112 Otters and Otter-Hunting. 



On a drag the whippers-in will occupy the follow- 

 ing positions on either side of the stream that is 

 hunted. The forward whipper-in, who is the most 

 important, will be in advance of the Master who is 

 hunting hounds. Behind the Master on the same 

 side of the stream a second whipper-in will bring 

 on the tail-hounds, stop riot, and keep the Field in 

 order in the absence of Field- Master or Secretary. 

 He must be a man with a good knowledge of the 

 habits of Otters, and capable of judging of the relia- 

 bility of each hound, or he will sometimes make the 

 error of ''putting" on a hound who is in reality 

 '^ marking " an Otter that the pack has passed. 

 This applies also to the back whipper-in on the 

 other bank, if there be one. Sometimes he will 

 lead the terriers, if these do not run with the 

 pack : a duty best left to the Deputy -Master, 

 or failing him the Field-Master or Secretary, 

 if a kennel -boy is not brought out to perform 

 it. On the further bank from the Master the 

 forward whipper-in will be the paid hand, who 

 will keep abreast of the forward whipper-in on the 

 Master's bank. The fourth whipper-in will per- 

 form the same duties beyond the river as the second 

 on the hither bank : but he will probably have 

 rougher going to negotiate, and fewer hounds to 

 control, the tendency of a pack drawing or on a 

 drag being to keep to the Master's bank. 



