NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM. 129 
tion in this locality are those kept by John Gallon, now of Tow 
Law. He is in possession of the direct (and only) strain of the 
Hurworth Joyful blood, and having kept hounds for nearly a 
quarter of a century, and intermixed this strain with fresh and 
approved importations from other kennels, with the additional 
advantage of a small pack presented to him by Lord Middleton 
of Birdsall, he is able to show good sport in the border rivers. 
Through the kindness of the proprietors, he is endowed with 
extensive leave to hunt most excellent waters in different 
parts. This privilege he has acquired in consequence of the 
steadiness of his hounds, as well as the fair manner in which he 
hunts his game. He does not consider a kill as the only 
redeeming feature of a hunt, nor hold it in such estimation as 
to secure it at the cost of fair play to an animal that offers such 
good sport, and against which the odds, so far as numbers are 
concerned, are so considerable at the commencement. When the 
pursuit of the otter ceases, the pleasure terminates. 
Here it may not be out of place to repudiate and protest against 
the use of spears as accessories in the pursuit of the otter. In 
the majority of cases in which these unsportsman-like accompa- 
niments are tolerated, they assume the most prominent position 
in the affair. No sooner has the otter broken cover, than the 
spearmen are on the alert for the first chance that presents itself 
of transfixing the game, and thus ingloriously acquire the credit 
of immolating an animal that has probably up to this time 
afforded infinite amusement, and would, if fairly permitted to 
reach its swimming ground, have probably given an exciting 
hunt of many hours’ duration. 
The advocates of this barbarous practice are apt to plead 
mercy to the otter as an extenuation of their inhuman prowess. 
Long may the River Conservator be saved from his friends ! 
His ignorance of the spear is indeed to him a bliss. Those 
who have once witnessed the successful hurl of the spear, and 
the writhings of the impaled animal as it painfully drags, 
for hours, the pledge of mercy through the deep, or seen its 
agonizing efforts to release itself, will soon elect to leave it to 
the brief and more humane dealings of the canine race.” 
