528 CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES 



There is one animal which is a denizen of the British Isles, but only 

 occurs in Ireland, namely the Irish stoat. I think it should be introduced 

 into a National Park if one is provided in Scotland, as it is really a British 

 animal. Other rodents such as lemmings might be introduced. But we 

 have to be very careful of the introduction of foreign animals into England 

 or they may become a terrible nuisance, such as the musk rat and the grey 

 squirrel. So much then for the inhabitants of a National Park in this 

 country. 



We now come to the very difficult questions oi finance and management. 

 As regards finance, forest country in Scotland is now, I believe, a good deal 

 cheaper than it used to be and land may be acquired at a reasonable figure. 

 People are apt to be frightened at the cost of buying a large area of land and 

 maintaining it, but in the first place private individuals acquire deer forests 

 and what is possible for a private individual should not be impossible for 

 the public generally either under the Government or by means of public 

 subscription. It would be costly but not necessarily ruinous. 



Then as regards maintenance. Probably a deer forest is the most ex- 

 pensive luxury in which a rich man can indulge himself. But a National 

 Park would not be so expensive as a deer forest. In the first place there 

 would be money coming in as in the case of the National Kruger Park, 

 which makes quite a handsome income. There would have to be, of course, 

 an hotel or rest house or something of that kind, and roads and footpaths 

 would have to be made so that people could get about and see the animals. 

 I do not think that so many people would require to be employed on a 

 National Park as there are on a deer forest. A number of keepers would be 

 needed corresponding with the stalkers on a forest, probably rather less 

 than on a forest. But there would not have to be nearly as many ghillies, 

 pony men, dog men, and so forth. A few to act as watchers and keep off 

 poachers and a few to keep sightseers from disturbing the sanctuary would 

 be all that is necessary. Indeed, I do not believe that the number of people 

 employed would be as great as in a forest, so that I do not think we need 

 be unduly terrified either by the cost of acquisition or of management. 



And now I come to the last point, namely the method of management, 

 and here I would like to refer you to the ideas which have been put forward 

 by Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell. Sir Peter is a Scot and can speak with 

 authority. Not being a Scot I do not dare to offer hints as to the manage- 

 ment of property in Scotland. 



He advocates a scheme whereby the arrangements for the popular func- 

 tions of a National Park would be entrusted to delegates appointed by 

 Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen, working with delegates 

 appointed by the Council or Councils of the County or Counties in 

 which the Park was situated. He would add to the Governing Body of 

 the National Park a panel of persons selected for their special knowledge 

 of wild nature in all its aspects. At least one botanist, one zoologist, one 

 geologist, and two ' field naturalists,' one with special knowledge of plants, 

 the other an ornithologist. He thinks these might be selected by the Prin- 

 cipals of the four Universities, the President of the Royal Society of Edin- 

 burgh, and of the Highland and Agricultural Society. Moreover, apart 

 from the staff concerned with the general regulation of the Park, there 

 should be one warden or ranger selected by the Naturalist panel, whose 

 sole duty should be the constant study of wild life in the Park and all its 

 fluctuations. 



If I were to be asked whether such a system of control would be desirable 

 in England I should hesitate perhaps to agree. I rather think that in England 

 control by a number of delegates responsible to different Local Authorities 



