GAME LAWS ABE AD. 291 



be extremely problematical. How far this almost total 

 disappearance of game of every kind may be attributed to 

 the nature of the country itself, to the system of cultivation, 

 to some inherent defect in the present law, or to laxity in 

 administration, is a question not easily solved. What- 

 ever the cause, the untoward effects are but too patent even 

 to the most superficial observers. So much so that the 

 greater number of the cantonal governments have within 

 the last few years been empowered to use their discretion 

 to the extent of either partially or wholly prohibiting the 

 killing of game within their territories ; but even measures 

 of so exceptional a nature do not so far seem to have attained 

 the object in view. 



The system which obtains in all the cantons, with one or 

 two exceptions, is that of requiring all persons engaged in 

 killing game to provide themselves with special licences. 

 These licences, available only for the period of one year, are 

 made out in the names of the individuals to whom they have 

 been granted and are not transferable. Any attempt to 

 evade this regulation exposes both the holder of the licence 

 and the person improperly using it to a heavy fine. They 

 are issued by the Home Department only to such applicants 

 as are either personally known to the department or recom- 

 mended by the authorities of the district to which they 

 belong. 



Any one engaged in shooting game is bound to produce 

 his licence at once when called upon to do so by police 

 agents, forest guards, private keepers, and, in some cantons, 

 any other licensed sportsman. 



There are several kinds of licences, the charge for which 

 differs in almost every canton. An ordinary licence, avail- 

 able for the whole of the shooting season, costs from six to 

 twenty francs, but does not include large game (" hochge- 

 wild "), for which a special licence has to be obtained, 

 costing in some cantons no less than forty francs. The fee 

 charge for a licence merely to shoot snipe in the spring, or 



