176 Otters and Otter-Hunting. 



deal more from your own mistakes than from those 

 of anyone else. 



You will proportion the number of couples of 

 hounds you take out to the size of the water to be 

 hunted, but twelve couples is a good average. On 

 some small streams so many would be in each other's 

 way ; in very large rivers they would be scarcely 

 enough. When the water is cold and the weather 

 bad, couple up some of the hounds and hold them 

 in reserve until the Otter is getting beat and the 

 working hounds have had about enough of it. Then 

 bring out 3'our fresh hounds and make a kill of it. 

 During a long swim, especially when the water is 

 on the cold side, it is a good plan to draw hounds 

 off for a while and give them time to roll and shake 

 themselves in a sunny meadow. They will work 

 better and be just as keen when they fresh-find the 

 quarry. 



No matter how seriously you take your work as 

 Master and huntsman of a pack of Otter-hounds, 

 nor how many years or decades you continue in the 

 position, you will never go out without learning 

 something fresh about your sport and about your 

 quarry. It is this, perhaps, among other things, 

 that lends to Otter-hunting very much of its charm ; 

 and despite all the worries and troubles that dog 

 the footsteps of the conscientious M.O.H., if he be 

 a keen naturalist, fond of hound-work, and a single- 



