388 GAME LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. 



a view of showing how far the enactments at present existing, 

 respecting the purchase and sale of game, effect the purposes for 

 which they were made. 



The evidence which has been taken, and which refers, for the 

 most part, to the supply of the metropolis with game, establishes, 

 in the opinion of the committee, the following facts : > 



1st, That the laws which prohibit the sale of game are con- 

 stantly and systematically evaded or set at defiance.* 



2d, That the trade in game is carried on to a great extent, 

 by respectable salesmen, who receive a commission upon the 

 game sold by them, amounting, on account of the risk, to double 

 that which they receive upon the sale of poultry; 



3d, That this trade is also carried on by other persons, such 

 as higglers, waggoners, coachmen, guards, and porters, at the 

 several inns, where coaches and waggons, &c. put up. 



* The following extract from the examination of one of the witnesses 

 is illustrative of this position: 



Question. Some years ago an act of parliament passed, to make it 

 illegal to buy game ; you were in the trade at that time ? 



Answer. Yes. 



Q. Did you immediately after that find the sale of game diminished 

 stall? 



A. Not the least ; indeed I consider it a particular advantage, in 

 some respects ; I know a person, individually, who has found it so. 



Q. Will you state of what advantage it is ? 



A. There is one particular clause in that act which says, that if I go 

 and inform against any person, and convict him, so that he is fined, I 

 hall be cleared from all pains and penalties up to that moment, to which 

 I have become liable : suppose I had a threat of having a whole bench 

 of country magistrates upon me, and a person comes into my shop, and 

 buys a certain article of game, I lay an information against him, he pays 

 the 5 ; I procure the record of the conviction, and I am immediately 

 informed against, and the penalties, perhaps, come to 2 or 300 ; I 

 produce the record of this conviction, and I am cleared ; it is in my 

 favour, and I could produce evidence that it has been acted upon. 



