HARES AND RABBITS, 



49 



ground game, and also allows the occupier, and persons 

 duly authorised by him, to kill, take, and sell ground game 

 without a game licence. By this Act, also, no person may 

 shoot ground game between the expiration of the first hour 

 after sunset and the commencement of the last hour before 

 sunrise ; spring traps, except in rabbit holes, and poison of 

 any kind, are prohibited. 



This Act, which seems a fair and just measure, and 

 which enables a tenant to take somewhat into his own 

 hands the quantity of ground game carried on his farm, 

 gave rise in 1892 to another measure, the Hares Preserva- 

 tion Act, which enacts that during the months of March, 

 April, May, June, and July it is unlawful to sell, or expose 

 for sale, hares or leverets. This measure does not apply to 

 foreign hares. It was deemed expedient to allow a close 

 time for these animals, as it was considered in some districts 

 that the hare would be speedily exterminated.''' As has been 

 stated before, the hare is surrounded by many enemies ; its 

 young are born in the open field, and are consequently 

 exposed to various dangers. Not only are hares shot by 

 sportsmen, and snared and killed by poachers, but they are, 

 unlike their near relative the rabbit, coursed by greyhounds 

 and hunted by harriers. A hare is one of the easiest animals 

 to snare, and it affords a better mark, and one of more value, 

 than the rabbit. The damage committed by hares is un- 

 doubtedly great ; but it has been ascertained that, unless 

 protected, they would gradually die out ; therefore, a close 

 time for hares is, on the whole, a salutary measure, and the 

 Hares Preservation Act, 1892, is acceptable to sportsmen and 



^ Concerning the *' Hares Preservation Act, 1892," much misconception exists. The 

 '^close time " (March to July, inclusive) is a theoretical rather than a practical one. Hares 

 and leverets maybe killed during these months by those entitled to kill them, ^^^Z f//^',v 

 must not he exposed for sale. It is, however, both cruel and wasteful to kill any food 

 animal during the breeding season, and when practical it is to be hoped that the hare may 

 be spared. Of late years it has been a fast-diminishing species — a fact to be regretted. — 

 Editor. 



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