i8o WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800— 1900 



the loth of July each year, and was described by James Clarke in 1787, 

 who writes that " neighbouring shepherds assembled there and held 

 festival, during which there were horse racing, wrestling, and other 

 such like country diversions ; hither likewise every one brings the 

 stray sheep he has found during the preceding year, that they may 

 be owned ; they also, at this time, frequently amuse themselves with 

 fox-hunting." A similar kind of meeting was held formerly on Wild 

 Boar Fell near Kirkby Stephen. 



The first book for the East Fells was compiled by Chapelhow, of 



Appleby, in 1819. Its full title was " The Shepherds' Guide, or 



a delineation of the Wool, Horn, and Ear Marks of the different 



Stocks of Sheep on the East Fells : extending on the east side from 



Clover Hill in Knaresdale, to Pike Stone in Weardale, and Lunedale in 



Yorkshire ; and on the west side from Geltsdale Forest to Stanemore." 



This was an improvement on Walker's, for committees were named 



and places and times for meetings arranged, and although loosely 



held together it was an Association — those for the North and South 



Fells were carried on in the same way. In 1824 " The Shepherds' 



Guide, or the Delineation of the Wool and Ear Marks of the different 



Stocks of Sheep," was issued by James Moor, of Wharton Dykes, 



for Wharton, Ravenstonedale, Orton, HowgiU, Tebay, Marthwaite, 



Contley, Grisdale, Garsdale, Dent, Wensleydale, Swaledale, Mallerstang, 



Lunds, Wadley, Smardale, Crosby Garret, Little Asby, Great Asby, 



Kirkby Stephen, and Crosby Ravensworth. It was printed by R. 



W. Knipe & Co., Market Street, Ulverston. The published rules 



were : "If any Sheep be found strayed or straying, and its mark be 



not in the Book, it shall be delivered to the Lord of the Manor, or 



bis Bailiff ; it is then to be proclaimed at the Church, and the two 



nearest Market Towns, on Two Market Days, and if not then claimed 



by the Owner, shall belong to the King ; and now commonly by 



grant of the Crown, to the Lord of the Manor, or the Liberty ; the 



estray is not absolutely the property of the Lord, till the Year and 



Day after proclamation ; and therefore if it escape to another Lord 



before, to another Manor, he cannot reclaim it. If proclamation is 



neglected, the owner may claim it without paying expenses, and 



may do so at all times within the year and day ; if proclaimed, upon 



paying them, but afterwards it is vested in the Lord absolutely. The 



