22 MY SPORTING HOLIDAYS 



mainland, almost, if not quite, as well suited in 

 climate, area, locality, and vegetation, to shelter and 

 feed a good stock of deer. I believe the chief reason 

 for this singularity is the fact that Hitteren is the 

 only spot where protective laws have been thoroughly 

 well observed as well as passed. The island was dis- 

 covered by Englishmen a generation ago, and has 

 been more or less leased by them ever since, partly 

 owing to its accessibility. The native owners thus 

 came early to recognise the commercial value of their 

 sporting rights, and have done their best in conse- 

 quence to maintain the character and value of these 

 rights, which now form their most valuable asset. 



At one time, for fifteen years or so from about 

 the year 1886, if my recollection serves me right 

 hinds were strictly protected in the Throndhjem 

 district, which includes Hitteren, and also a considerable 

 stretch of mainland opposite, not only de jure, but 

 also de facto ; with the consequence that the stock of 

 deer increased considerably. Quite recently, in 1902, 

 the Norwegian game laws were again altered, and 

 now hinds as well as stags are allowed to be killed in 

 equal proportions up to the legal limit on each farm. 



From a sporting point of view, I consider this to 

 have been a mistake. On the small outlying farms, 

 where the woodland cover is sparse and scattered, 

 stags are seldom seen. On such places hinds only 

 are killed by the native owners, and their arithmetic 

 is generally faulty when it comes to giving a return 

 of the number of animals slain. They were after the 

 venison and, failing stags, the hinds just had to take 

 their chance. 



Fortunately for Hitteren, all the best ground is 

 now in one hand, being leased by my friend J. A. 



