362 , ' ON BIRD-NETS. 



deep, they draw onto the hill and are covered with the net. When the 

 water-nets are set, every thing is underwater except the decoy-birds standing 

 on their little hills ; but with the land-nets all is visible. Several years back 

 a white Plover came, but went away again. 



'^We used to catch at the beginning of October and in spring; but by 

 the act now passed, we may not catch after February 15th. I used to take 

 a great number when they were returning to the north, until the middle of 

 April. My nets are now removed, and the lines put into a dressing of tar 

 to preserve them/' 



The Act which has put a stop to the Plover-catcher's trade is thus 

 mentioned in 'The Times,' Friday, February 16th, 1877 : — 



^^ Wild Fowl Preservation Act. — To-day (Friday) the Wild Fowl Preservation Act of 1876, 

 passed last July_, comes into operation. This measure extends the operation of the Wild Bird Pro- 

 tection Act of 1872 in respect of certain of the birds named in that Act which in the new Act are 

 called ^ wild fowl.^ The Act of 1872 protected certain wild birds named (78 in number) during the 

 breeding-season,, which was fixed as from March 13th to August 18th. The Act of last Session 

 alters that period of protection to the time between February 15th and July lOth^ in respect to the 

 following birds : — Avocet, Curlew^ Dotterel, Dunbird, Dunlin, Godart, Greenshank, Lapwing, 

 Mallard, Oxbird, Phalarope, Peewit, Plover, Plover's Page, Pochard, Purre, Eedshank, Eeeve 

 or Ruff, Sea-Lark, Sanderling, Sandpiper, Shoveller, Snipe, Spoonbill, Stint, Stone-Curlew, 

 Stonehatch, Summer Snipe, Teal, Thick-knee, Whaup, Whimbrel, Widgeon, Wild Duck, Wild 

 Goose, and Woodcock. Any person taking or wounding or attempting to take the above birds 

 between the dates named, or having them in his possession, shall, on conviction, be fined £1 for 

 each bird, with costs.'' 



There have been three Acts of Parhament relating to this subject :— 



The Sea-Birds Preservation Act . (32 & 33 Victoria) . June 24th, 1869 . (ch. 17). 

 The Wild Birds Protection Act . (35 & 36 Victoria) . Aug. 10th, 1872 . (ch. 78). 

 The Wild Fowl Preservation Act . (39 k 40 Victoria) . July 24th, 1876 . (ch. 29). 



The last has ended Plover-catching in spring. 



