228 TEN YEARS OF GAME-KEEPING 



The question of beer and beaters is important. 

 Many beaters, if they got the chance, would drink 

 considerably more than four glasses at lunch-time 

 or any other time. But I have come to the con- 

 clusion that the most satisfactory all-round load is 

 four glasses. A heavier is inclined to clog the 

 intelligence of the ordinary beater, and to make 

 him mouthy, with an irrepressible desire to give 

 tongue at sight or sound of game. It is no bad 

 plan to offer a glass of beer and morsel of bread 

 and cheese to each beater who turns up punctually 

 in the morning, and, if only in the interest of good 

 beating, can both eat and drink before one o'clock. 

 Many of your beaters will have had an early 

 breakfast (without ham or eggs) and a long walk ; 

 and, besides, they are accustomed to dine at noon. 

 I cannot too strongly condemn a foolishly liberal 

 supply of beer. Certainly I have heard of men 

 who, unless they were drunk, could not perform 

 various feats, but I never have known a man 

 to beat any better for too much beer. A keeper 

 acquaintance had an awkward experience with his 

 beaters. Their lunch was supplied from a public- 

 house, and whoever was told off to put their beer 

 into jars put it into some half full of gin. There 

 was no shooting after lunch. I knew of a shoot 

 where each beater was saturated with two quarts 

 of beer before starting ; during the day jars fre- 

 quently were broached, and at night, as one beater 



