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"Marking and Scoring"

Should one of the players detect a mistake in the marking, he is entitled to call attention to it as soon as it occurs ; but it is neither seemly nor fair to hold an "inquest" on a disputed score some time after the mistake was made, if it were made at all. Faults in marking are mainly due to slackness or inattention ; but amateurs, who may "oblige" by marking a game in the absence of a regular marker, will find it confusing to call and mark in proper style, and are very likely to be at fault if they attempt it. They can scarcely be advised to put in enough practice to qualify for a berth as an efficient marker, and I think the best thing they can do is to compromise by calling the break only as the striker makes it, reckoning it point by point until it ends. Then it should be added to the total score, which should be called before the next man takes his turn. The marker acts as referee unless a separate referee is appointed, and in every case the referee has a perfect right to give any decision either with or without appeal from either of the players; in fact, it is his duty to do so. The decision of a billiard referee is final, and no sportsman ever questions it. Should a referee be in any doubt, the rules permit him to request spectators, who were well placed to see what actually happened, to assist him in giving his decision.