232 THE COMPLETE SHOT 



no moors the author saw in Yorkshire about that time could 

 bear comparison for regular burning with the moor of Dunbeath, 

 in Caithness, where the strips were as regular and as well 

 defined as the different crops in a market garden ; and again, 

 about 1875, the author went over Bowes moor to inspect for a 

 possible purchaser, and he never saw any heather so badly 

 neglected for want of burning. Although there were very few 

 grouse there at that time, this was obviously due to the disease, 

 for there had been any number of them three seasons before. 



Driving the grouse at Moy Hall moors was started in a 

 partial manner, without butts, in 1869, and the driving done 

 between then and 1872 was limited to the birds round the corn- 

 fields, and could have had no effect on the stock. 



In 1871 the bag was .... 2836 grouse. 

 1872 .... 3002 



Between 1876 and 1879 no driving was done there, but in 

 1879 there were 103 grouse killed in six drives on the 1st of 

 September. 



In that year the kill was 5172 grouse, when the bag was 

 assisted by driving, but the preservation had not been so 

 assisted. 



In 1888 there were killed 5822 grouse by means of dogs 

 first and driving afterwards, and in the next season, which was 

 a bad one, dogs were used for the last time. 



In 1891 there were shot . . .3612 grouse. 



In 1892 the bag was .... 3513 



In 1893 there were killed . . . 4480 



In 1894 the season produced . . 4563 ,, 



In 1895 the total fell to .2511 



In 1896 it fell lower, to . . . 1402 



In 1897 it touched lower, to .1131 ,> 



In 1898 it began to rise to . . . 1943 



In 1899 there were shot . . . 3416 



In 1900 the bag was .... 6092 



In 1901 the apex was. . . . 7127 



