74 SHORT MASTERSHIPS 



fox going to ground in the country within his juris- 

 diction will probably be safe if left by the hounds, 

 and by the month of June he will be able to tell the 

 M.F.H. how many litters have been brought out 

 within the confines of his territory. He will be 

 indefatigable in trying to procure good walks for 

 puppies in his neighbourhood, and will keep a friendly 

 eye upon them during the time they are at quarters, 

 while it is hardly necessary to say that he will walk 

 a couple himself for the M.F.H. 



Often of high social position, the District Manager's 

 utility is rather increased when this is the case, while 

 he extends the sphere of his own influence and popu- 

 larity in the country by coming into direct communi- 

 cation with many whom he might otherwise be 

 personally unacquainted with and who often come to 

 seek his opinion or advice on matters not alto- 

 gether connected with hunting. 



The District Manager, I think, should certainly be 

 ex officio a member of the Hunt committee — a body 

 who have so many responsibilities thrust upon thetn 

 in these days that selection of the members needs to 

 be made with great care. There is nothing so difficult 

 in the country as to get together a body of men to 

 do three hours' work. Meetings are usually held in 

 the county town, and half an hour after the minutes 

 of the last meeting have been read and signed, the 

 members begin to melt away. One retires to do some 

 shopping, another to the bank, a third to look at a 

 horse ; and the gathering is reduced before long to 

 very attenuated proportions, though if the three or 

 four remaining are willing to accept responsibility 



