Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1885-10-24
DEER STALKING"
SOME ARGUMENTS URGED IN FAVOR
OF THE klNeLY SPORT.
What II Costs to Raise Stag and
bag the Game''-Thc Land De-
voted to Deer Raising
Testimony.
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Two OF the leading English magazines con-
tain in their issues for the present month
articles on "Deer- Stalking" IL appears that
this kingly sport is as attractive as ever,
though kings aud their favorites are not now
the only persons who engage In It. Fortune,
not rank enables ono TO hunt deer In the
forests OF Great Britain at the present day.
Last year, II is said, there were moro brew.
ers and bankers than barons who went to
the highlands of Scotlands to engage In
ag-hunting. Several noblemen have been
obliged to rent out their deer forests in or
der 20 obtain money 10 keep up their estab-
lishments Horace Greeley once informed
q subscriber who asked him what he con-
sidsred the best building material, that
be had never found any thing that was as
good as gold. God, and large supply Of
it. Is essential to tho deer hunter.
1t costs in rent and care about 5000 to
raise stag, and nearly as much more to
"bag the game" The carcass Is Of no money
value TO the hunter Enough for one roast
may be reserved for his table, but the re-
mainder is given to attendants or needy
crofters, or sent as presents to friends at a
distance. The cost Of taking hunting
party from London TO the highlands and
supporting them there during the hunting
season Is very large An army Of servants,
one or more packs OF hounds, and provisions
must be transported. An expensive house
must be erected and furnished. II has be-
come the custom to furnish employment to
all tho crofters and cottsrs in the vicinity Of
a deer preserve during the hunting season
Tho owners or lessees of the forests desire to
keep on good terms with the neighboring
inhabitants The hunting season Is to them
not only a continuous holiday, but time
for making money 1t is more profitable to
them than to the hunters.
DEER VERSUS SHEEP.
The amount of land In Scotland devoted
TO deer raising is estimated at about 2,000,-
900 acres On this land about 1850 stays
and an equal number Of kinds are shot each
year.. Tho entire number Of the deer fam
lily on the 2,00v, 900 acres of game preserve
Is estimated at 225 900. The rent put down
for the deer forest this year amounts to
81, 100000. Much has been said not only In
this country but In Great Britain on the en-
ormity Of devoting all this land to the rails
ing of deer. when It might be probably Gnu
ployed for the production Of sheep and cat
tie. The commissioners appointed TO exam
inc into the condition Of the crofters gave
great attention to this matter. There
seemed to be abundant evidence that II was
barely possible for one black-faced sheep TO
gain a living during the grazing season on
six acres Of this barren land, while there
are large tracts on which twenty sheep
would find 1t difficult to make living on
100 acres.
The most ia vorable estimate was that all
the deer forests in Scotland, II utilized 10
the utmost, might put on the market AGO.
900 sheep and lambs annually. It was ad-
mitted by all that the quality Of the NUT
ton would be very poor and most witnesses
thought it would be necessary to carry up
food to support the shoep during the win
ter. 1t was in evidence that the proprietors
Of the deer forests kept the wolves in sub
lection and that they would be likely to
overrun the country If sheep were kept In
stead OF deer. The deer arc able to reach
the branches Of the stunted trees and to eat
foliage on them when the grass is short or
altogether wanting They can also go long
distances in search of fool In the winter
they crop the bougbssof evergreens, and,
digging through the snow with their feet,
eat the moss aud dried grass.
IN FAVOR OF THE HUNTERS.
The inhabita Of the highlands, almost
without exception, gave testimony In favor
of devoting the forests to breeding and rails
ing deer. The gillies and their kinsmen
were all In favor Of the hunters. The
traders profited by their presence, and
thought they were the benefactors OF the
country. Even the solemn parsons were
favorable to keeping up the ancient sport Of
Devastating. They stated that not only
themselves but many OF their poor parish
toner's were under great obligations to the
dser-hunters The advocates Of the aboli-
ton Of the deer forests were chiefly pro.
fessional philanthropists AMI demagogue:
who lived In large towns remote from the
highlands. A witness on being asked how
1t was that at one time In the highlands
according to favorite poet, "every rood Of
land maintained it's man." replied that the
people at that happy period supported
themselves principally by making raids into
the fertile country Of the lowlanders aud
carrying off their stock and grain. Deer
were as plenty in the forests then as now
and much smaller number OF sheep was
kept
Apparently. Devastating, which was one
Of the first sports introduced into Great
Britain. will be among the last to be abol
ished. The land rents for more as deel
preserve than as sheep pasture The rent
OF deer forests IL constantly advancing
while that OF grazing and farming land Il
declining. American competition does mo-
interfere with deer-hunting as it docs witt
grain-raising and stock-fseding. The mum
bsr of very wealthy people who have al
ambition to lease their deer preserves In
creases with each generation, while the op
position TO them appears to be dying out.