OTTER-HUNTING 277 



him than shooting or trapping, and it seems to 

 me it would not be a very easy matter to spear 

 an otter in the water. Before the advent of 

 railways, which bring the spoils from the sea 

 freshly caught to the most inland home, the 

 coarse fish as well as the trout of our brooks 

 and rivers were a very important item in the 

 daily bill of fare. Hence it is not surprising 

 that a gentleman like the otter, who helped him- 

 self to the choicest specimens in the water, should 

 be looked upon as a common thief. I do not 

 think, however, he does quite as much damage 

 as some people would have us believe, and a 

 stream must indeed be badly stocked that cannot 

 spare an occasional fish. I believe he is par- 

 ticularly fond of an eel, and in that case he 

 deserves the thanks of the fish-preserver, as there 

 is no greater enemy to either fry or spawn. 

 Whatever his delinquencies may be, I think the 

 otter should be considered sacred on the streams 

 where he is hunted with hounds, and those in 

 authority should give orders to the keepers to 

 spare his life. 



The greatest objection I have to otter-hunting 

 is that you have to get up at such a horribly 



