OTTER-HUNTING 279 



and though it is perfectly fair to stop him going 

 down-stream, you should give him every oppor- 

 tunity of going up, and also give him a fair start 

 before laying hounds on. 



On streams that otters frequent, but which 

 have few holts to tempt them to stop, it is a good 

 plan to make artificial drains. The drain should 

 slope upward from the river and the den should be 

 well above high-water mark, so that an otter can 

 be certain of lying dry. I do not know what is 

 considered the best plan for a drain of this de- 

 scription, but I should think the horse-shoe shape 

 with one entrance above water and one below. 

 These drains should only be built where they 

 are safe from disturbance either by stray dogs 

 or too inquisitive human beings. The otter is shy 

 of being seen, and it is very seldom an old dog 

 will venture abroad in daylight, though a bitch 

 suckling cubs does sometimes run this risk. 

 The taint of hounds on a stream is sufficient to 

 drive him elsewhere for a fortnight, and if he 

 finds the fishing good in his new quarters he is 

 more than likely to remain there for the rest 

 of the season. 



This sport, I think, offers more opportunities 



