MODERN CONDITIONS OF HUNTING 31 



own hands, and their keepers acted rather as their 

 masters' lieutenants than as individuals with extreme 

 power in their hands. The average squire was often 

 both a hunting man and a shooter, but if he did not 

 actually hunt he knew all the hunting folk, and pre- 

 served foxes for them. At times he was practically his 

 own gamekeeper, and when that was the case he care- 

 fully watched the foxes, and saw that they were not 

 disturbed at breeding times ; he was under any circum- 

 stances a friend to the hunt, and the hunt thoroughly 

 appreciated his efforts ; indeed, we know of a twenty- 

 stone man, who was never on a horse in his life, who 

 was presented with a silver cup by the members of a 

 local hunt because a certain covert of his had been 

 drawn five-and-twenty times successfully. It was only 

 six acres in extent, but its ponderous owner watched it 

 night and day, and gained his reward when hounds in- 

 variably found a fox in it. 



There is, however, little use in denying that times 

 have changed, and we have got to face the situation 

 as it is, and to make it better if possible. It must be 

 understood, then, that what we are going to write about 

 the failure of the fox supply only applies to certain 

 countries, and not to all. In the Shires and, happily, 

 in many other countries there are no grounds for com- 

 plaint ; foxes are found in sufficient numbers, and a fair 

 standard of sport is maintained ; indeed, we are inclined 

 to think that in a majority of countries there is little to 

 complain of, and the fact is that where the hunting 

 element dominates a district not much is heard of 

 shortage of foxes, or of the very unfavourable speci- 

 mens of the vulpine tribe which are sometimes found. 

 But, unfortunately, there are other countries where 

 matters are very bad indeed, and these cannot be 



