SWITZERLAND 337 



chamois is the chief game of the mountains, and as this animal is 

 protected in the prescribed districts, it is necessary before setting- 

 out on an expedition to learn the localities in which it may be shot. 

 Foreigners wishing to visit Switzerland for sporting purposes are 

 placed under precisely the same restrictions as native sportsmen. 

 In the majority of the cantons they can, conforming of course to 

 the conditions established by law, procure a shooting licence. In 

 cantons like that of Argovie, where the shooting is preserved, a 

 foreigner would of course require an invitation from an owner. I 

 know, for instance, that the proprietor of the hotels at Rheinfelden, 

 M. Dietschy, who owns one of the finest roe preserves in all 

 Switzerland, issues permits to a number of sportsmen to visit his 

 preserves. 



The conditions under which shooting must be practised in 

 Switzerland are fixed by the federal law of 1875, which restricts 

 the general season between ist September and 15th December, or 

 31st December for preserved shootings. The laws of the different 

 cantons attempt, according to the tastes of the various legislators, 

 greater severity ; they cannot certainly achieve less. The above 

 limit indicated for the general season is, however, closed in favour 

 of certain species. Thus the pursuit of the chamois and marmot 

 as well as of the red and roe deer of the higher regions, is restricted 

 to the month of September.'^' 



Shooting of all kinds is prohibited in the spring months. In 

 winter-time shooting is permitted from boats on the lakes, but gunners 



* The employment of dogs and repeating arms is forbidden, as also the capture or 

 destruction of females or fawns of the year. 

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