1 82 DEER-STALKING 



For instance, a crofter complained of the destruc- 

 tion of his crops by deer. He wanted, naturally 

 enough, to be protected somehow or other against this 

 injury. Perhaps, when asked, he could not suggest a 

 remedy, but said that was not his business, but was 

 the duty of the Commissioners. Or, he did propose 

 a remedy, and when it was pointed out to him that 

 this might bring about results in places where no 

 grievances existed which he had not anticipated, he 

 did not seem to understand why this should make any 

 difference. 



Again, another crofter, who wanted an out-run in 

 the summer for his young cattle, and seeing a fine- 

 looking bit of grazing just opposite to his window which 

 was not occupied as he looked at the matter for 

 any profitable purpose, asked to get it detached from 

 the forest of which it formed a part, and added to his 

 own holding. He could not be made to see the diffi- 

 culties which stood in the way of carrying out what to 

 him appeared a very simple affair. All this was very 

 natural, and it is impossible to blame these witnesses 

 for taking a limited and personal view of the situation \ 

 but it laid on the Royal Commission a larger respon- 

 sibility than was the lot of those who composed the 

 select Parliamentary committee. 



The Commissioners in their report on this branch 



