2 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



latter than in the former reply. Both, however, indicate 

 a real impression that had been made upon two fairly 

 observant youngsters, and neither reply is to be despised 

 as an unsuitable subject for reflection. 



It must be admitted that there are many keepers 

 whose chief occupation up till the I2th of August, or 

 even till the ist of September or the ist of October, 

 seems to consist in going about with a dog and a gun 

 and in virtually doing nothing that is, nothing of real 

 value to the shooting under their control. In no other 

 class of men do we find such extremes, on the one hand 

 of skill, energy, and efficiency, and on the other of 

 stupidity, laziness, and incapability. Taking the pro- 

 fession as a whole, and regarding it as a department of 

 skilled labour, we must admit, though in doing so the 

 admission gives offence, that it does not in the main 

 reach the uniform efficiency of other skilled labour. 



The fact that an outstanding minority of keepers 

 are more than efficient, and combine the qualities of 

 patient and intelligent keepers of ground and stock 

 with all the instincts and capacities of thorough sports- 

 men, does not get rid of the truth of the general 

 criticism. Of course no one would insult the pro- 

 fession of gamekeeping by placing it in the same 

 category with any branch of unskilled labour in the 

 industrial community. It is because we believe the 

 duties of a keeper demand a high standard of observa- 

 tion, skill, patience, and energy, that we have to admit 

 the failure, in the common run of the profession, to 



