The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-16 00:00:00

THE TWELFTH OF AUGUST ON THE

MOORS.

Notwithstanding the changeable weather last spring
and the snow in May, the " 12th " was opened on the
Derbyshire and South Yorkshire moors under
extremely encouraging circumstances on Tuesday
morning. Although the light at times was anything
but good, with scarcely a breath of air to carry the
smoke clear of the guns, sportsmen, who had taken
up their quarters over night in the shooting boxes,
were astir at a very early hour in the morning. The
weather opened without a glimpse of sun, somewhat
"misty" in some parts, close, and with every appear-
ance of thunder and rain. By luncheon time the
bags brought in, conclusively proved that on the
majority of the moors there had been better sport
than three or four years past. This result had
been brought about by more circumstances than one.
In the first place, sportsmen had been unable to
reduce the strong coveys at the close of last season,
owing to the unfavourable state of the weather, and,
in the second, there had been abundance of food
throughout the winter. Reports received during the
day from the Dore, the Derwent, the Bamford Edge,
the Edale, and the Hayfield Kinder moors alike agreed
as to the high class character of the sport expe-
rienced. The birds are abundant, strong on the wing,
and free from disease. Some of the birds were not
quite so plump as in previous years. The coveys
average from seven to eight.
In North Yorkshire the thunderstorms prevented a
very early start, and in several parts the birds were
wild and bad to reach. Some good bags, however,
were obtained. Game of all kinds is reported to be
plentiful. In Westmoreland, the weather being fine,
a large number of sportsmen were out early in the
morning. The coveys are very large, though birds
are not in good condition, in consequence of a scarcity
of water when they were young. On Potter Fell,
Gray, Rigg, and other good moors large bags were
made. Grouse were being sold in the evening at
7s. 6d. to Bs. 6d. a brace. There was excellent sport
on the moors in the Clitheroe district, the birds being
unusually numerous, healthy, and strong on the wing,
and some good bags were made. Sportsmen on the
Welsh moors had an excellent day's shooting, the
weather being most favourable, and the birds very
plentiful and in good condition. The season promises
to be an exceptionally good one.
In Scotland there was every indication in the morn-
ing of fine weather. But sportsmen were doomed to
disappointment, as far as heavy bags were concerned,
a thunder-storm and drenching rain setting in by mid-
day in several grouse counties. One exception was
Inverness-shire, where the weather kept fine. Sports-
men who were early on the moors found the birds
plentiful and strong on the wing. No disease was
apparent., and competent authorities believe that this
will be the best season known for many years. At-
mospheric disturbances interrupted telegraphic com-
munication, and reports were late in coming to hand.
The first grouse sent south from Kingussie were
ten brace from Mr. Austen, of Dunachton. Seven
boxes were despatched from Deeside in
the afternoon, one being for the Queen
and another for the Prince of Wales. One box from
Mr. Mackenzie, of Kintail, was also consigned to the
Prince of Wales and another to Prince Edward of
Saxe-Weimar. Notwithstanding the severe storms
which prevailed in the west, numerous boxes arrived
in Glasgow at nine a.m. on Tuesday. Sales were
rapid at 14s. per brace. Moor fowl varied from 14s.
to 15s. per brace. Reports from all quarters of the
West of Scotland state that grouse are plentiful,
healthy, strong on the wing, and wild. Some good
bags were made in West Aberdeenshire early in the
day. One gentleman had 43 brace to his own gun.
After midday a thick mist settled down on many
hills and moors, and sportsmen had to return to their
shooting lodges.