Otter Hunting 19 



" We noticed men fishing with trained otters 

 in this part of the river. There were a 

 number of boats, and each boat was furnished 

 with an otter tied to a cord. The animal 

 was thrust into the water, and remained there 

 till it had caught a fish ; then it was hauled 

 up, and the fisherman, placing his foot upon 

 its tail, stamped vigorously until it had 

 dropped its finny prey." 



The hunting of otters with hounds is of 

 considerable antiquity, and is mentioned 

 in several old works. The best account, 

 however or perhaps I should say the best 

 description is given in Tuberville's " Arte 

 de Venerie," dated 1575, to which I will 

 presently refer ; but at this point I think 

 I should say something about the hounds 

 used in otter hunting. In days of old the 

 southern hound was employed, and judging 

 from the descriptions of both ancient and 

 modern writers, he was a large, rough 



