THE ENGLISH GAME LAWS. 425 



Layard (the chief of the constabulary in the East Riding of 

 Yorkshire), to the Hon. Grantley Berkeley, are deserving of 

 great attention not only as coining from an official who has 

 long been concerned in putting down crimes of all kinds in 

 a county where game preserving is strictly carried out, but 

 as being of a most feasible character in themselves. 



The following are Colonel LayarcCs suggestions: "With 

 reference to the best mode of putting down the present 

 system of poaching, which has of late been carried to such 

 a fearful extent that life and property are unhesitatingly 

 sacrificed to effect their purpose by those who live by it and 

 acknowledge no other trade or mode of gaining a livelihood, 

 I would suggest that a clause be introduced into the Vagrant 

 Act empowering a magistrate ' to commit to the house of 

 correction for any period .not exceeding one month, or less 

 than fourteen days, all persons apprehended with game in 

 their possession between the proscribed hours of night viz., 

 one hour after sunset and one hour after sunrise, if such 

 persons cannot satisfactorily account for having game in their 

 possession, showing whence it came, and to whom it belongs.' 

 Further, I would recommend that all game found on such 

 parties as are committed, ' be sold by order of the magistrate 

 to some licensed dealer in game, the proceeds to be applied, 

 in the first instance, to defray all expenses incurred in the 

 apprehension of the offender; and should there be any 

 surplus, the same to be paid over to the county rate.' Thus, 

 the constabulary of any county or borough, acting (as they 

 have power to do) upon the right to search all suspicious 

 characters entering towns or met on the roads during the 

 night, would have the power to detain all such parties, and 

 bring them before a justice; and by the frequent and 

 constant recurrence of apprehension, and their loss of the 

 game, poaching would cease to be a lucrative trade or occu- 

 pation, as it now is. 



" As the law now stands, the police are daily searching 

 parties on whom game is found in great quantities; and the 

 notorious poacher will boast to them of having had a good 

 night of it, or not, as the case may be ; but if one head of 

 poultry was found on them, they could at once be detained. 



" As regards the sale of game by unlicensed persons, it 



