^105 



We will assume that the owners of fifteen estates have thus joined 

 forces in an association in order to secure ringneck shooting. At the meet- 

 ing held to incorporate, a sinking fund for the first twelve months 'expenses 

 should be provided for in the form of dues. It would be necessary to 

 rear for purposes of sport 60 birds for each member, making 900 birds in 

 all, but, in order to make the venture at least partly self-sustaining, extra 

 birds should be reared for purposes of sale. 



THE FINANCIAL SIDE. Suppose we assume that the club will 

 endeavor to rear twice as many birds as it wishes for purposes of sport, 

 making 1,800 in all. Estimating the cost of rearing each bird at $1.50, it 

 will be seen that the total would be $2,700, but to this should be added at 

 least $1,500 for the purchase of breeding stock, construction of pens and 

 coops and the erection of fences the first year. We thus have a total of 

 $4,200 to be divided among the fifteen club-members, a per capita of $280. 

 In organizing it would be well to provide for $300 dues the first year, pay- 

 able in equal installments in January, March and July, and $200 there- 

 after, payable in January and July. 



Basing calculations on the estimates pretty generally agreed upon 

 by experienced game keepers, it would be necessary to procure 180 pheas- 

 ant hens as breeders and 36 cocks to produce 1,800 birds. This estimate is 

 based on the bringing to maturity of 10 birds for each pheasant hen em- 

 ployed as a breeder. As most game keepers consider that, year in and year 

 out, a good man can be expected to bring to maturity an average of half 

 the birds placed in the rearing field, it would be necessary for the club in 

 question to have hatched 3,600 birds. These will take all the time and 

 energy that a head game keeper and two assistants can give them. 



Assuming that 1,800 birds are reared the first year, the club's balance 

 sheet at the end of the twelve-month would read about as follows: 



Debit Credit 



Cost of rearing 1800 birds 900 birds placed in covers 



at $1.50 each $2,700 for shooting at $3 each. .$2,700 



Equipping plant for rearing 720 birds marketed at $2.50 



birds 1,500 each 1,800 



180 hens retained for next Sale of 1500 eggs at $20 a 



year's breeding stock at hundred 300 



$3 each 540 $4,800 



36 cocks purchased to re- 

 new blood at $3 each. . 108 



$4,848 



SOME PROFIT FROM EGGS. In order to hatch 3,600 pheasant 

 chicks it would probably be necessary to place 5,000 eggs under hens. This 



