LABOUR AND HIKINGS 91 



" second hirings," so that there are now two hiring days at the end of 

 each term. This innovation was recognized in Kendal in 1880. Kendal 

 Spring Cattle Fair, 29th of April, was, till about 30 years ago, a general 

 servants' holiday, and it was the usual spring hiring day for the term 

 beginning after Whitsuntide, those who had failed to hire on that day 

 offering themselves at the Whit-Saturday hiring. 



The holiday week at Kendal was described in 1834 by an anonymous 

 writer : " In short, we have had a glorious week, the fair, the races, 

 wrestling, cockfighting, clubs, processions, singing, dancing and fiddling 

 — and amidst all the fighting and fratching 8 or 9 got lodgings for 

 nothing in the Black Hole." 



The Sunday hiring of harvestmen or " shearers," as they were 

 called, was continued at Milnthorpe till 1843, that at Burton-in-Kendal 

 had ceased in 1832. At these hirings large numbers of Irishmen 

 attended, and the day was spent in drinking and rioting with the 

 English labourers. After several futile attempts, the vicar induced 

 the farmers to change the day to Monday, on which day it has been 

 held ever since. It is held on the first three Mondays in August, but 

 it has greatly declined in importance. The Sunday hiring started at 

 2 p.m. and was continued till 6 p.m. ; and when the change was made 

 the fair opened at 5 a.m. on Monday morning and was finished before 

 8 a.m., the wages on the first occasion being los. to 12s. per week 

 with victuals. " Haytime hirings " are held at Kirkby Stephen on 

 the last Monday in June and the first two Mondays in July. The 

 rate of wages in 1909 was from £6 to £y los. per month with board. 

 The number of Irish hands attending is yearly growing smaller, and 

 the haytime hiring is now but poorly attended, it has been going down 

 since mowing machines came into general use in the early eighties. In 

 1855 £2 los. to £3 was paid to good men for a month with all found. 

 At the present time an attempt is being made at Shap to establish hay- 

 time hirings, they were advertised and held on Mondays, the 3rd and 

 loth of July in 191 1. 



The wages as fixed by the Magistrates for Westmorland in 1667 

 were : — 



The chief hind, by the year . . . . . . . . . . £2 (> S 



The inferior hind, „ . . . . . . . . . . 168 



Boy for driving plough, for the year . . . . . . o 13 4 



