The Bedale Hounds, 1832-1908 27 



out, during cub-hunting, I should say the 

 pack consisted of about fifty couples. 



During the first ten years of his Master- 

 ship, Mr. Milbank generally hunted four 

 days a week after the end of November ; 

 and usually killed a May fox. In the months 

 of April and May, he chiefly worked the 

 west and south-west portions of the country. 



During his twenty-four years he averaged 

 seventy-six days' hunting, and killed twenty- 

 one and a half brace of foxes a season. The 

 best being that of 1834-5 — one hundred 

 days* hunting, thirty-six and a half brace 

 of foxes ; the last the worst — fifty-six days' 

 hunting, eight and a half brace. 



In order to record the sport shown by the 

 Bedale Hounds during the first half of last 

 century, I propose to set down the accounts 

 of one or two good runs in each season. 

 The selection has been difficult, there are 

 many I should like to include, but space 

 forbids. 



The first advertised meet of the ' ' Bedale 

 Foxhounds ' ' was held at Hackforth, on 

 the 22nd October, 1832, and Colonel Van 

 Straubenzee in his book, *' Recollections 

 of Sportsmen and Sport in days of yore," 

 thus describes the day's proceedings: — 



' ' The Hornby Castle coverts were drawn 

 and plenty of foxes were found. So numerous 

 were they that the sport was not great, but 

 if Hornby had been drawn once a week for 

 the season, I feel sure it would not have 

 been blank. Indeed so anxious is the noble 

 owner to have foxes, and see the hounds at 



