284 TEN YEARS OF GAME-KEEPING 



of fourteen birds dropped by two guns one hot 

 September afternoon. There was not an atom of 

 scent, but, trying again at sundown, my old dog got 

 them all. 



There is a very popular fallacy that a keeper may 

 help himself to what game he likes. By right of 

 custom he may have rabbits and pigeons for his 

 own use only, and not to sell for his own profit 

 (unless by agreement). As to game in the ordinary 

 sense, I should say he has no more right to it than 

 a gardener to grapes, or a carter to oats. I have 

 been asked for game (presumably free of middle- 

 man's profit) by people who gave me to understand 

 that they would ' satisfy ' me. And a lady wrote 

 to me : ' Mrs. So-and-so wishes,' etc. I replied : 

 ' Mr. Jones presents his compliments to Mrs. So- 

 and-so, and wishes to inform her that he is a game- 

 keeper, and not a game-dealer.' I do not suppose 

 one member of the public in ten thousand knows 

 that neither a gamekeeper nor his employer may 

 sell game to anyone but a licensed dealer. Con- 

 sidering the ease with which keepers can help 

 themselves to game, and the smallness of the risk 

 of detection, their honesty, collectively, is much to 

 their credit. I would suggest to employers that 

 they should think of the keeper when game is being 

 given away. A present of an occasional (not too 

 occasional) brace of birds or a hare is the best way 

 of telling the keeper that his integrity is appreciated. 



