THE HARE AND HER TROD 73 



in the course of less than half an hour, and he regards 

 speed in operating as one of the most important con- 

 siderations. If the animal once drops into the bag 

 net, its own weight draws the strings and closes the 

 snare. Its screams at once attract the presence of the 

 poacher, who hastens to slay and pouch his victim. 

 Another engine in common use is the gate net. The 

 poacher stretches this net across a gateway, securing 

 it in position by placing a few stones or bricks upon 

 the gateposts. About a foot of netting is generally 

 allowed to trail upon the ground, so that when the 

 driven hare strikes the net, she may speedily roll her- 

 self up in the treacherous meshes. 



Of course any well-informed keeper has learnt by 

 actual observation all that I have been told by the 

 poachers ; but I give all the details I can for the 

 obvious reason that the more intimately sportsmen 

 understand the ill doings of those who prey upon 

 their game, the more easily will they be able to 

 grapple with the evil. Some people maintain that it 

 is a mistake to publish particulars of poaching, 

 because they argue that it may corrupt the minds 

 of certain readers. I am afraid that if a man wishes 

 to poach, he will find ways and means of learning the 

 secrets of the craft without referring to books. On 

 the other hand, the diffusion of information as to the 



