The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-16 00:00:00

THE MOORS AND FORESTS.

Earl De Grey and Ripon, accompaniedbya distirguished
party o: gentlemen, shot on Dallowgill Moor on Monday.
The Princess of Wales and the Countess de Grey and
Ripon had a drive in the same direction, and then rode on
to the moor on ponies.

The opening day on Monday upon the north-eastern
moo:s, lying between the Derwent, the Tees, and Vale of
York, was a capital one for sport. The weather was cloudy
and still; in consequence the utmost caution was requisite
to come within shot, after a few rounds had been fired.
The moors were wet from the late heavy rains, but by day-
light some of the old hands had made capital bags, and at
noon grouse were obtainable at 7s. 6d. per brace. The
birds are healthy, strong, and tolerably numerous, and it is
only occasiorally that a barren pair are seen. The alarm-
ing reports o: death by scores and old birds barren, re-
ceived from the north-western hills, are generally disbe-
lieved; at least there is no si,rn of such discouragement
hero. Some of the old moor rangers say they never had a
better opening, nor birds in better order.
The Sheffield btlependent rays :—" For twenty-five years
we never remember a more enjoyable opening day than
Monday. The weather was neither too hot nor too cold ;
there was a good scent, and the birds wore far more
numerous than had been anticipated, though certainly the
crop was far less than last year. This year, under the new
regulations on the Bradfield Subscription Moors, the shoot-
ing commenced at ten, instead of at nine o'clock, and ter-
minated at five, instead of at six. This led to a good deal
of grumbling. On the whole, however, the short time
system has great advantage. The late rains had made the
birds very wild, and we saw several large packs which,
during the day, kept far out of the way of breech and
muzzle loader. Nevertheless several good bags were made;
the old hands making up for the delay in starting by
shooting through without enjoying the usual hour for
luncheon."

Our Barnsley correspondent states that on the ex-
tensive moors running from Yorkshire into Derbyshire
and Cheshire the grouse shooting was inaugurated on
Monday, and although the prospects of large bags were
anything but cheering, there was a goodly number of
sportsmen on the principal grounds. Yesterday, the wind
being strong and some little rain falling, the number, of
bids krled was not so large as on the previcus day.
Although the shooting so far has been tolerably good, yet
birds are by no means so numerous as they have been in
previous years, and the probability is that the season will
not cont'nue so long as it has previously done. On several
of the most extensive ranges, like those of Mr. Stanhope,
the7e has been no shooting as _yet, and: on several of the
moors a large number of young birds have been found dead
on the ground, no less than 100 having been counted be-
tween what is known as Stepping Stones and Saltersbrook,
a distance of three miles.

The Scotsman says the season Las opened in Perthshire
under the most unfavourable circumstances. For a week
previous heavy showers of rain fell at intervals daily, and
Sunday especially was very Wet and unsettled throughout.
Monday morning dawned With the hills enveloped in mist,
accompanied by a thick drizzling rain ; and about mid-day
the fog became more dense, and was followed by heavy
rains, which continued up till a late hour. In consequence
of the almost continuous
,rains, the heather and ground
were completely saturated, and only a few of the more keen
sportsmen ventured out ; and long be:ore evening they had
to beat a retreat home, owing to the pelting rain and dis-
agreeable state of the moors. We only heard of a single party
of two guns which bagged in the course of three hours 20
brace of game, and the birds are represented as being
" drooket" and inclining to p...ck in consequence of the ex-
cess of rain. The accounts we have lately received from
Breadalbane and Athole are highly satisfactory as regards
the abundance and condition of grouse. The coveys, in-
cluding the old birds, range from eight to ton each, and
ptarmigan on the higher mountains are unusually nume-
rous, and in splendid condition. It is stated, also, that
blackcock are more plentiful than in the average of years ;
but the young birds are scarcely so well grown as they were
at th 3 corresponding period last yea-. The reports from the
various forests of the county are highly encouraging for
deer stalkers. The late trains on the various railways yes-
terday afternoon did not convey many boxes of game to
the south, which too plainly showed that shooting had
been by no moans general.

The season which commenced on Monday is expected to
be a good one for a sportsman; more so, indeed, than was
anticipated two months ago. All along the weather has
been favourable for the grouse. Last year the shooting
was very close and successful, but although an unusually
la-ge number of birds were killed a sufficient remnant was
left as stock for this years crop. This point is care-
fully provided for in almost all leases; but whether or
not, no true sportsman would overshoot the ground
in his occupancy. During winter there were some
severe storms, but they were not of such duration of in-
tensity as to cause a heavy mortality among feathered
game. Hares suffered considerably. Spring was late, which
kept back hatching somewhat, but ultimately the weather
was as genial as could be desired. Nesting looked well,
but the number of eggs were under the average of last
year—ono of the best grOuse seasons for a lengthened
period. The average may be stated at from eight to nine.
During hatching a singular and unknown disease made its
appearance among the hills. It was not the old grouse
epidemic, but scarcely less deadly in its results on those
moors affected. The mortality was principally amongst
the males, and so heavy was the deaths on some hills that
40 or 50 birds have frequently been picked up in the com-
pass of a few yards along the hill streams. Gamekeepers at-
tiibute the disease to the drought, as so soon as there was
a fall of rain it suddenly disappeared. Fortunately the
ravages were somewhat local, but we ars inclined to think
that the loss of the birds all over Perthshire has been
pretty considerable. Thero were few barren birds, and
the particularly warm and diy weather during the incu-
baLio a in a great measure made up for the destruction
through the disease. If anything, there was a want of
moisture for the young broods ; but the extreme and con-
flailed drought had this effect at least, that there were
no deaths from the flooding of nests. On the whole, there-
fore, the stock of birds, though below that of 1865, is at
least an average, and very fair sport may be looked for.
The wcrst weather we have had has been during O. pre-
sent month, and the hills are a little spongy
in parts. The
sent month, and the hills are a little spongy in Pa1 for
young broods on a few of the hills are scarcely rea
d
-
the gun, but generally they are well grownd.,
On the Brea
on the moors
a:bane ranges there is a very fair stock, and,
the county the
Fo
of Strathearn and the western
shooting districtseei:.s
Past
sportsmen
d
y
appearances are promising. 0
rof their time to angling, wee
w
the gentlemen have devetedt
part ti-uccess. In short, every train
brings
have heen arriving at the ng lodges, and many of
and in the Highlands great
made for opening the season.--
e fear
a ho with
host
but
of si n
poerietffesinreen n
preparaeons have b
Edinburgh Courant.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEW COURTS OF JUSTICE.
_yesterday, nearly 500 persons, adults and
chil-
dron, who had resided in Ship-yard, Strand, and Serle's-
place,in compliance with notices received from her Ma-
jesty's Commissioners of Works and Buildings, removed
from their dwellings, which are required for the site of the
new Courts of JUSaC9. Some of the persons evicted re-
ceived compensation in Sums ranging from £2 to £l5, the
amount depending upon whether they rented shops or
rooms. Many cases of peculiar hardship occur in the
eviction of a class of hard working and industrious persons
who rent furnished rooms, or single men who reside in
lodging-houses. Such persons are not entitled to compen-
sation under the act. The rent of hollow in, other places
/4414 lagaNgl fully 50 pet teat.