THE FA RN DALE. 145 



which hold foxes near these points which might be disturbed. 

 Therefore, the masters of the packs mentioned do not insist 

 upon boundaries being strictly observed. Rougher than the 

 greater part of the Bilsdale, the country is almost devoid of 

 grass and woodland. Still it is a sporting country — the very 

 fact that it is hunted under so many difficulties proves that, 

 and I venture to say that no fox-hunt in England is conducted 

 with a smaller working expenditure. Yet though this is 

 the case it is to be regretted that so little interest seems to 

 be taken in the pack in the dale itself. The hunt is essen- 

 tially the Farndale, but it seems to be governed by three 

 committees — that in the dale, one in Rosedale, and one at 

 Castleton. So far as I understand the two latter-named 

 authorities, they have no jurisdiction with the inner workings 

 of the hunt, other than the control of certain moneys sub- 

 scribed amongst themselves, and collected, by means of 

 which they guarantee the huntsman a certain sum (seven 

 and sixpence, I fancy) for each day he takes his hounds to 

 Castleton or Westerdale. They have a hunt dinner of their 

 own, a hunt ball, and when the pack is over at Castleton I 

 have heard them referred to as ' The Castleton Hunt.' This, 

 then, is a separate organisation entirely. Not actually in 

 the Farndale hunting country, and, therefore, having no 

 real demand upon the pack, these hearty sportsmen provide 

 the wherewithal to see hounds and have sport, and the 

 Farndale Committee not recognising any liability for the 

 huntsman's ' time ' on this 'Castleton side ' of the country, 

 pay him only when he hunts in that portion actually Farndale 

 territory. There is an amicable understanding between these 

 several authorities, however, but it is the Farndale Com- 

 mittee which is answerable for the liabilities of the hunt, 

 the appointment of officials, and who would decide vital ques- 

 tions, such as the election of a master would be. I know not 

 how long the Castleton Committee has been in existence, but 

 for years it has been an understood thing that the pack hunts 

 the country on the Danby and Westerdale side of this pretty 

 village. Mr. Sturdy Watson says, so far as he can remember, 

 the first Committee was formed here when Mr. Whitwell, 



