OTTER-HUNTING 



withdrawal of the fox-hunter's horn and hounds from 

 the countryside, otter-hunting in its modern revival 

 has been received with the heartiest zest and welcome. 

 The farmers can find small objection to a sport which 

 carries with it a minimum of damage to crops and 

 fences. The angler welcomes it gladly. And, despite 

 the fact that otter-hunting has to be pursued at a much 

 earlier hour of the day than with fox and hare hounds, 

 and that meets are usually fixed for six or seven o'clock 

 in the morning, numbers of ladies are now to be found 

 at every fixture, following the exciting chase of this 

 amphibious quarry with the keenest delight, and braving 

 the inevitable terrors of dykes, streams, and wet clothes. 



On a fine morning of spring or summer there is, in 

 truth, no more fascinating form of sport than a hunt 

 with otter-hounds. The beauty and freshness of the 

 morning, the charms of river scenery, whether in some 

 picturesque valley of the west, some wild and romantic 

 glen of Wales or the north, or even amid the smooth 

 and placid pastures of middle England, appeal always 

 to the senses. The notes of horn and hound are ever 

 welcome ; the excitement of the hunt itself, when every 

 trick and manoeuvre of one of the most wary and 

 resourceful of all creatures of chase can be observed, 

 inspires the dullest soul. All these excellent things 

 unite to bring to a novel and most interesting form of 

 sport pleasures that are not easily to be surpassed. It 

 is small wonder, then, that to people of active habit, of 

 either sex, fond, as are all English folk, of open air and 

 the breath of the sweet country, this new pastime 

 appeals with peculiar zest and piquancy. 



One great advantage possessed by otter-hounds is 

 that they are easily moved from one district of the 

 country to another. Thus masters of these hounds can 

 and do respond with alacrity to the pressing invitations 



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