lOO Otter* and Otter-Hunting. 



darily to supply him with the money he has agreed 

 to accept, on the dates fixed for payment. There 

 its duties should end, until the members become dis- 

 satisfied with the conduct of the Master or the 

 quality of the sport he is showing, when they have 

 one plain duty to perform, and that is to request 

 him to resign. 



The wise course for a Master-elect to pursue is to 

 strike a clear bargain before taking over the reins 

 of office. Unless it is a case of the hunt failing for 

 lack of financial support — when it would probably 

 be better for it to cease and leave room for the 

 formation of a fresh hunt — and the consequent 

 necessity of finding a well-to-do Master who shall 

 maintain the pack out of his own pocket, the intend- 

 ing Master should decide for what sum he will be 

 able to hunt the country, and ask the committee to 

 guarantee this before anything further is done. He 

 should then, if the kennels and hounds are the pro- 

 perty of the committee, agree to rent the former 

 and to purchase the latter at a valuation, so as to 

 have them entirely within his own control. Whether 

 he actually pays cash for them or merely enters into 

 an agreement to hand over a pack of hounds of 

 equal value (or make good any difference) on relin- 

 quishing the Mastership is a matter of little moment. 

 Out of whatever guaranteed subscription he agrees to 

 hunt the country for a stipulated number of days 



