FOX-HUNTING ABROAD 



took firm root, and to-day the Meadowbrook, 

 started in 1881, and kennelled on lyong Island, 

 is the most fashionable Hunt in America. In 

 addition to the recognised Hunts there are many 

 scratch packs throughout the country. 



Many of these packs are followed on foot, or 

 ridden to in a perfunctory manner. Very often 

 several owners of hounds join forces for the day, 

 and so get together a sizeable pack. A good deal 

 of competition takes place under these circum- 

 stances, for individual owners are jealous of the 

 reputation of their local hounds. 



In 1894 the National Fox-hunters' Association 

 was organised, with a membership extending 

 from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It has done a 

 great deal of good for American hounds, by start- 

 ing a stud book, and organising field-trials. The 

 Brunswick Hunt Club was started in 1889, annual 

 trials being held at Barre, Mass. This organisa- 

 tion has done much towards encouraging hound 

 breeding in New England. In the South, too, 

 there are many Clubs which hold field-trials, 

 giving awards to the best working hounds in the 

 various classes. 



It is here that English Masters would do well 

 to take a leaf out of the Americans' book. If 

 annual field-trials for hounds were held in this 

 country, there would be a cessation of the present 

 inflated prices for hounds of show type, for in 

 order to win trials in hot competition, hounds 

 must be bred more for work than for intensified 

 show points. If such trials ever were held we 

 venture to think that the upholders of the Peter- 

 borough stamp of hound will receive rather a 

 rude awakening, when it comes to allotting the 

 awards for nose, tongue, drive, and pace. 



Some seasons ago, in pre-war days, Mr. Harry 



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