GAME LAWS. 167 



kind of game begins too early. Scarcely any country gen- 

 tleman will go to one shilling expense in the preservation 

 of game. Nearly every peasant is an arrant poacher in 

 heart as well as in practice ; and as long as gentlemen will 

 continue to buy game at all seasons of the year, without 

 asking any questions, the peasants will continue to shoot it 

 whenever they have a chance. I think I need not give any 

 more reasons, why game should be scarce in Sweden or 

 Norway. 



Still if a proper code of game laws were framed, and 

 well observed, a good stock of game might soon be got and 

 kept up at very little trouble and expense, for the whole 

 country abounds in localities, and food, fitted for every 

 species of European game ; but never until a certain tax, say 

 20 rqr. per year, is levied upon every one who carries a gun, 

 for the purpose of shooting game. This would be no hard- 

 ship, for any man who could afford to give up his time to 

 shoot for pleasure, could afford to pay a small tax, and every 

 one who shoots for profit, should by all means pay for it. 



A small tax is now very properly laid upon every dog. 

 This varies in different provinces, but is nowhere more than 

 5 rqr. per year ; and this does not go to the crown, but is 

 applied towards the maintenance of the poor of the parish, 

 or however else the parishioners think proper. This has 

 already done an immense deal of good in many districts, 

 and some hundreds of poaching curs have been destroyed 

 throughout the country. 



There is at present no licence required for shooting in 

 any part of Scandinavia. The fine for trespassing varies so 

 much in different districts, that it is impossible to give an 

 idea of the sum a trespasser will have to pay if caught, but 

 I believe one universal sum will soon be adopted. On 

 some estates it will be as high as 50 rqr., in others not 

 more than 5 rqr. It is always better for a stranger to 

 ask leave before he sets foot on any man's land; for 

 although he may not be caught, yet if he be, any pro- 

 prietor or woodwatcher has a right to seize his gun, dogs, 

 or tackle, which are held over in pawn till the fine, 



