THE MANAGEMENT OF GAME AND SHOOTINGS. 311 



have the power of calling upon the proprietor to dismiss any keeper who 

 has given reasonable ground for complaint. 



6. It is sometimes the custom for the proprietor to reserve the right 

 of a few days' shooting or fishing, even when let to a tenant. 



7. Strict clauses should be entered in a shooting-lease as to the 

 rabbits on the grounds. If the tenant have the sole right of shooting 

 them, they may be allowed to increase so as to become a great source 

 of destruction to the farming tenant's crops on the estate. And again, 

 if the proprietor reserve the rabbits entirely, this may also prove a 

 great source of annoyance to the tenants. It is better in this case to 

 allow the tenant to shoot the rabbits whenever he may choose ; but the 

 proprietor should reserve the right of trapping or otherwise destroying 

 them whenever he may think it necessary. 



8. Where there is an extent of moorland, the proprietor should arrange 

 for a certain portion of it to be burned in each year. This is found to be 

 necessary for grouse. 



9. The moor-burning should be undertaken by the gamekeeper, who 

 should know where and when to do it. It is sometimes necessary for 

 an extent of the heath to be burned for the improvement of the sheep- 

 grazings in moorland districts. Instead of allowing the grazing tenant to 

 burn at his pleasure, he should state to the proprietor or his agent the 

 position and extent of what he wishes done, and then, on being approved 

 of, the keeper should be instructed to carry it out. 



10. A clause should be inserted stating that the proprietor will not 

 be responsible for any disease in the game, or for any other loss which 

 may occur. 



11. Where there are deer, hunting with dogs should not be allowed ; 

 and the number of deer to be shot should be restricted, and a date 

 should be fixed for the closing of the deer-shooting. In the north of 

 Scotland, stags are usually allowed to be shot up to the 20th of October, 

 and hinds to the 1st of January, but not later. 



12. The greatest number of pheasants, partridges, grouse, or hares to 

 be shot should be stated in the lease, and this more especially in the 

 last year of the lease. 



13. The tenant should be made liable for any poor-rates or other taxes 

 which may be laid on the shootings. 



14. The right should be reserved of making any improvements on the 

 estate which may be desirable, such as the reclamation of waste lands 

 and the formation of plantations. 



