OTTER-HUNTING 



catchy in the open, where the sun has dried up all 

 moisture, and even if hounds do show an inclination 

 to turn up a runner or deviate at some point, they 

 may not be able to carry the line far, even if 

 encouraged to do so. If an early start is made, 

 however, the drag is warm, and hounds can hit 

 off the place with certainty where their otter has 

 left the river, and what is more, they can run the 

 line at speed, thus drawing up to their quarry's 

 holt, or the spot where he is lying rough, without 

 loss of time. The chief object of keeping a pack of 

 otterhounds is to find, hunt, and if possible kill 

 your otter in a sportsmanlike manner. 



Before you can hunt him you must find him, and 

 on nine days out of ten, this is the hardest part of 

 the business. An otter may be anywhere, and of 

 course it may so happen that the water within your 

 day's draw is not being worked by otters. In this 

 case you cannot find what is not there. A blank 

 day then is not only excusable, but inevitable. On 

 the other hand, if your pack is made up of entered 



hounds, and you know their individual idiosyn- 



87 



