HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



While on the subject of hounds and manage- 

 ment, I may say that on taking over the Mastership, 

 Baron de Robeck went into some very careful calcu- 

 lations as to the proper feeding of hounds and of its 

 cost. I think these particulars and his conclusions 

 are worth setting out, for if not of any present 

 interest they may be useful for purposes of com- 

 parison hereafter. 



The Baron found, then, that the meal used in 

 the kennels for the three months ending in July of 

 1862 for fifty and a half couple of hounds was 

 3 tons, 12 cwt, 6 stone, together with sixty-six 

 carcases. He noted that one pound of oatmeal or 

 one and a half pound of Indian meal would make 

 sufficient good stirabout for a hound's daily ration 

 of that food. From the fact, too, that in the Duke 

 of Rutland's establishment eighty couple of hounds 

 consumed 280 carcases in a year, he concluded that 

 twelve carcases for the Kildare pack per month 

 should be ample. 



The admirable Stephen Goodall continued hunts- 

 man, and an extract of the agreement signed by 

 the Master and Huntsman will be of interest. 

 Goodall received £1 10 a year in wages, with a house 

 and six tons of coal. He had a red coat and waist- 

 coat, two pairs of breeches, two of pants, hunting 

 cap and whip yearly, and an allowance of £7 to 

 find himself in boots and spurs. The perquisite 

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