Poachers and Poaching

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John F.L.S. Watson. Poachers and Poaching

NOTE

CHAPTER I. POACHERS AND POACHING.—I

CHAPTER II. POACHERS AND POACHING.—II

CHAPTER III. BADGERS AND OTTERS

CHAPTER IV. COURIERS OF THE AIR

CHAPTER V. THE SNOW-WALKERS

CHAPTER VI. WHEN DARKNESS HAS FALLEN

CHAPTER VII. BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGGS

CHAPTER VIII. MINOR BRITISH GAME BIRDS

CHAPTER IX. WATER POACHERS

CHAPTER X. WILD DUCKS AND DUCK DECOYING

CHAPTER XI. FIELD AND COVERT POACHERS

CHAPTER XII. HOMELY TRAGEDY

I

II

III

IV

CHAPTER XIII. WORKERS IN WOODCRAFT

I

II. THE CHARCOAL BURNERS

III. THE FORESTER

CHAPTER XIV. SKETCHES FROM NATURE

I. NATURE'S WEATHER PROPHETS

II. FERRETS AND FERRETING

III. OUR HERONRY

IV. PLOVERS AND PLOVERS' EGGS

V. BROWN IN SUMMER, WHITE IN WINTER

VI. ADAPTATION TO HAUNT

VII. HOW THE WORLD IS FERTILISED

Отрывок из книги

The poacher is a product of sleepy village life, and usually "mouches" on the outskirts of country towns. His cottage is roughly adorned in fur and feather, and abuts on the fields. There is a fitness in this, and an appropriateness in the two gaunt lurchers stretched before the door. These turn day into night on the sunny roadside in summer, and before the cottage fire in winter. Like the poacher, they are active and silent when the village community is asleep.

Our Bohemian has poached time out of mind. His family have been poachers for generations. The county justices, the magistrates' clerk, the county constable, and the gaol books all testify to the same fact.

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Partridges the poacher considers good game. He may watch half-a-dozen coveys at once. Each evening at sun-down he goes his rounds and makes mental notes. Three coveys are marked for a night's work—one in turnips, another among stubble, and a third on grass. At dark he comes and now requires an assistant. The net is dragged along the ground, and as the birds get up it is simply dropped over them, when usually the whole covey is taken. In view of this method of poaching and on land where many partridges roost, low scrubby thorns are planted at regular intervals. These so far interfere with the working of the net as to allow the birds time to escape. If the poacher has not accurately marked down his game beforehand, a much wider net is needed. Among turnips, and where large numbers of birds are supposed to lie, several rows or "riggs" are taken at a time, until the whole of the ground has been traversed. This last method requires time and a knowledge of the keeper's beat. On rough ground the catching of the net may be obviated by having about eighteen inches of smooth glazed material bordering the lower and trailing part of the net. Partridges are occasionally taken by farmers in the following unorthodox fashion. A train of grain is scattered from ground where game is known to lie. The birds follow this, and each morning find it more nearly approach to the stackyards. When the birds have become accustomed to this mode of feeding, the grain train is continued inside the barn. The birds follow, and the doors are closed upon them. A bright light is brought, and the game is knocked down with sticks.

Partridges feed in the early morning—as soon as daybreak. They resort to one spot, and are constant in their coming if encouraged. This the poacher knows, and adapts himself accordingly. By the aid of a clear moon he lays a train of grain straight as a hazel stick. He has brought in a bag an old duck-gun, the barrels of which are short, having been filed down. This short weapon can easily be carried in his capacious pocket, and is only needed to fire at short distances. Into this he crams a heavy charge of powder and waits for the dawn. The covey comes with a loud whirring of wings, and the birds settle to feed immediately. Firing along the line, a single shot strews the ground with dead and dying. In ten minutes he is a mile from the spot, always keeping clear of the roads. The poacher has yet another method. Grain is soaked until it becomes swollen and is then steeped in the strongest spirit. This, as before, is strewn in the morning paths of the partridge, and, soon taking effect, the naturally pugnacious birds are presently staggering and fighting desperately. The poacher bides his time, and, as opportunity offers, knocks the incapacitated birds on the head.

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