THE WHITE MARSH VALLEY 



In the second season, Mr. Welsh Strawbridge, who had been elected 

 Master at the start, bought a small drah of English hounds, but found that 

 these ran almost mute on the drag, as they often do. Accordingly, he be- 

 gan to cross them with the native hounds, and found that the amimals so 

 produced were, on the whole, more satisfactorj' for the purpose for which 

 they were needed. At present, Mr. Strawbridge has twelve couples of 

 hounds in his kennels, most of them bred along the lines indicated above, 

 some few drafted from the neighboring Hunts amd a few from Dr. A. C. 

 Heffenger's pack, — the Portsmouth. 



The White Marsh Valley Hunt developed slowly, in this manner, up to 

 the season of 1 907 ; when, its Fields having gro\vn in numbers and enthu- 

 siasm, the members began to yearn for the "real thing." The Master was 

 only too ready, cmd during the autunm of 1907 a small pack was kept ex- 

 clusively for fox-hunting. The country is nearly perfect for the sport, the 

 coverts being small and scattered widely, and the open country behveen 

 quite ideal for riding purposes, being mainly a grazing country', and the land- 

 o\\Tiers, a very good class and fond of sport, keeping their farms and fences 

 in the best of condition. Wire has not, as yet, crept into the country' at all 

 and the fences are almost entirely old post-2md-rails, large and stiff, but with 

 clean tjike-off and landing. 



Foxes are none too plentiful, but many have been planted and as they 

 have thriven well, there seems to be no reason why fox-hunting should not 

 be firmlv established and excellent sport obtained in a short time. The hunts- 

 mem, Mr. James G. Leiper, Jr., is a keen sportsmcm and may be depended 

 upon to do all he can toward attaining the best results. 



The Hunt now has a commodious clubhouse, stables and kennels, and 

 visitors are alwavs most welcome. Most of the members have a strong lean- 

 in" toward the thoroughbred when it comes to a question of mounts, although 

 there is a small percentage of cocktails generally to be seen. 



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