statute 11 & 12 Viet. c. 29 (1848), reciting that " it has been 

 found that much damage ha been and is continually done by hares 

 to the produce of inclosed lands, and that great losses have thereby 



ARTS AND SCI. DIV. VOF.. IV. 



accrued and do accrue to the occupiers of such lands," power is given 

 to persons in the actual occupation of inclosed lands, or the owners, 

 who have the right of killing game thereon, to take, kill, and destroy 

 hares themselves, or by some person authorised by them in writing, 

 without a game certificate. The same statute authorises persons to 

 course or hunt hares without a certificate. 



The right which a certificate gives to kill game is subject to a num- 

 ber of restrictions. A certificated person is liable to a penalty of 51., 

 with costs, for taking or killing game on Sunday or Christmas-day, and 

 to a penalty not exceeding 20s. for each head of game taken or killed 

 at the season when the pursuit of each kind of game is prohibited. 

 The certificate, of course, does not confer any right to enter on land to 

 kill game except where there is a right by ownership or permission so 

 to enter. The certificated person is still subject to the general law of 

 trespass for going upon another person's land. 



The right to the game is vested, by 1 & 2 Wm. IV. c. 32, in the tenant 

 in all cases where it is not reserved to the landlord in his agreement 

 with the tenant; but the game is generally coveted by the landlord, and 

 few tenants are in a situation to oppose their landlord. The consequence 

 is that the game is reserved by the landlord when he lets his land ; and 

 when this is the case, the occupier can neither kill game nor give per- 

 mission to another person to do so, and he is liable, under 1 & 2 Wm. IV. 

 c. 32, to a penalty of 20s., with costs, for every head of game killed by 

 him or other persons authorised by him. When the landlord reserves 

 the game, he may not only himself kill it on the tenant's land, but, he 

 may authorise any certificated person to enter on the land and kill it. 

 The person who has the right of killing the game, or the occupier of 

 the land, or gamekeepers, or any person authorised by either of them, 

 may require a person found trespassing in pursuit of game to quit the 

 land, and to give his name and place of abode ; and in case of refusal, 

 the trespasser may be taken instantly before a magistrate, who may 

 fine him 51. ; but if not brought before a magistrate within twelve 

 hours, proceedings must be taken by summons or warrant. If five or 

 more persons together trespass in pursuit of game, and any one of 

 them be armed with a gun, and if threats or violence are used to pre- 

 vent any authorised person from approaching them for the purpose of 

 requiring them to quit the land, or to tell their names and abodes, 

 every person so offending is liable to a penalty not exceeding 51., in 

 addition to any other penalty, with costs. 



The law is very severe against persons not authorised, who take or 

 destroy game by night. By 1 & 2 Will. IV: c. 32, " day-time " is to be 

 deemed from one hour before sun-rise to one hour after sun-set. The 

 9 Geo. IV. c. 69, enacts, that if any person, by night shall take or kill 

 game or rabbits on any land, or shall enter therein with gun, net, 

 engine, or other instrument, for the purpose, he shall, on conviction 

 before two justices, be committed to hard labour in the house of cor- 

 rection for a term not exceeding three months, and, at the expiration 

 of that period, find securities for twelve months, himself in 101. and 

 two others in 51. each, or one security in 101. In case of not finding 

 sureties (and it is not a likely case that night-poachers should be able 

 to find them), the offender may be further imprisoned six months. 

 For a second offence the term of imprisonment is extended to six 

 months, the sureties are doubled, and required for a period of two 

 years. If the offender cannot find sureties, he may be further im- 

 prisoned for twelve months. The third offence was punishable with 

 transportation for seven years, now penal servitude, or imprisonment 

 with hard labour in the house of correction for a term not exceeding 

 two years. Offenders under this act may be apprehended ou the spot 

 by owners and occupiers of land, their servants and assistants ; and if 

 they assault or offer violence with gun, club, stick, or otherwise, they 

 are liable to penal servitude for seven years, or to be imprisoned with 

 hard labour for two years. The punishment for night-poaching is still 

 more severe when three or more persons enter any land for the purpose 

 of taking or destroying game or rabbits, armed with a gun, bludgeon, 

 or other offensive weapon (and sticks and stones may be offensive 

 weapons) and they are subject to penal servitude for a period not ex- 

 ceeding fourteen years, or to imprisonment with hard labour for not 

 exceeding three years. In 1844 an act was passed (7 & 8 Viet. c. 29) 

 which extended the provisions of 9 Geo. IV. c. 69, against night- 

 poaching to persons who take or kill game or rabbits upon public roads 

 or highways, and other roads and paths leading to enclosed gates, 

 and also at the gates, outlets, and openings between such lands and 

 roads or paths. 



By s. 3t> of 1 & 2 Wm. IV. c. 32, it is enacted, that if any unauthorised 

 person be found by day or night on any land in search of game, and 

 have in his possession any game which " appears to have been recently 

 killed," any authorised persons, as gamekeepers, occupiers, or others 

 who have the right of killing the game, may demand such game and 

 seize it if not immediately delivered. 



A penalty not exceeding 101. is incurred for laying poison with 

 intent to destroy game (1 & 2 Wm. IV. c. 32). 



If any person who is not authorised to kill game himself, or 

 who has not permission from a person who has such right, shall taka 

 out of the nest or destroy the eggs of any bird of game, or of any 

 swan, wild duck, teal, or widgeon, or shall knowingly have in his pos- 

 sesion any such eggs so taken, he shall be liable on conviction to a 

 penalty not exceeding 6., with costs, for each egg (1 & 2 Wm. IV. 

 c. 32, 24). 



