HARES, /1A7) II.IRE-HUNTING. 195 



As tlie hare is naturally very prolific, it is quite easy to keep any country 

 amply stocked, if it is strictly preserved. 



The causes which render it possible for us to look forward to the 

 certainty of finding at any of our meets may be summed up as follows : — 



1st. 'l"he forbearance of the farmer, who, having the right to kill hares 

 and rabbits, spares enough of the former, out of consideration for the Hunt, 

 or from a feeling of friendliness to sport, and a proper pride in not having 

 his land drawn blank by hounds. 



end. The consideration for hunting which usually characterizes the 

 instructions given by the shooting tenant to his keeper, and also guides his 

 own practice with the gun, leading him, where he does not find hares too 

 numerous, to leave them for the "jelly-dogs." 



On the other hand, the causes which have made some parts of our 

 country not worth drawing, and have led us, practically, to abandon those 

 meets, are the absence of the above-mentioned conditions, and the abnormal 

 increase in the population of Birkenhead and Tranmere. 



Partial or inefficient preservation of game, as well as absolute non- 

 preservation, means the increase of the natural and cultivated enemies of the 

 hare ; and tiie latter very soon disappeais from those localities where the 

 shooting tenant does not find it possible or worth his while to have efficient 

 keepers for the strict preservation of- all game. Fortunately, there are not 

 very many of these spots in the Hundred of Wirral, and they may be 

 enumerated ns Wallasey, Tranmere, Moreton, Newhouse, Hoylake, Heswall, 

 and Bromborough (except the Plymyard). Of these, Wallasey and Tranmere 

 have been denuded of hares through ordinary economic laws, the increase of 

 population having covered the localities with houses. In the others, either 

 hares are shot whenever they appear, or the importation into the district of 

 navvies for the Ship Canal has rendered the efforts of the keepers useless. 

 Of all the enemies to hare hunting, the poacher, with his snares, nets and 

 lurchers, is the most fatal. 



In 1887 it was found that hares were becoming scarce in the country, 

 and it was decided, in conjunction with the Wirral Harriers, to import a 

 quantity of hares and put them down in various quarters. Eighty-five were 

 purchased, costing, with carriage, about forty-three pounds, of which sum Mr. 

 Ismay paid five pounds for hares to be put down at Thurstaston, the Wirral 

 Harriers paid two-thirds of the balance, and the Royal Rock Beagles the 

 remaining third. This was a very successful operation, and resulted in ihe 

 country again becoming well stocked, so that we have hardly ever had a 

 blank day since. 



The order for the muzzling of dogs against rabies, which about this 

 time was issued and strictly enforced, was a great help to the re-stocking of 

 the country, as before that time gangs of men from Birkenhead and New 



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