546 
Portable Fencing for Sheej). 
the Mearns, thus writes lo me : — " If cotton could be again got 
at tlie price it was some years ago, I should prefer it, as the nets 
made of it are considerably lighter, and consequently more 
manageable. Neither are they very easily broken." The length 
of each net, when set, may average fifty yards ; though this of 
course varies a few yards according to the state of weather and 
the skill of the hand who sets them. 
In weight, an untarred hemp net, with a pair of ropes running 
the full length of the net, and a dozen yards to spare, will be 
about a quarter of a hundredweight. A man can thus carry 
with comfort at least a couple of hundred yards of the needful 
fencing, besides stakes, of which more anon. When neatly set 
they should stand taut, like a skeleton wall about three feet high, 
no part of the net touching the ground, and the lower rope raised 
two or three inches therefrom. The meshes run four inches 
square, set angularly in the net — upright or "window-frame" 
meshes being rather an unsightly rarity. If tarred (and a net of 
the full length named will take up about 10 lbs. of tar) they cost 
from 15s. to 20s., according to the price of raw material. A 
clever hand should set such a net, driving the stakes as well, in 
from fifteen to twenty minutes for each length. 
In estimating how many seasons nets will last, various matters 
have to be taken into consideration ; much naturally depends on 
the usage. Can the shepherd mend his own nets? (" A stitch in 
time.") Does he always pack them up and keep them dry when 
not in use ? Is the district overrun with hares ? This last 
question is an important one. All things considered, half-a- 
dozen winters must be regarded as a full average. 
The following extracts from the letter of a Scotch friend, Mr. 
Goodlet, discuss in a practical manner some of the objections 
made to nets : — 
" I see in some discussions at Hanover Square objection taken 
to the use of nets for sheep, at least in game districts. First, that 
the hares cut them to make runs ; and undoubtedly they do. 
The only way to meet this is to leave the opening they make 
unrepaired for them to run through, and they will prefer going 
to it again to making new ones. Their openings are always too 
low for the sheep to get entangled in them, and too small to let 
them escape. 
" Another objection is that sheep get entangled in the nets 
and sometimes hang themselves. It is true that at first sheep 
will sometimes get themselves fixed in the nets, especially if they 
are carelessly put up ; but they very soon learn to avoid this, so 
that we hear no complaint on this score in districts where the 
use of nets is established. It is one of those objections likely to 
