New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-13
SPORTSMEN FACE POOR
SHOOTING PROSPECTS
Scarcity Of Birds in Great Brit,
ain This Year, Especially
in Scotland.
WILL COST S6 TO SHOOT ONE
Double the Average Now-Elab.
crate Statistics Show the
Price of Raising Game
Birds to Kill.

From The Tribune Correspondent
London. July 5.-Therc has not been
such a poor outlook for birds In thirty
years as there is this year and the pros.
poets are for gloomy Twelfth" espe-
cially In the South OF Scotland. This Will
have an especial significance for sports.
men as II was on the Eshdale and Lid.
dersdale manors that the record bags
were made In the last two seasons. on
the high grounds there are practically no
birds this year. while In the low grounds
the covcys are few and small
This condition is almost the same as
that which prevailed In 1873 after he wet
season Of 1872. In 1873 hardly any Young
birds we're seen IN many OF the beet
moors
Although reports from other districts
are scarcely so gloomy as those coming
from the South Of Scotland. all Indicate
that sportsmen will have 10 be content
with Hight bags this season. The con.
tinued heavy rains, the lack OF sunshine
and the bitterly cold nights have all
tended 70 spoil the coming grouse-shoot-
I ing season.
In the average season the cost Of shoot
ing IS estimated az rs or g bird.
gross which is reduced % cents by
/ the sale OF the bags in the market, max
ing the net cost OF a shoot I'm the average
season $3.50 a bird. This season tho cost
Will run 70 double the average
The Cost Of Shooting.
! Leonard Willoughby a well known ao
thority on country life, writing on the
/ cost OF shooting In the average season,
! says.
As regards the cost Of feeding, Lord
Walslngham laid II down some years ago
that two men and a boy can .ook after
! LOO birds In the rearing field He con-
sidcrs peck. e.. fourteen pounds-of
. chopped food sufficient for each round OF
: food for 100 birds. This works out a.
I is. per bird for sixteen weeks or three
/ farthlngs per bird per week lie con-
sldcrs that 80 should pay for the feed
of 100 birds. while the cost Of labor
adied should bring the cost OF each bird
up 90 t. I'd. for sixteen weeks. This eta-
mate was made some years ago, and since
| then everything has risen In price and IN
. labor
/ II doubt. therefore II these prices could
/ be- carried out to-day, and ! have founa
on shoots where every single item has 10
, ba purchased that -. per bird for 1000 IS
nearer the mark for the whole season.
while tho cost OF keepers and beaters
added brings the cost ~ the bird 20 about
] Is Il will also be found that on this
estimate the cost OF rent. appliances
| lunches. rates and taxes and incidental
expenses. added TO the above. will bring
the cost rapidly up 20 lis. or i2s per bird
| sross. which can be reduced by p. when
/ sold 20 tho market
Ten Shilling Pheassnts.
Thus / estimate the cost all told OF
q pheasant shoot az Jos. a bird. az least
+ on those rented shoots whore everything
/ has q be bought
/ This estimate IS for rearing the BIRDS
, from the egg and does not allow any
thing FOR the wear and tear on the ner'
yous system due 60 weekly reports on
/ the condition OF the young birds and the
hopos Of a successful season Another
way which comes TO about the ssme
thing IN the matter Of expense and saves
the nervous system is 10 buy tho birds
from game farms just before the season
opens OF course this seems very muen
Ike going into the stock yards and KIN
. ing few cattle and hogs. There ISN'T
anything very sporting IN the sound OF H.
. but n has the advantage OF practically IN
surfing a successful shoot Mr WiHolgh'
b by calculates the cost according 20 th'
plan IN this manner.
"ueadkecpers wages vary from rs %
3s. "A week. with house and often nrins
while undcrkecpers get between lIs ana
/ Il a week The wages OF heaters aNo
vary from g. Cd a day IN seouana
whore they md their own lunch 20 -
a. day. With bread. cheese and beer 10
England I am almost inclined 20 thlhH
owing 10 our very uncertain climate, tnN
a satisfactory way OF making up our
stocks 10 the required numbers Is 10 rear
only limited number ~ birds-in oraer
to secure a supply OF hens-and 20 o1y
each year four-months.old poults, when
viii bc an cocks. from the game forms
These cost s. 81. 10 Is. each, ana some
may think this Is somewhat expensive
way OF Auing ones coyerts But Know
ing now great IS the mortality 10 10.
rearing field and consequent wasiabe
labor and food 20 say nothing OF TIE as
appointment. I am ~ the opinion II
more satisfactory and economical TO pu''
chase as ! suggest
Rules for Raising.
These birds cost the purchaser no'h'hs
! FOR food and labor until they have az.
rived in ones coverts. and after this the'
/ cost Is nhnltesmaL They have previous
. ly been picked out by ones sell og heeps'
/ as good, healthy birds and these proVa
/ bis will survive and be In ones coF'l'
and ready 20 shoot when the time arrive.
/ one is also introducing fresh blood VIM
I is so important This IL plan J stoneY
/ recommend As being very nearly as 'he'p
/ as and certainly less Disappointing va"
/ receiving weekly reports Of mortality
sum up, then, one has 10 take every w."
, of expense from egg 20 larder ana 'n''
are many expenses. and these must "
collected and added together.
After deducting the amount re'''
I from the sale OF any OF the ords '
number shot. or II preferred Wos,
turned into the woods. must be d'lo'e
| into the expenses H. then, a tenant
shoot can when the time comes roun'
make up the balance sheet, convince M
self that his birds have not cost n,'"
more than los. apiece. net he can ieel ~
Is not being robbed. and that he |" s''
/ Ting al Ia can aNuegt