"VOELKER'S" CHASSE. 235 



for the protection of the woods and chasses were rather 

 severe, and game was quite as strictly preserved in Baden as 

 it is in Norfolk. The revolution of 1848 was a death-blow 

 to the game of all sorts, which had attained a great head; 

 but the country possessing every element favourable to its 

 propagation, it is again becoming plentiful. 



Numerous proprietors and associations of sportsmen hired 

 chasses in this vicinity of greater or less extent ; but by far 

 the largest and most important were those of Mr. Yoelker, 

 an extensive chicory manufacturer at Lahr, a small town 

 ten miles from Offenburg, and the wide extent of shooting- 

 grounds rented by Messrs. Humann and friends, of Stras- 

 burg. 



The former proprietor included upwards of forty square 

 miles in his right of chasse, over plain and forest, and kept 

 up an establishment of twelve head-keepers, without includ- 

 ing helpers and the assistance of the government forest 

 guards. He told me at this time that the expense ofhisjaght 

 was about 25,000 francs a-year, and he calculated upon 

 selling his game, which was purchased on the spot and taken 

 away by Strasburg dealers to the Paris market, for 30,000 

 francs. 



The beginning of the season, which, like our own, com- 

 menced about September, or rather depended upon the state 

 of the harvest, was devoted almost entirely to partridge and 

 quail shooting, no pheasants, and very few hares or roedeer, 

 being killed until a later period (November and December), 

 when the great battues took place. 



Upon receiving notices of the different rendezvous des 

 chasses for the week, or a longer period, the sportsmen met 

 at the appointed places, generally bringing their dogs with 

 them ; and, as the country was entirely open for miles, no 

 fences of any kind intervening, and was covered with every 

 description of produce, from grain-stubble of all sorts to 



