146 Otters and Otter-Hunting. 



chosen from among the regular subscribers of the 

 hunt outside the Committee. 



It will be seen that the Secretary of a pack of 

 Otter-hounds must be a man picked from among 

 many men. He must be a good business man, for 

 to him fall all the varied and responsible business 

 details of the hunt. He must at the same time 

 have plenty of leisure time or be able to take a 

 good deal of holiday from his other pursuits : 

 since next after the Master and the kennel whipper- 

 in (who are paid to be present) he is the most 

 indispensable in the field — and out of it — of all the 

 hunt officials. Indeed, no one who is not fairly 

 certain of being able to be present at all or most 

 of the meets during the season should, apart from 

 other considerations, allow himself to be persuaded 

 to take the position of Secretary to a pack of Otter- 

 hounds. 



In addition to these advantages he should be a 

 man of tact, even-tempered, not puffed up by his 

 own conceit, nor in the least vainglorious. Although 

 he has no authority of his own, he exercises the 

 authority of the Master in the field and of the Com- 

 mittee elsewhere : but he should never lay himself 

 open to the accusation of being a " Jack in office." 

 Many of his duties will be extremely unpleasant : 

 but there is a pleasant way of performing un- 

 pleasant duties. This he will have to learn. He 



