468 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



impossible without co-operation among proprietors. It matters little that one 

 moor-owner should kill down his birds to the limit of safety if there 



Co-opera- ,,.. „ i-i ■^^ i- 



tion neces- are too many Grouse in the district, for other birds will crowd into 

 "bumper" his ground from adjoining moors, or his own stock may migrate lor 

 the winter to some other district where there is already an over- 

 stock. If, however, moor-owners would combine to reduce the stocks upon their 

 individual moors the whole district would benefit. 



Each owner should make it his object to kill down his Grouse until only an 

 average winter stock remains. The task will not be an easy one for in an exception- 

 ally good season it is almost impossible to make any real impression on 

 object to be the stock. There is little risk of over-shooting, for even if a proprietor 



aimed at. t ■ i ■^^■ /-^ i- -i-- 



succeeds m killing every Grouse upon his ground it is quite certain 

 that his neighbours will not be equally successful, and by the nesting season 

 his moor will be more than sufficiently stocked by birds which had been crowded 

 out from elsewhere. 



The Committee suggest that where a series of moors adjoin, and where 

 Co-opera- the birds by migration are common in a sense to the whole range, 

 *'°°' the proprietors, with those of the shooting tenants who grasp the 



stock problem, should come to an understanding as to the best procedure for 

 their common interests. 

 It is suggested — 



Firstly. That all should agree to get full information as to the prospects 

 of the season at the earliest possible date, either on the lines already 

 suggested in this chapter, or by any other means that may seem best 

 to the individual proprietors or tenants. 

 Secondly. That at some date early in July the interested parties should 

 meet and agree whether the year is one in which the birds should 

 be (i.) shot in the ordinary way; (ii.) shot heavily; or (iii.) really 

 "harried." 

 Thirdly. That arrangements should be made not only to kill down the 

 birds on those moors where they are most plentiful ; but to make a 

 point of shooting hard on the boundaries of moors which from slack- 

 ness or bad shooting are likely to be lightlj' shot. 

 Fourtldy. That the local circumstances and knowledge gained from 

 past experiences should be made known between moor and moor ; 

 that arrangements be made for shooting all high ground specially 



