MARTS AND MART HUNTING 



were a smaller and more active type than our 

 present day rough otter hounds. In the Otter 

 Hunting Diary (1829-1871) of the late Mr. James 

 lyomax, of Clayton Hall, there is an illustration 

 of a couple of foumart hounds. Mr. Lomax 

 used them in crossing with his otter hounds. 

 The picture shows two rough-coated, active- 

 looking hounds in full cry. An old I^akeland 

 dalesman told the writer that one of the packs 

 with which he hunted years ago was composed of 

 quite small, rough-coated hounds, not much 

 bigger than Irish terriers. About eight couples 

 of hounds was the average number to a pack, 

 though some authorities declared that two couples 

 were really sufficient. In addition to hounds 

 a couple or two of really good working terriers 

 were indispensable. The season for hunting the 

 foumart extended roughly speaking from January 

 to about the middle of May ; March, April and 

 May being the best months. Hounds met very 

 early in the morning, in fact as soon as it was light 

 enough to see. The scent of a foumart was 

 strong, and if hounds hit off a line at once the 

 pace was liable to be hot. The pack was fol- 

 lowed on foot, and one had to be in something 

 like training to keep in touch when hounds ran 

 hard. As already mentioned the foumart was 

 fond of haunting the vicinity of water, so hounds 

 were generally taken to the boggy country ad- 

 joining the fells, such ground as lies not far from 

 Skiddaw, or that between Wigton and the Solway. 

 During the hunting season the foumart was 

 usually found in rocky cairns, stone drains, and 

 old barns. In France the marten, called by the 

 locals martre, resorts to barns in like manner. 

 In Normandy the farmers tie up their hay in 

 small square bundles, and stack it in the granaries, 



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