THE GAME LAWS. 423 



sold, which. I trust in future will not be till after the llth 

 of August. Here a first-rate keeper is required, aided by a 

 clever set of watchers, and they will have their hands full 

 just before the season, and towards the latter part of it, when 

 the shooters are not so thick on the ground. 



From the many difficulties which 1 have shown to exist in 

 counteracting the poacher when he has once set to work, I 

 must impress upon my readers the importance of taking 

 eveiy precaution to keep him blockaded at home. This re- 

 quires a considerable number of watchers who are to be 

 depended on, but after all it is the only effectual way, and as 

 such is the cheapest in the end. The grand secret in game 

 preserving is to depend upon the prevention of mischief in 

 its commencement, and not upon stopping it when it hap 

 gained its full swing. Many a man would stay at home if ho 

 knew that he was going to risk a murder, but if his blood 

 is up, his pride and his obstinacy, or courage if you like to 

 call it so, alike prevent him from allowing himself to be 

 foiled. 



CHAPTER Y. 



THE G A M E LAWS. 



GENERAL REMARKS ENGLISH GAME LAW OF 1831 LAW FOR PERMIT- 

 TIM; THE KILUNG OK HARES IN ENGLAND SCOTCH LAWS, INCLUDING 



THAT PERMITTING THE KILLING OF HAKES, AND ALSO THE LAW OF 

 TRESPASS IRISH GAME LAWS. 



THE limited space which can be given to this subject in the 

 present work prevents me from entering into the history of 

 these laws, and I must confine my attention to the working 

 of those parts of them which more especially concern the 

 shooter. It is most unfortunate that the laws relating to 

 game differ most essentially in England, Ireland, and 

 Scotland so that a sportsman who is only acquainted with 

 the law of one of these countries, is constantly liable to 

 break that which prevails in either of the others. This still 



