250 TRAVELLING POACHERS 



and the beginning of August, at the larger stations, 

 avoiding the smaller places, where they might attract 

 too much attention and be watched. I have often seen 

 them about the villages, and had little doubt as to 

 what their calling might be, from the appearance of 

 their dogs. You will never see more than one man, 

 accompanied by his dog, at a time. The net is so fine 

 and light that it presents no bulky appearance, and so 

 they roam about from place to place, and, their pro- 

 gramme and rendezvous being carefully arranged, and 

 their scouts ever on the watch, they manage to elude 

 detection. Many of them are keepers out of place, 

 who, getting hard up, join in the illegal business ; 

 though I must admit that I have known many in- 

 stances in which such men have resolutely refused to 

 have anything to do with such a nefarious trade, even 

 though they have been well-nigh reduced to starvation, 

 and have given information against their would-be 

 seducers. 



It behoves keepers, when they observe any of 

 these suspicious-looking gentry about during July or 

 August, to keep an eye on their movements, for 

 there can be but little doubt as to their intentions. I 

 have frequently noticed them arrive at Inverness and 

 wait for the North train ; there was no need to ask 

 where they were going or what their errand — their 

 appearance answered the unasked question sufficiently. 

 Watchers should be put on to assist the keepers 

 towards the end of July; the expense would not be 

 very great, but there would be a very great increase 

 of sport thereby secured, and the complaints regard- 

 ing the scarcity of i:^ame, owing to the depredations 

 of poachers, would be unheard of, whatever evil results 



