362 THE GAME PRESERVER'S GUIDE. 



When it is remembered that the gamekeeper lias to rear 

 his game, which requires great tact and care ; to trap vermin, 

 which is a still more difficult task; to preserve his charge 

 from poachers under laws the operation of which is most 

 jealously watched; to break dogs of all kinds; to shoot in- 

 fallibly well when required, and occasionally to take care not 

 to shoot better than his master or his master's friends; it 

 will readily be understood by those who know anything of 

 these subjects, that I have not over-estimated the extent of 

 the good qualities which are required. 



HONESTY. 



In the above list I have said nothing of the summum 

 bonuin the apex of the pyramid. A keeper may be all that 

 I have described : he may rear, and trap, and preserve to 

 perfection, but then all this may be done for his own benefit, 

 and not for that of his master. I have often known a good 

 head of game early in the autumn dwindle down to a very 

 moderate show when put to the test in September and 

 October, clearly proving one of two things either that the 

 keeper had allowed the poachers to rob him, or that he had 

 himself been guilty of fraud upon his master, by selling the 

 game which he is paid to preserve. In most cases T believe 

 that the fault lies in his neglect of duty, or that he has been 

 outwitted, but sometimes there can be no doubt that the 

 keeper has either directly or indirectly sold his game. The 

 temptation when the master is non-resident on the property 

 is very considerable, for unfortunately the keeper has still 

 less difficulty in disposing of game than the poacher. No 

 doubt he places himself in the power of his subordinates, but 

 some risk must be run in all cases of fraud committed in 

 other walks of life, and yet we know that they are of daily 

 occurrence. Still it is highly creditable to the whole class of 

 keepers that they are generally above suspicion in this par- 

 ticular, and what few instances have come to my knowledge 

 have most of them been caused by some mismanagement or 

 meanness on the part of the master. 



