6 INTRODUCTION. 



told by agents that the claimants bid each other 

 up to such a figure that they were sometimes 

 ashamed to take the highest offer. 



Not many years ago there was always a 

 tempting array of shooting quarters advertised 

 in February and March. At present, all the 

 most desirable quarters are secured before com- 

 ing into the market at all. The man of fortune 

 who comes down to the North in early spring, 

 reasonably confident of finding a really good 

 shooting, has often to return sadly disappointed: 

 there are none to be had for love or money. 



Since, then, Highland sport has done so much 

 for Scotland, and created such great interest even 

 in England, it seems curious that no sporting 

 paper has yet been established in the capital of 

 the North. The journal, therefore, alluded to in 

 the preface, arranged to reserve a weekly sheet, 

 and take in seriatim the whole role of field, 

 forest, moor, river, loch, and ocean, feeling confi- 

 dent that the contributions would never fail for 

 lack of material attractive, exciting, and romantic. 



