ON GROUSE-DRIVING 157 



early 'forties as many as fifty brace were 

 killed in a day. To such a performance 

 the references in the papers of the day 

 were not flattering : — " We are sorry to 

 learn that the unsportsmanlike practice 

 of driving grouse is still continued on Mr. 

 Stanhope's moors ; this mode of shooting 

 cannot be too severely reproved," etc. 



But Mr. Stanhope persisted in his 

 reprehensible practices despite all adverse 

 criticisms, and but a few years after his 

 initial efforts had proved so effectual, we 

 may trace the new method spreading all 

 through the northern counties of England, 

 first obtaining strong foothold on the 

 Yorkshire moors, where owners and 

 keepers took to it at once, and did much 

 to improve and elaborate the system. 



With the first ventures in systematic 

 driving the name of George Sykes, Mr. 

 Henry Savile's keeper at Rush worth 

 Lodge, must always be honourably as- 

 sociated. One of the earliest masters of 

 the craft, he made no secret of his know- 

 ledge, but was always willing to give to 



