250 THE NEW FOREST 



which was "to be used for purposes of recrea- 

 tion only, and with that moderation which is 

 fitting." 



Consequently the holders of the licence were 

 careful as to the spirit as well as the letter of 

 their actions. It was not thought right to shoot 

 oftener than two or three days a week. Rabbits 

 were deemed the perquisite of the keepers (a very 

 bad thing), and were severely let alone by the 

 licencees. 



Anything savouring of poaching or unfair 

 practices led to the certain forfeiture of the 

 licence. And as a new licence was only granted 

 when a vacancy in the list occurred, and there 

 were always many applicants anxiously waiting 

 for that chance, there was a fairly good police 

 system in existence ; and anything savouring of 

 undesirable practices was sure to be reported ere 

 very long. It was a thoroughly sporting concession, 

 and was expected to be used in good sporting fashion. 



In 1867 all this was altered. An arrange- 

 ment was come to by which the property of 

 Claremont, then part of the Crown property 

 surrendered by the Sovereign to the nation, in 

 return for the Civil List, was handed over by 

 the Office of Woods &c., to Her Majesty Queen 

 Victoria, in exchange for her surrender of the right 

 to issue licences to sport in the New Forest. 



