FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



hounds come, and even if he is a rank bad one, 

 the keeper is entitled to his emolument for the 

 find. Payment for litters is all right so long as 

 the said litters are seen during the regular season. 

 Many a keeper can show litters when cub-hunting 

 starts, but later on they mysteriously disappear. 



Payment by the acreage of the various estates is 

 probably the best, when keepers are responsible 

 for the earth-stopping. Even this plan is open 

 to criticism, for a small place may take as much 

 stopping as a large one, owing to out-of-the-way 

 rabbit burrows, drains, etc., all of which are 

 resorted to by foxes. Again, some coverts are 

 for various reasons more often visited by hounds 

 than others. The system of having a recognised 

 earth-stopper for the whole country is therefore 

 much preferable to relying on the keepers of the 

 various estates, but under present conditions, 

 where shooting interests have to be considered, 

 his presence in the coverts is unwelcome. 



An annual dinner or " earth-stoppers' feast" 

 should always be held, with the Master in the 

 Chair, and the huntsman present as well. In 

 case of any dispute, the huntsman can generally 

 settle the debated point, and in order to maintain 

 friendly feelings between the Hunt and the 

 keepers the latter should if possible always be met 

 half-way. 



It is occasionally necessary in the judgment of 

 Master or huntsman to dig out a fox which has 

 been run to ground. Perhaps it has been a long, 

 dragging, and disappointing day for hounds, and 

 they thoroughly deserve their quarry ; or may be 

 the fox is one of the twisting, short-running sort, 

 and is therefore better disposed of. Unless a 

 particular fox is known to be a determined 



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