174 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



woodcock and black game shooting to a pointer, for they 

 are principally composed of fir trees quite free from branches 

 till long up the trunk, with a luxuriant under growth of 

 high thick heather. The island is interspersed with open 

 marshes or mosses, affording excellent localities for all 

 species of waders. There is good coast shooting all round 

 the island, and capital duck shooting both inland and out 

 at sea. There is plenty of partridge shooting on the island, 

 and the climate is so mild, that now and then woodcocks 

 remain there throughout the winter. Living is cheap, 

 the people are kind and friendly ; it is altogether a most 

 interesting island, and I know no part of Sweden which I 

 would prefer to Gotland for a year's residence. It may be 

 reached easily from Stockholm by steamer. 



The Swedish game laws are undergoing alteration, 

 and, will, I think, in future, be much more strictly 

 observed than heretofore. In all probability the fol- 

 lowing will be a synopsis of the new Swedish game 

 laws. 



Elks are only to be lawfully shot in August and Septem- 

 ber, and the season is to close before the pairing season, 

 which takes place early in October. The fine for killing 

 an elk out of season to be about 15, besides 5 to the 

 owner of the land on which the elk is killed. It is the 

 custom in some of the northern forests, to kill the elks with 

 a sort of natural bow and arrow, formed of a young tree 

 bent across the forest ride. This is very dangerous for 

 horses and other cattle, and these " Elg Ledar," as they 

 are called, are to be prohibited under a fine of 50. 



The season for capercaillie, roedeer, wild reindeer, 

 hares, black game, hazel grouse and willow grouse, to 

 commence on the 10th August, and close on the 15th 

 March. 



For partridges from the 20th August, to the 1st Novem- 

 ber. I cannot see why partridge shooting should commence 

 earlier in Sweden than in England, and it might very well 

 last till December, for very little snow falls in the south of 

 Sweden, before that month. 



