KEEPERS AND KEEPERING 435 



the outside duties under the keeper's charge such as rabbit - trapping, low- 

 ground watching, fishing, etc. It may, however, be said that on a hill moor 

 with no low ground one keeper should be able to trap, and with proper 

 assistance to burn, from 2,000 to 4,000 acres. 



As to the selection of keepers some owners have a preference for dalesmen, 

 some prefer south country Scots ; some, very rightly, have a prejudice against 

 men who have come from a rich man's employ ; others will only take selection 

 men off a moor on which a big stafl' of keepers is kept. It is of keepers, 

 difficult to generalise. Good men, like good horses, x-un in all shapes and from 

 all countries, but it will probably be found advisable, where possible, to take 

 a man who has been "through the mill," who has acted as a kennel - boy 

 under a head-keeper, who is himself a good trapper and an honest man. 



Whatever fancies may influence the selection of the keeper the essential 

 qualifications can readily be defined. A keeper must be a good trapper, an 

 observer of natural conditions, and a man with the interests of the moor at 

 heart ; above all things, he must be a worker, not a gentleman ivho goes to the 

 hill ivith a gun. 



It is hardly necessary to point out, that when the good man has been 

 secured, he must be kept up to his work by periodical inspection. A check 

 should be kept on the amount of heather burned, the vermin list should 

 be frequently looked over, the number of traps actually at work should be 

 ascertained from time to time, if necessary by surprise visits. 



To those acquainted with the best type of gamekeeper, it is not difficult 

 to separate the sheep from the goats. The series of disasters which has 

 made all heather burning impossible, the combination of chances which has 

 prevented the traps being set on the day of the inspection, the number of vermin 

 skins that appeared on examination to have weathered more than one winter's 

 storms, the chance which has made the area visited the only badly burned 

 portion of the moor, all afford reasons to show why Napoleon in his wisdom 

 elected to employ excuse-free generals born under a fortunate star. To sum 

 up, a sufficient number of keen young keepers, adequately paid, able to trap, 

 willing to burn, properly supervised by a head-keeper who knows every detail 

 of moor management, should give the required result. 



On small moors where only one keejjer is employed that keeper must 

 combine the qualities of head-keeper and under-keeper ; he must have the 

 knowledge and sense of responsibility of the former with the capacity for 



