Circumstances prevented my family going down (my boys were scattered in
professional pursuits), so I determined to let Dalnawillan for August
and September, and shoot at Rumsdale as a bachelor, and with two other
men.
The weather turned out very disappointing and unsettled--daily storm
showers; so consequently the results on both moors did not come up to
my expectations.
In Rumsdale (why, I don't know) the weather was worse than in any other
part of Caithness.
Only one day was I out without being interfered with by rainstorms.
In Dalnawillan the weather was rather better, and in Strathmore heavy
and dull, but not much amiss.
In October, I went down to Dalnawillan with two other guns. There bad
weather again followed us, but we managed to make 177 brace.
Bag. Dalnawillan. Rumsdale.
Grouse 1223 brace. 561 brace.
Sundries ---- 24 "
This season was the culminating season of that cycle, and we ought
to have had better bags, but wet weather makes the birds wild and
skittish. I had expected 1200 brace on Dalnawillan, and 800 on
Rumsdale, as a minimum; the birds were there to do it.