xviii Appendix No. 1.
accounts of the shooting of the deer in the Forest last year, and he
believed some of them were found wounded two or three days after.
If it was necessary for natural reasons, or for Corporation reasons—
[laughter]—to kill one or two of these deer, it should be done in a
proper and workmanlike manner, and not by making a battue of it.
[Cheers.]
Mr. E. L. Barnes asked if it was a fact that nothing could be done
under the Wild Birds Protection Act ?
Mr. Gould—Nothing is ever done.
Mr. Barnes—But can nothing be done ? If there can, the Act ought to
be put in force wherever possible.
Mr. Gould—We should have to make ourselves into special constables
to watch these men. [Laughter.]
Mr. Harting stated that, with regard to the Wild Birds Protection Act,
some gentlemen seemed to be under the impression that only certain birds
were protected, but in reality from the 1st of March to the loth of August
all birds were protected. For catching those birds mentioned in the
schedule a penalty not exceeding £1 could be imposed, while in respect to
those birds not mentioned in the schedule the penalty did not exceed 5s.
and costs. Owners and occupiers, however, had a right to authorise
persons to kill birds on their own land; and this exception to the general
rule opened a very wide door, and left matters pretty much in the same
state as they were before the passing of the Aet.
Mr. Unwin suggested that the Secretary should call the attention of
the Chief Constable of the county to the provisions of the Wild Birds
Protection Act, with a request that he would give his subordinates
instructions to rigidly carry out the Act.
The Hon. Secretary thought it only right to explain that the Verderers
had in themselves no power over the Forest, inasmuch as they were only
members of the Epping Forest Committee, and were of course in a
hopeless minority. He might mention that all the Verderers were
members of the Essex Field Club, and were in favour of the move-
ment which had been advocated that evening.* He read some
letters he had received from members of the Club who were unable to be
present.
* Under date March 7th, 1882, Mr. E. N. Buxton (Verderer) wrote to the Secretary as
follows, referring to the proceedings at the meeting:—"I can only protest against the
view which seems to be entertained by some members of the Club, that the Conservators
are indifferent to the natural features of the Forest. As far as the Verderers are
concerned at any rate, the reverse is the truth. In many respects the Forest is at
present in a non-natural condition. I for one desire to restore the natural state. This
cannot be effected, for instance, by allowing the pollard trees, which I suppose nobody
would describe as a natural product, destroying, as they are doing, the comparatively
few natural grown trees, and also all the natural undergrowth. That is only one
instance that might be cited. I admit that some things have been done of a formal and
non-natural character. Some have been unavoidable; others were contrary to my
desire and advice."—Ed.