172 The Confessions of a Poacher. 



charges except the last, and explained the case as 

 clearly as I could. The Conservancy solicitor, 

 who prosecuted, did then what he had never 

 done before. It was a bad case he said, but 

 added that I had never before been charged 

 with netting during " close-time," and had never 

 used lime or other wholesale methods of pois- 

 oning. He pointed out, too, to the presiding 

 Justice that I always claimed to " poach 

 square"- at which all the young ones laughed. 

 He did not press for the heaviest penalty. 

 But this was quite unnecessary, as I got it 

 without. I never quite understood how they 

 made it up, but I was fined ninety-seven 

 pounds. I told the Chairman that I should 

 pay it "in kind," and went to " hard " for nine 

 months. 



