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CHAPTER XX 



GAME KEEPERS 



This term is not wholly correct as applied to the majority of men 

 employed in game breeding in the United States if by "game keeper" we 

 mean the individual so designated on the other side of the water. There 

 pheasants are shot in large part under drives with beaters and with the 

 aid of an elaborate system of coverts. Very little of that sort of shooting 

 is done in this country and a majority of our best known "keepers" are to 

 be found on the state game farms of the country and engaged in the breed- 

 ing of pheasants on a commercial basis. Therefore, the average American 

 keeper would be completely lost if charged with the duty of rearing birds 

 for shooting under drives. It is highly important, however, that our 

 keepers be taught some method of planting the birds they raise so as to 

 afford the maximum of sport for the owner. Possibly the Clove Valley 

 Club method, as heretofore detailed, approximates what we are coming 

 to in American pheasant shooting. However that may be, it behooves the 

 present day game keeper to study the situation and devise some method 

 of furnishing sport with the birds he raises. 



EXPERIENCED MEN SCARCE. One of the great handicaps in 

 American game breeding is the lack of a sufficient number of experienced 

 men. This is an activity that is still in its infancy despite its remarkable 

 growth within the past few years, and we have had to depend, on keepers 

 from the British Isles to a large extent. These are of two classes: intelli- 

 gent, capable men of high character and ability; and failures, dead-beats, 

 and men whose habits are such that they have sought another country in 

 the hope that they can more successfully impose upon employers where 

 they are not so well-known. Again, it does not absolutely follow that a 

 keeper who has been fairly successful abroad will be equally so here under 

 all conditions. This is a large country, with great divergence in climate, 

 with varying and, in many cases, unusual vermin problems to be solved. 

 A man from the other side brought up suddenly against such unlookedfor 

 conditions needs great courage and ability to solve the problems he 

 will encounter. 



Again, birds in our climate, in my opinion, at least, cannot stand as 

 rich feeding as in England. Unless the newcomer can gauge 'such things 

 correctly, he is due a good deal of trouble, to say the least. 



We have, of course, a good many native born game keepers and many 

 of the best and most successful men are to be found among these. 



MR. WALCOTT'S TRIBUTE TO GAME KEEPERS. Speaking 



