94 WILD NATURE IN STKATHEARN. 



the haunts and ways of game, so that he can 

 unerringly place his long net where he will make 

 the biggest haul. Anyone who doubts what I 

 say let him join the Crieff poaching company 

 (unlimited) some night when they visit with 

 their long tackle the outlying districts of some 

 close preserves, and if he does not acknowledge 

 that the sport is a fascinating and exciting 

 one, his senses must be dead or far below 

 normal. But if he values his good name, I 

 advise him not to repeat the experiment, pro- 

 vided he escapes capture on his first attempt. 



Poachers, if taken in hand in time, might be 

 made good gamekeepers or watchers, but once 

 they get into evil habits, or indulge their taste 

 for strong drink, they sink lower and lower, and 

 are beyond reclamation. That many poachers 

 are not actually bad at heart I believe, but bad 

 companions and lazy habits have such a hold 

 upon them that they cannot shake them ofif. 

 Punishment will never prevent poaching. The 

 only way to put it down is by getting hold of 



