The phrase Fair Game is used to describe somebody or something that may be legitimately pursued and attacked. In the 18th century, George III introduced over 30 new hunting laws in an attempt to reduce poaching and protect landowners, such as himself, from theft of livestock. He wanted to keep hunting as the privilege of the aristocracy, but cloaked the laws in the notion that without controls game stock would be severely depleted. By the start of the 19th century it was illegal for anyone apart from the squire and his eldest son to remove game from any land. If a person took even a single pheasant they could be transported to Australia for seven years. However, some small animals and birds – mainly vermin – weren’t included in the act and so these were listed in the regulations as “fair game”.