148 THE SPORTING WORLD. 



or refuses the farm labouring under such dis- 

 advantage or not as he pleases. As regards my 

 own private opinion it is this ; I would say to 

 a farmer on taking a farm of mine, " Now 

 look ye here, Nei2;libour, I understand you 

 shoot, do so, shoot what game you want for 

 your own consumption, and of course that of 

 your family, and in return, help to keep a 

 sharp eye on my preserves." 



I am quite convinced such mode of conduct 

 would be far more efficacious towards the pre- 

 servation of game than if left to the care of 

 keepers and watchers, who too often wink at, or 

 keep out of the way of the poachers* practice, 

 and only bring those to justice who in some 

 way have acted contrary to the wishes of those 

 employed to watch, or what is just the same 

 thing, have neglected or declined to act in a 

 way consonant to their wishes and interest. 



A farmer holding, we will say, four hundred 

 or more acres of land is a highly respectable 



