Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-11
POACHING AS A FINE ART.
A CURIOUS CHAPTER IN ENGLISH
RURAL HISTORY.
Ways and Methods of Men Who Violate
the Game Laws OF Great Britain-En-
listing the Aid Of County Justices, MILK
men and Some of the Farmers.


men and Some of the Farmers.
Poaching is one Of the fine arts-how ''hne'
only the initiated kpow-and the successful
poacher Is always a specialist. He selects one
kind of game, and his whole knowledge OF
woodcraft is directed against it. In autumn
and winter the man who devotes himself to
'fHr" Knows the whereabouts OF every hare
in the pafish-not only the field in which ii
is, but the very clump of rushes in which is
Its form" AS puss goes away down the
turnip rig, be notes her every twist and
double, and takes In the miruteSt details.
He Is careful to examine the ''smoots" and
gates through which she passes, and these
spots he always approaches lRterauy. He
leaves no scent of hand nor print of foot, and
does not disturb the heritage Ali this with
view to nis silent work. After this it need
hardly be said that 3he intelligent poacher is
always a naturalist. The signs of wind and
weather he knows, as it were by heart, and
this is essential 10 his silent trade. The rise
and wane of the moon, the rain bringing
tides the local migrations Of birds-these
ana hundred ether things are marked in his
anWritten calendar. His outdoor life has
made him quick, and taught him much ready
animal ingenuity He has imbibed an im-
mease amount OF knowledge of the life of the
fields and woods; and he is that one man in a
Thousand who has accuracy of eye and judg-
mGnt sufficient 10 interpret nature Alright
EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS.
In summer poachers make and repair their
nets for winter use. Large hare nets are
made for gates smaller ones for rabbit bur-
rows and ''smoots." Partridge nets are also
necessarily large, having sometimes to cover
half a field. Although most of the summer
the poacher is practically idle, it is at this
time that he closely studies the life of the
fields and makes his observations for winter.
He gets occasional employment at hay or bar
vest, and for his daT ker winter profession
treasures up what he Sees He is often intro
duced TO the heart of the land, and misses
nothing when he gets the opportunity. In
autumn be is engaged 10 cut down ash poles,
or to fell young woods, and this brings him
to the covert. Nothing escapes his notice,
and in the end his employers have TO pay
dearly for his labor. At this time phessants,
partridge snd grouse are breeding, and are
therefore worthless so with rabbits and hares.
Every poacher knows that the difficulty
lies not so much In obtaining the game as in
Transporting it safely home. Their dogs are
always trained to run coupe of hundred
yards in advance, so as to give warning Of
any one's approach If police constable or
keeper is met on the highway, the dog inn
mediately leaps the fence, and, under its
cover, runs back to its master. Seeing this,
the game bag is dropped into a dry ditch,
and dog and man make of In different direc-
tions. County copstables loiter about unfre-
ouented lanes and bypaths at daybreak. The
poachers know this, and are rarely met with
game upon them. Ditches stacks and richs
afford good hiding places until women can be
sent to fetch the spoil These failing, country
carriers and early morning milk carts are
useful TO the poachsr. In one sleepy village
known to us, both the postman and parish
clerk were poachers. The latter carried his
game ia the black bag which usually held the
funeral pal. The smith at the Shneing forge
was the regular receiver, and there were few
III the village who had not poached at some
time other. The cottage women Melted
fish, and shut their garden gates on hares and
rabbits when they came down to feed in win
ter.
PRoPIrIATIEG THE FARMERS.
Except for Immediate use, poachers seldom
keep their nets al home They are slowed
away in church tower, barn, rick. or out
house. As TO the poaobers morality with re-
gard to the game laws it is difficult 10 detect
just where he draws the line He lives for
these to be repealed, and yet his native phi
losophy tells him that when this time comes
game viii have become wellnigh extinct
Upon the ground game act he looks with
mingled feelings; for, after all. are not rab-
bits and hares thS chief products of his
nights: The farmers now get these, and
the poacher's field is limited. They engage
him, maybe. to stay the ravages upon clover
and young wheat, or TO thin the rabbits
from out the pastures The poacher propiti-
ates the farmer in many ways. Occasionally,
in the morning, the farm lad finds half a
dozen rabbits OF a hare dropped behind the
barn door. How these como there no one
knows or asks. The country attorney is
sometimes Submitted to like indisnity In
crossing land the poacher is careful TO close
gates after him, and he never breaks down
fences. be assists cattle and sheep which he
finds in extremity, and leaves word OF the
mishap at the farm. Is it likely that the
farmer will dog the steps of the man who
protects his property and pays toll for do
ing it.
1t frequently happens that the poacher is
not less popul3r with those whose interests
he more directly serves. IL is even asserted
that more thar ohe Of the county justices
have In some sort a sneahing affection for
hun. The same wild spirit and love of sport
take him TO the fields and WOODS as his more
fortunate brethren to the moor and covert
IL is untrue, as has been said, that every
poacher Is a mercenary wretch who invari-
ably sells his game. He as frequently sends
In brace OF birds or hare to a poor or sick
heighbor. He comes III contact with the law
just sufficient To know something Of it's bear
ings. When charged with being in posses
zion OF game" he reiterates the cid argu-
nlent that rabbits arc verrnin
The pugnacity OF the pheasant is well
known to the poscher, and out OF this trait
he makes capital he axes under his arm
game cock fitted with artificial spurs These
are attached TO the natural ones. are sharp as
needles, and the bird is trained how to use
them Upon the latter's growing, one or
more cock pheaSants Immediately respond
and advance 10 meet the adversary. A
single blow usually sufiicss TO lay low the
pride of the pheasant, and in this way half
dozen birds may be taken, while the poach-
ers bird remains unhurt.
The most ingenious plan adopted by poach- |
ers, however, is also one of the most success |
fui- Ii time and opportunity offer there is
scarcely any limit to the d,spredations which /
it allows. A number OF dried peas are taken /
and steeped in boiling water; a hole is then
made through the center with q needle or
some sharp instrument. end through this
stuff brktle is threaded The ends are cut OF
short, leaving only ahont a quarter of an
inch of bristle projecting at each end. The /
peas are FED 70 the oiris ana are grsedily /