SHOOTING. 215 



compelled to whik at much of their depredation. The mode 

 adopted by the lead- miners of procuring grouse is with the dog 

 and fowling-piece ; the net, so effective in the destruction of the 

 partridge, being, with respect to these birds, quite out of the 

 question. The poachers frequently sally forth in such bodies 

 as to bid defiance to the united strength of the watchers in any 

 particular district ; and appear to pursue the diversion, not for 

 the sake of profit alone, but with all the eagerness and zest of 

 true sportsmen. Moreover, they generally commence their 

 season a week prior to the 12th of August, and send horse 

 loads of grouse to different large towns, to watering places, and 

 particularly to Harrowgate ; at which last place, the grouse are 

 frequently sold for as much as ten shillings a brace. On the 

 12th of August, and for several days following, the miners 

 abandon poaching and act as guides to the sportsmen ; one of 

 them served me in this capacity, and from him I learned the 

 particulars just mentioned ; he was recommended for the pur- 

 pose by the bishop's gamekeeper, and proved himself an excel- 

 lent attendant. 



The Earl of Darlington's moors are contiguous to the Bishop 

 of Durham's. The earl is much more strict than the bishop in 

 preserving game ; but in spite of all his exertions, the miners 

 frequently sally forth and commit extensive depredations with 

 impunity. I am of opinion, that men of great landed pro- 

 perty adopt in general very erroneous modes for the purpose of 

 preserving their game ; nor have I the least doubt that I could 

 point out and carry into practice a much more effective as well 

 as a much more pleasant method of rendering nugatory the 

 efforts of poachers, and at a much less expense than is generally 

 incurred ; though I am free at the same time to confess, that 

 my plan would apply to enclosures, rather than grouse moun- 

 tains ; and that I should certainly feel no great inclination to be 

 brought in contact with the miners in the neighbourhood of 

 Chapel-in- Weardale. 



