Disease had worn itself through in the season of 1882, and birds were clean, but very scarce, in the spring of 1883, and needed careful nursing, so I went down for a few days, hunting the ground, and found a sprinkling of birds on Dalnawillan, and next to none on Rumsdale.
I killed all the cocks I could, and Black followed them up after I left.
| Bag. | Dalnawillan. | Rumsdale. |
|---|---|---|
| Grouse | 53 brace. | —— |
| Sundries | 54 brace. | —— |
Season 1884.
Dalnawillan, carefully considering the matter, could spare a few birds; what breeding stock there was has done well, but there were not enough birds to make it worth while to take down a party, so I let the place for the season to two gentlemen, with a limit of 300 brace, of course, at a small rent.
The attraction was the fishing and a pleasant lodge and surroundings for their holiday.
By myself I went down for a fortnight to shoot on the Rumsdale ground, to take off just what I thought could be spared.
I found pretty well of birds on the beats adjoining Dalnawillan, and took off 170½ brace.
A fair, but moderate, breeding stock was left on both moors.