33 



discretion of the master, and however much onlookers 

 may disagree, they should be careful never to voice 

 their criticisms aloud. The master and his huntsman 

 proceed on lines which they consider the best for 

 killing cubs and in the interests of sport for the coming 

 season. Whether these methods are right or wrong, it 

 is not for us to say, but we can always safely assume 

 they have been adopted for good reasons, and with 

 the best intentions. 



In this article, I am just setting down my own 

 ideas, and in no sense is it meant to be a criticism 

 of other men's methods. Everyone has a good and 

 sufficient reason for his opinions, which he is entitled 

 to hold, and v,'hich it would be impertinent for us to 

 say were wrong because we did not agree with them. 

 On one point only I refuse to budge, and that is that 

 hounds should be in hard condition when they 

 commence. 



The time to start cub-hunting is more or less 

 dependent on the harvest, but it is as well not to begin 

 until it is possible to continue at least twice a week. 

 The ground, being as hard as iron, should never deter 

 a master from the pursuit of operations against the 

 cubs, and, should he fear for the legs of his hunters, he 

 can always purchase ponies at small prices to carry on 

 with. Huntsmen may say the hard ground is pro- 

 ductive of shaken shoulders and toes down. A shaken 

 shoulder means a bad shoulder, and the sooner the 

 individual is drafted the better, even though he 

 pleased the judges on the flags and Peterborough. A 

 well-balanced hound with really good shoulders will 

 never injure them, however fast he may go on the 

 hardest ground. The foot that cannot stand anything 



