458 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



inevitably intervene and will regulate the superabundance with such severity 

 that it may be years before the moor recovers. 



With these considerations in view we may proceed to lay down the one great 

 law of stock management, viz., determine the member of birds that the moor 

 ivill carry safely in March, and irrespective of all other consideration Mil 

 the birds down to that limit. 



It is a very curious thing that while all are agreed that stock must be 

 " hammered " in a good year, no real precautions are taken either to find 

 out when a good year is coming, or when a good year has arrived. Nothing 

 is more common than the case of the moor-owner who, after various rumours 

 and counter rumours, at last makes a casual inquiry about Ascot week from his 

 agent or factor as to whether there will be any birds that shooting season. By 

 early July he has settled his Grouse - driving parties, and has selected his 

 shots from his regular autumn visitors, with the sole change of perhaps 

 adding a coujile of specially good shots if the report is favourable, or eliminat- 

 ing the names of certain guests in the case of the report not being satisfactory. 

 Towards early August he finds his way on to the moor, and the keeper, who 

 has probably often been found fault with for undue optimism, hints vaguely 

 that there is a " grand appearance," or perhaps, if cautious, " more than the 

 usual stock on the ground." It is not till the first week of shooting that 

 the host at last realises that he has got an abnormal stock of birds. His 

 visitors rejoice, but he himself knows that his prospects of sport for future years 

 are seriously threatened. If he realises the full significance of the position he 

 may attempt to fit in one or two additional shooting weeks late in the season ; 

 Late those who have tried to get together an October Grouse drive will 



°° ^' readily appreciate the difliculties of the task. Added to this he may 

 not be favoured by fortune. The earlier shoots may be spoilt by wind or 

 weather, the later shoots may be rendered abortive by the high gales of the 

 equinoctial period, and by the indifferent marksmanship of a hastily collected 

 team of guns. The result is a foregone conclusion. The moor remains 

 insufiiciently shot, and by the end of the shooting season no stroke of fortune 

 can avert the risk of disease. 



In the case of the let moor in a big year the situation is even more serious. 

 Lg^ In the first place, the lessee has less favourable opportunities than the 



moors. owner for obtaining information as to the prospects of the season ; 

 in the second place, he has even less chance of killing down his stock if they 



