Poaching Gamekeepers' Duties. 509 



no inconsiderable extent. Of the duties of gamekeepers 

 in regard to poaching we can say but little beyond giving 

 the chief qualifications and duties of a good keeper, and 

 detailing such aids as he can enlist in combating the attacks 

 of poachers. A perfect gamekeeper is invaluable ; he must 

 above all things be thoroughly devoted to his work, and be 

 prepared to carry out his duty under all adverse circum- 

 stances. Civility, firmness, and courage should be his chief 

 characteristics, besides knowledge of all details of his craft, 

 both in the practical as well as the legal portion of his 

 business with regard to poaching and poachers ; he should 

 never commune except with his master, and on this subject 

 he should be implicitly trusted. With regard to the vexed 

 question of the keeper carrying a gun, we have but one 

 opinion, and it is in the affirmative. If a man be fit to be a 

 gamekeeper he is fit to be intrusted with a gun ; but at 

 the same time, when he uses it for vermin killing we would 

 withdraw the right. Its uses are innumerable in this respect, 

 but its abuse is most reprehensible. The number of keepers 

 necessary on*a preserve depends upon circumstances too 

 numerous to detail. The more roads and paths about an 

 estate the more keepers are required. We should always 

 endeavour, moreover, to enlist in an unofficial way the 

 services of any labourers with outlying cottages as watchers, 

 never giving them power to act in repressing trespass, 

 but employing them simply as informants. 



Whenever any raid by more than two or three men is 

 about to take place, it is, in nine cases out of ten, known 

 beforehand, and the man who holds the information will 

 generally tell it if appealed to in a proper manner. No one 



