HUNTING 219 



regards the eastern portion, and in the western 

 side Mr. Mills was replaced by Sir John Thursby, 

 whose son Mr. George Thursby was then hunting 

 his hounds for him, and laying the foundation of 

 that experience as a huntsman which is serving 

 him in such good stead now. 



In 1895, under the mastership of Mr. Henry 

 Martin Powell, the two sections of the country 

 were again amalgamated, and he hunted the 

 whole country three days a week, as in days of 

 yore. It is not really a four days a week country, 

 though it will stand many bye-days. 



During the nine seasons that the country was 

 hunted by two packs of foxhounds, I am proud 

 to record that the supply of wild foxes (and the 

 responsibility for that rested on my shoulders) 

 did not fail, though I must own that the country 

 was somewhat over-hunted, and I was obliged to 

 ask my good friends the M.F.H.'s to conform to 

 certain rules which I laid down, and they very 

 amiably did so. 



My rules were as to digging, &c. After Feb- 

 ruary 1st, all main earths, which ought to have 

 been stopped all the season, to be opened out, 

 but all earths to be put -to on hunting mornings 

 very early. On March 1st, all stopping of earths 

 in any way to be abandoned. After April 1st, no 

 digging of foxes run to earth to be permitted. 



