Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1884-02-16 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

GAME.  "Every man, said Mr. Justice Buller, "is bound to know what is game. There can be no doubt about it.. Every man, as every one is aware, is hound to know every detail of the law in c.-iminal and quasi-criminal matters at any rate. Ignorontia ori.l good quisgue icire tenets, neminom orcusat. The reasonableness and the necessity of such a ' principle are self evident. But—though we are far from wishing to revive the old distinction between costa in se and mak prohibita—there is an obvious d.fference in kind as well as in degree between such offences as murder, theft, and a-son, on the one hand, and killing game out of season or without a license on the other. The most benighted ploughboy knows that if he kills or robs his master, Cr sets fire to his master's hence or hay rick, he will do wrong, and probably will anger for it. But the moat learned judge on the bench, if he is the happy possessor of a gun license, may well "take time to consider " vvhethor or not he is justified in pulling trigger at a rabbit or a landraiL Unfortunately the landrail or the rabbit aoldona affords his lordship much asaistance in such a ease. It will not even maintain the ',talus giro until the rights of the parties shall have been determined. Game in England consists practically of bares, pheasant., part-idges, grouse, and black game. So tar, so good. But the matter does not rest there. Though no game may be killed without a gains license, yet under the Game Licenses Act it is neeessory to take out a game license before killing certain animals not included in the statutory definition of "game." These are woodcock, snipe, quail, landrails, rabbits, and deer. Further complication is occasioned by the -'exceptions" and " exemptions " mentioned in the Act Snipe and woodcock may never be shot without a game license; but no license is required for tab'ng them with nets or springs. Rabbits may be taken without a game license by the owner of any warren or enclosed ground, or by the tenants of lands either by himself or by his direction or permission. Nor is any game license needed for hunting or coursing doer Sr hares, nor for killing deer in enclosed lands with the pelmisaion of the owner or occupier. These are the " exceptions " from the provisions of the Act ; the "exemptions " it is not worth while referring to here. Trespassers in pursuit of game certainly ought to the last people te complain of obscu ity or inoonsisteacy in the statutory definition. It is nevertheless interesting to notice that, whereas a person poaching by night is (speaking generally) liable only for trespasses in pursuit of "game" properly so-called, a person poaching in the daytime is liable also for trespasses in pursuit of woodcock, snipe, quail, tandrails, or rabli.s. And in the Poaching Pleventing Act of 1802 "game" is made to include woodcock, anipe, and rabbits, and the eggs of pheasant., partridges, grome, and "black or moor game," as well as the animals (except bustards, which are at length deemed to be beyond the scope of practical legis. lotion) comprised within the deinitfon of" game" given in the Day Poaching Act of William IV.— Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic New:.  They come as a boon and a blessing to men, The Pickwick, the Owl, and the Waverley Pall.' —Oban Times. Try the "Big S " Pen, and the Elindoo Pens Nos. I, 2, and 3, 61. and Is. per box, at all Stationers. Sample Be, with all kinds, le. ld. by Post. Patentees—Mac:max CANZION, 23 to 33, Blair St., Edinburgh. (Eat. 1770). Penmaken to Her Majesty's Government OLlicos.   MR.