126 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



cessary to the efficient maintenance of their own hunt, 

 half the hunting countries, as now established, would be 

 torn to pieces. There is no unfair aggression by one 

 master upon another in such a case as this, and no breach 

 of fox-hunting law. Fox-hunters ought to assist each 

 other as much as possible, and contribute to the general 

 amusement of the country. No real injury has been 

 done to the Craven country by Mr. Assheton Smith's 

 establishment, but, on the contrary, much good. The 

 larofe woodlands, which in Mr. Ward's time were visited 

 only occasionally by his hounds, are now regularly 

 hunted nearly once a week. Foxes fly, and afford good 

 chases ; such was not the case formerly. I can remember 

 when Mr. Ward invited Sir John Cope to come down, 

 at the end of the season, and hunt some of these out- 

 lying woodlands ; and proper badgering work it was to 

 get a fox away, even for a few fields. In the month of 

 April we were one whole day in Collingbourne Woods, 

 with Sir John's rattlers, and did succeed at last in killing 

 a fox, but it was nearly dark before this feat was accom- 

 plished, and then not without some little stratagem. 



There are also coverts held on sufferance, which can 

 be reclaimed by the original hunt ; also neutral coverts, 

 which are drawn and stopped by two packs, by mutual 

 consent. There is also the privilege attached to some 

 hunts, of having the earths put to in the morping in 

 some particular coverts belonging to the neighbouring 

 country ; but, as a general rule, no master of hounds has 

 a right to interfere with his neighbour's earths. It has 

 been assumed that, when a fox is running into another 

 country, and making his point for a well known head of 

 earths, the whipper-in may get forward, and stop those 



