The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-01-02
fOhCHERS OF ENGLAND.
VINO The Arc az; iiow They Ply Their
Ncfario:,> :: vocation.

Tcrario:,> :: .:rocation.
Just as 4 Lar may be something else
besides !, liar, so a roacher may be. and
usually is. something else besides a
roaclier. Very commonly lie calls him
s2:I Il farm E;:)o:cr. Short and inter
mi;tca, '.icbs are what he likes best,
and he oc,cn changes his master. lie
VII pagag2 himself to farmer ii order
to ;,:!::l The right OF going upon certain
!:ii., aid then, after a careful survey,
Ii ,..;;:i set gins where he thinks proper
t. - ordered to work in a field next to
:: cover: is hat he likes best, and when
has masters back is turned he notices the
ha."eS' runs in the fence that divides the
field from the wood At night he re-
turns 20 the scene of his observations and
set5 & loose purse net over each run. lie
then goes into the covert and walks
through the side of it next to the fence,
when the chances are that at least hare
or two Will become entangled III his nets.
The innocent laborer type Of poacher
sometimes carries a ferret and a rabbit
net in his dinner basket, and seats him
self OF :; hedge bank honeycombed with
bllrroy2': 10 take his midday meal, with a
result w!i;c!, can easi!E be imagined.
Cattle t.:overs ana butchers men often
do great deal of poaching. They are
fond OF l:ccTing greyhounds, and they
train one dog 10 range while the other
sneaks about in readiness to run into any
hare or rabbi: that may be turned to him.
Sometimes they carry their greyhounds
in a Lat spring cart. and when they sec
harcs feeding in a field by the roadside
they stop ard send their dogs over the
fence. Ihese %reEl,cunds are taught tc
hunt bv scent as well as by sight. \ still
more favo:ite dog among poacheTS Of this
sort is a lurcher, although many fear to
keep one. because his very existence is
enough to stamp his owner as a man OF
doubtful character. Properly speaking,
a lurcher is the result Of cross between
greyhound and a coly; but he is not
always a first cross, and hefrequently in
heritS q strain of some other breed. He
is desperate and deadly enemy to hares
and rabbits, and he generally unites an
excellent nose and great speed with sur
pr;sing sagacitv and cunning. Of al
things it is most important in poachers s
dog that he should never give tongue.
We can remember the time when lUrch-
crs' tails used to be cut to give thei1
owncrs an excuse for pretending that
they were sheeI dogs. In these days.
however, sheep dogs are usually allowed
to keep their tails, so there IS no object
in docking q lurcher.
Golfers are much given to poaching il
some districts. Their favorite dog i:
protiuced by crossing very small g:v..
hound with bull terrier or spaniel
Sunday is their great day for poaching.
During the hours Of divine service the.
so for walls ii little parties of three Or
foar. along !,ublic foot paths, and allow
their 1o,,5 - range in the fields ard tc
draw: the heG~e-ows AS every iaagis
trato has SocG reason for l:now.iaga a large
ilv2ailcr CT petty poacAiag5 cases depend
u"nl the question whet :eG the ciilnrr
was CT was not upon what he Gals tht
..iugtpasa' at the time the otrense We
committed A rat catcher and a nois
cc:c.,:cr have many opportunities O.
poach;G:cr, and owners of shc3tings ant
ga.22c,:cc:,c:.s would do well to kcci
cslar? eye uooa persons folowi2:
t':o5e caliirss. PERHAPS the worst of al
kind, II poache.s &C poaching game
kc p2-S : keesoG who hints at any
thu, ike sharp practice with regc24 L
( &i:ci ~''::,,or's boundaries is never % 81
::c,:,S:.e:i .uG::t his own masters interests
Nc remember . keeper who was eG2.
plo.-2t! On an outlying shooting so.cs
mics from home The man lad always
a ccod s'.,u- Of birds and sent q regular
suppl. for the table, but it turned out
tiaat be was cae Of the greatest poacher
in t,1e co,at!-, and that he had killed a.2t
sold the neislhor's game, if not his
masters, in considerable quantities.
Saturday Review.