SHOOTING IN NEW FOREST 253 



times the number of pheasants that existed when 

 first I came to the Forest, and in favourable 

 years, I think the stock must be increased fifty 

 fold. 



As to the cocks, young or old, whether hand 

 reared or wild bred, the licencees were heartily 

 welcome to kill all they could, as soon as they 

 were sufficiently mature to take care of them- 

 selves. And the more they killed, the better I was 

 pleased. But I never had any sympathy with 

 the shooter who in the early days of October 

 would prowl round my breeding fields in the 

 hope of getting some immature cock, scarce per- 

 haps distinguishable from a hen (and very often 

 the hen was not distinguished at all) just to fill 

 his bag. 



To deal with such "sportsmen," I had the 

 ground around the breeding fields driven in, 

 more than once a day, so long as the birds were 

 too young to protect themselves. As soon as 

 November arrived, the cock pheasant could look 

 after himself, and he got no more protection 

 from me. This protection was made into a great 

 grievance by some. I used to rear these birds 

 generally about 800 in all in three or four 

 different places, which were from nine to five 

 miles distant from each other. Like all game 

 preservers, I picked up my eggs on my outside 



