[Rumil]

On the subject of Ranger numbers, I wonder how many had been slain by the Nazgul?

In UT there is an account of the search of the Nazgul for the ring. On their journey to the Shire they encountered a group of Rangers at (I think)Sarn Ford. The Rangers managed to hold them off during the day but were defeated and scattered during the night.

Presumably this caused some casualties amongst the rangers and reduced the numbers available to ride south with Halbarad.

I wonder if the rangers occasionally travelled to Gondor? We know Aragorn did this under the pseudonym of Thorongil. Perhaps this would have been a good way to expose the younger Dunedain to the achievements of their native culture and perhaps avoid inbreeding if they married Gondorians then moved back North?