MANAGEMENT OF GROUSE MOORS 
when left to themselves, and when they arrive at their self-imposed limit 
they turn round and feed back again. The number of strange sheep which 
may intrude is therefore never likely to be very great, even if there is no 
barrier between the holdings, and whilst some of the neighbours’ sheep 
may trespass over the boundary, in another part the process will probably 
be reversed. Moreover, if each farmer is limited as to the number of sheep 
he may have, which should invariably be the case, each will watch his 
neighbour most vigilantly to see that the number allowed him is not 
exceeded ; but the moment fences are erected, neither man cares how 
many sheep the other has, and does not trouble himself in the least about 
them. The only fences which should be allowed are those protecting low- 
lying fields, where no heather exists. On the moor there should be 
nothing but boundary stones to mark the line of demarcation, and if these 
are painted white they are easily seen, and are quite sufficient. 
Each holding should be reckoned as having so many “ gaits ” attached 
to it, a “ gait ” being sufficient to graze one sheep. It is then easy to reduce 
the number of gaits if it is seen that the moor is losing its heather. As a 
gait is only let for a rent of eighteen pence to half a crown, a reduction of 
a hundred sheep would only mean a loss of rent of £12 10s. per annum, 
taking it at the highest figure ; while it might make all the difference 
between the moor going back or not, and consequently affect the number 
of grouse. 
In calculating sheep gaits lambs are not taken into account until the 
ewe is shorn, about the end of June, after which a lamb is reckoned as 
half a sheep gait until it is “ dipped ” at the latter end of the following 
October. It then commences a full gait. 
When cattle are allowed on a moor a two -year -old bullock is reckoned 
equal to four sheep. 
Bullocks do not touch heather until snow falls: they will then eat it, 
and should be removed until the thaw comes, to be put back accordingly, 
and a clause to this effect should be inserted in all agreements. If it 
happens to be a hard winter the beasts may have to be removed 
several times, but in a mild winter the owner scores. It does no 
harm to have a few bullocks with the sheep, and if a moor is calculated 
at one hundred sheep, it might be advisable to arrange for, say, eighty 
sheep gaits, and five cattle gaits. 
The first sign that the stock of sheep is excessive is that no little shoots 
are to be seen springing from the heather, each plant exhibiting a close - 
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