AND THEIR CAUSES 73 



was before him ; his ideas were carried out, and 

 every sportsman there feels that things are on the 

 right footing now, and that their efforts have 

 put the country into such order that the incoming 

 Master has only got to hunt it — they will do the 

 rest. 



The country, in fact, is properly managed. The Dis- 

 trict Managers are few in number, but superintend 

 very clearly defined areas. They are, of course, hunt- 

 ing men who reside at home in summer, and are 

 popular in their own localities. The manager of each 

 district becomes the Field Master on such days as 

 hounds meet within his district, and is for the time 

 being the confidential adviser of the M.F.H. ; he also 

 collects the field-money. This arrangement appears to 

 me a good one. Under it the District Manager is found 

 to take an immensity of trouble to ensure a good day's 

 sport when hounds come his way, and, as this is a 

 matter that also concerns him, he does his best that 

 the amusement shall be as inexpensive as possible. 

 Therefore he will warn his neighbours who have young 

 horses or stock of other kinds in their fields that the 

 hounds may be expected, and no claims for foals or 

 calves who have made untimely appearance in this 

 vale of sorrows need be feared. The haunt of the 

 outlying fox will be known to the District Manager, 

 and he will lead the way to the retreat that shelters 

 that terror of the fowl-yard, while every orthodox 

 covert in his district will be his special care. He 

 will arrange for the cutting down of the gorse coverts 

 when they have grown too high, the repair of their 

 fences, and the condition of the artificial earths. A 



