Practical Game-Preserving. 



therefore needless to enter into lengthy particulars of the 

 actual or supposed ways of the fraternity, for, as a rule, 

 when brought down to the level of hard fact, they must be 

 and are very simple. Poaching is nothing more than 

 the capture of game by quite ordinary methods, which 

 the gamekeeper could as easily put into execution as the 

 poacher, and all of which should be known to him, and 

 in the ordinary course of events will come to his know- 

 ledge during the course of his apprenticeship and the 

 development of his craft. All that the poacher does is 

 to endeavour to apply these methods illicitly whilst 

 evading the discriminating and intelligent observation of 

 the gamekeeper and those allied with him. All sorts of 

 wonderful and mystifying powers have been accredited to 

 poachers. Believe me, there is nothing in it all. If they 

 succeed in bluffing the keeper it is because they bring 

 greater knowledge, greater perseverance, and greater skill 

 to work than the keeper, run risks which his possible delay 

 or default assists, and hoodwink him with greater cunning 

 and energy than he displays. 



The employment of mechanical aids to keepers in the 

 form of alarm-guns, which have of late come into greatly- 

 extended use, is frequently of much service, provided too 

 much reliance be not placed upon them. If a preserve be 

 undermanned they may very well serve a useful purpose, 

 and as the rule is rather to err in this direction, resort 

 must be made to them for giving notice of the entry by 

 unauthorised persons in unwatched or distant coverts. 

 There are many effective ones on the market, some simple 

 in action, others more complex, giving double alarms, 

 firing rockets, and lighting flares when set off. They 

 may be made to serve a very good purpose if handled 

 discreetly and not much parade be made of their use. 



