Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-18

gorging its questionable corpse behind the
 nearest game shop. Another of the poach- CTS, nicknamed ''the Gentleman" was won't to attire himself in broad brimmed hat and
 black coat, similar to those worn 8 century ago by the Quakers. In the former he car ried his nets, and in the capacious pockets of the latter the game he took. These out
 ward guarantees of good faith, away from
 his own parish, precluded him from ever
 once being searched.
 Except for immediate use, poachers sell
 dom keep their nets at home. They are
 slowed away in church tower, barn, rick or
 outhouse. As to the poacher's morality
 with regard to the game laws it is difficult to
 detect just where he draws the line. He
 lives for these to be repealed, and yet his
 native philosophy tells him that when this
 time comes game will have become well nigh extinct. Upon the ground game act he looks
 with mingled feelings; for, after all, are not nightsa 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 propitiates the farmer in many ways. Occasionally, in the morning, the farm lad finds half dozen rabbits or hare dropped behind the barn door. How these came there no one knows nor asks. The country attorney is some-
 times submitted to like indignity. In crossing land the poacher is careful to close gates after him, and he never breaks down
 fences. He assists cattle and sheep which he
 finds in extremity, and leaves word of the
 mishap at the farm. Is 1t likely that the
 farmer will dog the steps of the man who
 protects his property and pays toll for doing lta s4 fo lyIii5 lase 1T
 It frequently happens that the poacher is not less popular with those whose interests
 he more directly serves. It Is even asserted that more than one of the county justices have in some sort sneaking affection for him. 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. It is untrue, as has been said, that every poacher is a mercenary wretch who invaria- bly, sells his game. He as frequently sends l in brace of birds or @ hare to @ poor or sick neighbor. He comes in contact with the law just sufficient to know something of its bearings. When charged with being in possession of "game," he reiterates the old | committed for four months for "night poach- ! ing" he respectfully informs the presiding I justice that at the time of his capture the sun had risen an hour, and that for "day | poaching" the law does not allow more than half the sentence just passed upon him. The old clerk fumbles for his horn specta-
 cles, and after turning over justices manu- | hl sOl6uuuly 1ulOILuS bA0 DoASh 9A0o sA0 O0- fendant in his interpretation is right. The poacher remembers this little incident and chuckles over it.
 The pugnacity of the pheasant is well known to the poacher, and out of this trait he makes capital. He takes under his arm 8 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 to meet the adversary. A sin- l gle blow usually sufices to lay low the pride | of the pheasant, and in this way half doz-
 en birds may be taken, while the poachers
 bird remains unhurt.
 The most ingenious plan adopted by
 poachers, however, is also one of tho most
 successful. If time and opportunity offer there is scarcely any limit to the depreda. l tions which It allows. A number of dried peas are taken and steeped in boiling water;
 a hole is then made through the center with a needle or some sharp instrument, and | through this stiff bristle is threaded. The 1 ends are cut off short, leaving only about a | quarter of an inch of bristle projecting at
 each end. The peas are fed to the birds and are greedily eaten. In passing down the gullet, however, violent irritation is set up
 and the pheasant is finally choked. In a
 dying condition the birds are picked up from
 beneath the hedges, to which shelter they
 almost always run. The way is quiet one,
 and is preferred by poachers, if brutee
 enough to use it, because it may be adopted
 i tic % ts dEas l themselves, and does not require trespass.