Morning journal and courier., 1890-11-01
MIR. wAKEMAN,s J0URNEYINGs.
At TOmich, Scotland-Why Rural
Scotland is DepopuIated-Scotti
5 Peasantry VS.. Fish and Game-An.
nuaI Rentals Paid for shooting and
Fishing Privileges.

Scotland is OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
= Peasantry VS.. Fish and Game-An.
nual Rentals Paid for shooting and
Fishing Privileges.
ToMIcH, Scotland, Sept. 20.
To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
On coming face to face with the fact of
the depopulation of rural Scotland, and
especially of the northern and western
Highlands, it is astonishing that any sys-
tenn of land laws is permitted to exist
which will work such fatal results to a
country. There must be practical rea-
son for all this, you feel. You dig and
delve for that reason, and you are still
more astounded. Inquire where you may,
there is in effect but one answer: "High-
landers are not worth to the great land
lords SO many red deer. Crofters are of
less account than partridges and rabbits.
Human beings in the form of Scottish
peasantry are less valuable than their
weight in pheasants or fish!'
Not satisfied with assertions and gene
ralities, you delve and dig again. 1t is
easy enough to find proof of depopula-
ton. But it is difficult for the average
American to realize how land proprietors
can find adequate compensation for the
loss of population and its labor which or
dinarily alone give to land the greatest
value possible for it to possess. Agents
and factors everywhere tell you that the
income from hunting and fishing privi-
leges is more than repaying proprietors.
This seems so inexplicable that you delye
and dig again, as did, and finally arrive
at some most astounding facts. The great
| overwhelming fact is that greater area OF
land in Scotland is now devoted to the ex-
elusive purpose of game preserves than is
occupied by farmers for the exclusive cul-
tivation of the soil, ,and that nine-tsnths
of all land and Of all rods of loch, brook
or river shores in the kingdom are annual
ly leased in shooting and fishing privileges
to British sportsmen.
Naturally Scottish peasantry are in the
way of game and fish. But passing dis
cussion of the effect of this land polio.
upon the sociologic and economic condi
ton of Scotland, we Americans have NJ
conception whatever of the stupendoui
sums annually paid by British titled and
gentleman sportsmen for their few weeks
delights with rod and gun. The amount.
received by single owners for single priv
leges are equally surprising. Mrs. CHS
holm, owner of the Chisholm estates
which border Strathglass here, must re
ceive fourteen thousand pounds. fnt
that for sixty-nine shootings and fishing
the Duke of Sutherland receives rental
amounting to twenty three thousand min
hundred and ninety-six pounds. As b
has more than one hundred for lease, hi
income from this source alone must reacl
thirty-ive or forty thousand pounds. Il
Forfarshire, ON one estate belonging to tn
sTutors of the Earl of Dalhousie," thes
privileges, whose rental prices have beel
able to secure, reach f10, 400; and of thos
of the Countess Dowager of Seafeld, re
garding which information is available
twelve shootings and fishings in Elginsnir
give her e3, 1S9; eight in Banffshire, f56f
and fourteen in Inverness-shire, "a, Cos; o
total of 1890; which is probably nc
one-third of her entire income from thi
source.
As am quite certain the facts have ne,
er yet appeared in the public prints eithe
| in Great Britain or America, 1 have bee
to the pains of putting into tabulate
| form the actual rentals known to be annl
ally paid for these shooting and fishin
privileges in Scotland: