CHAP. XXXII.

DUTIES OF A GAMEKEEPER.

I BELIEVE it will generally be allowed by sportsmen, that it is no easy task to procure a man who is fully able to discharge the multifarious duties of a head gamekeeper. I fully agree with the late Mr. Daniel, in his remark that "it is needful to premise that not every fellow in a short jacket with half a score pockets can occupy this situation with utility to his master or credit to himself." As regards his physical powers, I am of opinion that he should be a man in the prime of life, of a vigorous constitution, and master of a pair of legs that never know what it is to be tired, and like the shepherds of Scotland, able to bear all the rigours of winter by day and night; more especially that of watching the woods, when the trees are stripped of their foliage, on moonlight nights, to prevent the poachers shooting the pheasants on the perch.* Of course he must have some rest, but if he sleeps, like a Bristol merchant, with one eye open, so

* I adopted the Norfolk plan for the protection of my pheasants: I got three or four dozen of wooden ones made and painted, and pegged them down to a branch of a tree. These we found sometimes well peppered with shot, which gave the alarm, and annoyed the poacher exceedingly.

much the better; for in the poachers he has active and cunning enemies to deal with, and who watch his movements narrowly. One of the most essential qualities in the character of a gamekeeper is the suaviter in modo, or at all times a proper deportment and a civil tongue, and he should at the same time possess a firmness of character in the performance of his duties. Civility costs nothing, but its effects amongst the tenants of the estate will most likely prove of considerable advantage in the preservation of the game, for where there exists a bad feeling towards this man, you may be pretty certain that some of the pheasants' and partridges' nests will be destroyed, and leverets when young will meet the same fate; but when the gamekeeper is on good terms with the farmers, and the landlord generous in giving them game, you may fairly then calculate that instead of destroying they will afford their aid in the preservation of the game; but with this proviso, that the lands are not overstocked with hares, pheasants, and rabbits.*

Every gamekeeper should be able to read; and if he is a head gamekeeper, with two or three men under him, in that case he should also be able to write. There can be little doubt he would be better able to perform his various duties if he had acquired, in some degree, a knowledge of the habits of birds of prey and ground vermin, particularly those which frequent the country in which he resides; for one of the most essential duties of a gamekeeper is to keep down the vermin.

Some gentlemen allow their gamekeepers to break in

* A tenant, by the Game Law, has a right to destroy the rabbits on his farm as vermin, by setting traps for them, unless there be a clause in his lease to prevent his doing so.

master.

QUALIFICATION FOR HEAD GAMEKEEPER.

25

25

dogs, and sell them for their own profit. This I never allowed, for instead of his time being occupied in looking after poachers, and destroying vermin, and some other minor duties, which as a trusty servant he is bound to fulfil, most of these must be neglected when he is employed in breaking young pointers and setters, and showing their performance in the field to those gentlemen who are desirous of becoming purchasers; besides, these dogs are in all probability kept at the expense of the Strict sobriety should be conspicuous in the character of a gamekeeper; for when he has once indulged in the habit of frequenting the alehouse or beershop, then the poacher is on the alert, and feels quite certain of meeting with no interruption to his unlawful pursuit. Drunkenness is a serious vice in all servants, but in a gamekeeper, who has a great latitude, it is thoroughly disqualifying. A gamekeeper should never be allowed to have rabbits as his perquisite, for when once this is granted you may be quite certain that the woods, plantations, and hedgerows will soon be overrun with them. The mischief they do is very great during the winter in barking trees, and in the fields by burrowing and stopping up the drains. It is all very well to have a moderate stock of rabbits on an estate. As foxes are particularly fond of this food, they afford some protection to the hares, pheasants, and partridges, from this sly and cunning foe; besides, a few rabbits are always very acceptable to the lady of the house, the servants are fond of them, and they may be dressed in a variety of ways for the diningroom table, and thus diminish the butcher's bill. If a gentleman finds his game gradually diminishing on his estate, he may be quite certain of this, that his game

keeper is not sufficiently vigilant in detecting poachers; that he is also indolent in trapping and shooting vermin; and what is much worse than all, that he has become an unfaithful servant, and instead of being a preserver, destroys the game, and sells it for his own profit. This last breach of trust, I regret to say, is too often put in practice; and a poulterer in London once told me that he thought he received as much game from gamekeepers as from poachers. To remedy effectually these evils, discharge at once the gamekeeper, and never admit of any of his excuses. A gamekeeper is entitled to liberal wages, with a house and small garden free of rent to reside in. In being thus kind and generous towards him, you may fairly calculate on his serving you with fidelity, more especially as it is now his interest to perform his duties with zeal and alacrity.

CHAP. XXXIII.

HINTS FROM AN OLD SPORTSMAN.-BE ON GOOD TERMS WITH YOUR TENANTS.-MILD SEASONS KEEP BIRDS FROM CLOVER.-SET DOGSPIKES FOR WILD DOGS.-PLANTING ON POOR LANDS.-ENCOUNTER WITH POACHERS.-WONDERFUL BREEDING SEASON.-GAMEKEEPER TO KEEP GOOD WATCH AT NIGHT. A PILL FOR THE POACHER.SCREENING A POACHER.

PERHAPS a few hints from an old sportsman how to get up a stock of game in two or three years, may prove of some service to gentlemen who have recently come into possession of an estate, more especially if they should not have resided in the country. The quality of the soil is of essential importance in the breeding of game, for it is in vain to expect to have a good stock of pheasants and partridges, and even hares and rabbits, on a cold white clayey ungrateful soil. In Norfolk we find the great advantage of a gravelly, sandy, or light loamy earth, for in most parts of this county every sort of game is found in great abundance, particularly partridges; and the extensive cultivation of turnips affords good sport during the greater part of the winter. Suffolk and some parts of Cambridgeshire are well stocked with game in consequence of their having good breeding soil; and in some parts of the high grounds of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, where the soil is