GROUND, STOCK, AND POACHING 193 
tion or league, whose arm should be long enough and 
strong enough to reach those who deal in poached 
game and stolen eggs, and which should unceasingly 
watch the interests of the game question in Parlia- 
ment. 
If only one-fourth of the men in this country who 
care about shooting, and wish to see sport kept up, 
would subscribe half-a-guinea pet annum to such a 
league, enough funds would be provided to maintain 
an effective and organised campaign against egg- 
stealers, poachers, and illegal destroyers of game. 
Detectives of experience could be selected, who should 
at the proper seasons proceed to the suspected 
districts, trace the sources of the supply of eggs, and 
of the illegally killed partridges and grouse which 
come into the market before the season opens, and 
where evidence was complete institute prosecutions 
against all concerned in this nefarious trade. 
To do this properly, however, the sale of game eggs 
should be made illegal. How can a man with only a 
few acres in the near neighbourhood of JLondon pro- 
cure all the partridge eggs which he advertises for 
sale unless they are stolen? No gentleman would 
sell his eggs to such a person, but it is a regrettable 
fact that many will buy from him. Eggs should only 
be bought from owners of sporting property. If you 
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