TIPS 461 



average and fair tip from each guest would be a pound 

 from a man who was fairly well off, and ten shillings 

 from the man of moderate means, a few shillings being 

 given to the man or boy who carries the cartridge bag. 

 For a single day's grouse shooting, five to ten shillings 

 is a good and moderate fee ; ten shillings is a very 

 generous one. For a day's covert shooting the same 

 applies, although we have generally found that the 

 common tip, especially in England, at the first shoots, 

 is a pound a day. In small or single day shoots it is 

 a usual and sensible practice for the guests, where they 

 intend to give a tip, to consult together and all give 

 the same ; and let the tip be moderate and to suit the 

 pocket of all, so that no one will feel that he has given 

 more than he can afford or wishes to. It may be laid 

 down as a safe and general law that no tip, unless in 

 those very exceptional cases where a man has made a 

 prolonged visit to a shooting, should exceed a sovereign, 

 and that no man of moderate means should be ashamed 

 of giving half that amount, or nothing at all if he is so 

 minded. It must be remembered that it is purely a 

 mark of goodwill and a present, and in no way should 

 be expected, and that a sportsman loses nothing by 

 the supposed loss of esteem of a greedy keeper or 

 servants of any kind ; nor in such a case should he 

 hesitate should he wish to accept the hospitality of 

 such a shoot again. Finally, the necessity for heavy 

 tipping does not now exist, as every master who is a 

 real sportsman, and anxious to do each guest justice, 



