POACHING 1 57 



be noted that on May 26, 1898, one Charles Gooch, 

 a marine-store dealer, was prosecuted by the Field 

 Sports Protection Association, at the Saxmundham 

 Petty Sessions, where, being convicted of being in un- 

 lawful possession of 655 partridges' eggs, he was fined 

 one shilling per egg, or 32/. 15J. and costs, or in default 

 two months' imprisonrrient with hard labour. It would 

 be well if this example were followed more frequently 

 by justices at petty sessions in other parts of the 

 country, and much might be done to prevent poach- 

 ing if County Councillors and Boards of Guardians 

 would follow the lead of those at Wimborne who, on 

 July 30, 1898, refused to grant to a general dealer a 

 licence to deal in game.' 



The power to grant such licences has been trans- 

 ferred from the Justices to the Guardians, and the 

 Act conferring such power (i & 2 Will. IV. cap. 32) 

 expressly provides (Sect. r8) that 'a licence to 

 deal in game cannot be granted to an innkeeper or 

 licensed victualler, or person licensed to sell beer by 

 retail, or to the owner, guard, or driver of any mail 

 coach or conveyance used for carrying the mails, or of 

 any stage coach, waggon, van, or other public convey- 

 ance, or to a carrier or higgler, or to a person in the 

 employment of any of the above.' 



' For report of this case see The Field, August 6, 1898, 

 p. 267. 



