THE MASTER 117 



ensure the well-being of the hunt. Coverts 

 want looking to, and in the early spring may- 

 want cutting or planting. Then every litter of 

 cubs should be visited in turn, and those that 

 are in unsafe places should be moved. Of 

 course, these things can be done by the huntsman, 

 but when the Master personally overlooks it is 

 more satisfactory to all concerned. The future 

 sport depends a great deal on the earth-stopper's 

 care during the summer, and he will be more 

 likely to take trouble when he sees the Master is 

 interested in his work. There is, of course, no 

 earth-stopping in the summer, but the man who 

 performs that office in the winter usually has the 

 care of coverts in his district, and he must see 

 that the village poacher or stray curs do not 

 disturb them. It is the usual custom to pay 

 the man who looks after a covert so much for 

 every find and so much for a litter, but vixens 

 have a way of shifting their cubs to fresh quarters 

 after the first two months, and the man who has 

 watched an earth to protect the cubs may not be 

 the man who eventually draws the litter money. 

 The Master should give orders that each earth- 

 stopper or keeper should report to him when he 



