Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-25
SCHBMEo OF POACHERS
CRUEL AND CRAFTY WAYS OF
CHEATING GAME LAWS.
Deer and Pheasant Widely Sought
Birds Killed by Baited Watch
Springs and Fishhooks.
Erom the London sketch.

From the London Sketch.
As the Preservation OF game extends year
by year over land that was once indiner-
entity cared for the task that faces the
poacher becomes increasingly difficult.
Where In times past, he had to avoid no
more than one or TWO watchers, he must
now prepare 10 face on all large sporting
estates the almost military tactics OF a
weIl-organized body of keepers and assist
ants In spite of the danger and uncertainty
of his task, the poacEer perseveres, ana
great majority of the preserves In these
islands 10 pay him tribute. When the game
has been stolen the reward is small birds
cannot be sold in open market. and must
be disposed OF for very little to class
IN content to buy cheaply and ask no ques-
tons
The poacher's biggest prize is, of course.
q deer be IL red, roe or iallow. Nowadays,
the hrst-named lS very hsrd 10 secure
though time was when the poachers or the
Highland forests shared the "antiered mon
arch with the laird, and even the shep-
herds In order to get shot at close quar-
ters We're won't to hide where the red deer
came to drink. In private parks. where
roe and faliow deer are 10 be found, the IRON
bar is the most favored weapon. Gunshot
might alarm keeper but a par VIII serve
to stun an an!maI tn2t passes under the
tree amid whose branches the poacheF 10
hidden. Next to deer. the pntdShht 10 h'oS'
widely sought after. and many devices are
used for his destruction. Pheasants roost
in trees and are sometimes shot with AR
guns or roOk-rineS that make Iittle OF hc
sound AT other times brown paper ana
sulphur are fired under branch where the
birds are sleeping. and. II there Is iisht
favoring breeze some are sure 10 innate liie
smoke and fall to the ground stupened
Another poaChing method - to lime sheet
OF paper and roll it into the shape of a bag
I ne narrow end is then fastened TO twlS,
at a height calculated to bring 1t well WITHIN
a PEASANTS reach, and lightly busted WIN
peas The pheasant pushes MS mead III ~
get the last pea and when he seeks to with
draw ii only succeeds pulling the paper
from the twig. The birdlime holds him to
the bag until he sufocates
Death in Balls of Fat.
A method still more ruei is practced In
very cold weather. Balls of fat, with piece
of rolled-up watchspring inside are frozen
hard and set in the birds paths When the
fat is eaten It dissolves and the spring, set
free brings the unfortunate bird to cruel
end Partridges are sometimes shared with
fish hooks baited with dough, the hooks pc
ing attached to a fine line stretching across
a meadow or stubblefield. Grouse and par
fridge suffer less from the poacher than any
other game, for the netting Work mat -
sometimes practsed requires cohsloeiapie
skill and demands the service or some Two
ar three men, who cannot readily escape
observation. Pigeons are sometimes taken
as they come from cover by Wel-olrecleo
blank shot that makes little noise and aval,s
to stun the bird and blank cartridge IS
used also for small birds that may be
taken In the hedgerows and yield a paiat-
able meal I'm response to a little kitchen
care
Hares and Rabbits.
Hares and rabbits suffer most from the
poaohing fraternity. and the man whose
~, III, q T
plantations often takes heavy toll of field
and hedgerow With the help of good
lurcher he can turn up hares with ease,
and. as puss always makes for a gate when
pursued the gate-neu seldom fails to yield
a profit to its owner Tangled In the net
a hare is seized at once by the poacher
and killed before 1t can call. Wounded by
shot or caught in a snare. It's pathetic
cry is widely heard and easily recognized
Rabbits are poached in many ways. Some
men can lie above rabbit hole and eaten
their prey as 1t comes in or out. Well
trained dogs will snap rabbits or drive them
out of hedges into bitches where nets are
placed Traps and gins work havoc If
placed In proper position and lightly ham
died; the track OF hare or rabbit Is as
plain to the eye of the trained poacher as
the word On the printed page. Rabbits, too
find a very ready market. Every country
woman with large family to feed will
give shilling for a couple of rabbits that
have not been shot. while II they can be
got to market they will fetch any price
between 10 and u shillings the dozen The
poacher is never anxious TO use his gun
However carefully he may hide it by cover
ing the butt with his coat and sliding the
barrel down the leg OF the trouser, a keeper
or policeman has a keen eye for shape II
he suspects a man OF poaching. and when
guns are out 1t often happens that the
temptation to fight for liberty Is irresist-
ible. and such fights lead all too often to
penal servitude for life or even to the gal
lows.