58 THE COMPLETE WILDFOVVLER 



LICENCES 



For each dog kept for sporting purposes in England and 

 Scotland it is necessary to take out a licence costing 7s. 6d. per 

 annum. In Ireland a dog licence costs 2s. 6d. There is no 

 reduction for a number, and no exemptions are made for dogs 

 used for sport. Persons keeping dogs for others must hold 

 licences for the dogs in their charge. Although, possibly, 

 a point not likely to be enforced in law, the fact that a licence 

 has been taken out for a certain dog does not permit its being 

 transferred into the custody of the household of another 

 person, unless the latter holds a licence to keep a dog. Paid 

 servants keeping and training sporting dogs for their masters, 

 are acting within the master's household. Professional dog- 

 breakers must hold a licence for each dog in their possession. 

 Dog licences expire annually in January. 



A licence to carry and use a gun costs los. per annum. 

 To shoot game, a certificate (which includes a gun licence) 

 costing ;^3 per annum, or £2 for a less period, is necessary. 

 £2 licences may be taken out from July 31 to October 31, 

 or from October 31 to July 31. Short-period game licences 

 costing £\, for a fortnight, are available. Gamekeepers in 

 the bona fide service of masters holding legal possession of 

 game preserves, can kill game under conditions in accordance 

 with the law by holding a licence costing £2 per annum. All 

 gun licences expire on July 31 in each year. The killing of 

 game on Sundays and Christmas Day is prohibited. Wild 

 birds which are not game may be shot at any time (except where 

 orders are in force to the contrary) on unenclosed lands, 

 where no offence is committed by holders of a gun licence. 



WILD BIRDS' PROTECTION 

 The Wild Birds' Protection Act of 1 880-1 provides for the 

 protection of all wild birds throughout the British Isles, ex- 

 cept St. Kilda, between the last day of February and August i 



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