Part 28

They have afforded me, occasionally, splendid sport, and endless pleasure to my family and to myself.

The fine air of Caithness, direct from the Arctic Pole, the good water, and the healthy exercise, have contributed to their good health and mine, and to their well being, far more than trips to the English coast, or the Continent, whilst the lads have been made good sportsmen with rod and gun, and their holiday pursuits have given them genuine, honest tastes, as well as healthy recreation.

SUMMARY.

Twenty-four years of Glenmarkie and Dalnawillan leases have resulted in nine splendid seasons; five middling ditto; one very middling; and nine with practically no shooting.

On Dalnawillan and Rumsdale moors, the number of grouse killed by sportsmen were as follows:--

Dalnawillan. Rumsdale. Total. Brace. Brace. Brace.

1872 1098 ---- 1098 1873 151 ---- 151 1874 ---- ---- ---- 1875 38-1/2 ---- 38-1/2 1876 112 100 212 1877 426-1/2 300 726-1/2 1878 627-1/2 480 1107-1/2 1879 1338 900 2238 1880 1473 1600 3073 1881 822 900 1722 1882 186 370 556 1883 53 ---- 53 1884 300 170-1/2 470-1/2 1885 635-1/2 439 1074-1/2 1886 1211-1/2 673 1884-1/2 1887 1223 561 1784 1888 816-1/2 500-1/2 1317 ---------- -------- ------ 10,512 6,994 17,506

Yearly 618-1/2 411-1/2 1,030 average

In addition, in the seasons of 1879, '80, '81, '86 and '87, a considerable number of grouse were killed in the winter months by the keeper.

+--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's Note: | | | | Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. | | | | Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant | | form was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. | | | | Mid-paragraph illustrations have been moved between paragraphs. | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+