MODERN FOX-HUNTING 7 



list. Where " capping " is not practised, the Hunt 

 Secretary has no difficulty in providing this statement. 

 There are the subscription list and the accounts, so 

 that the new Master can judge within a few pounds 

 what his expenditure will be. But when you introduce 

 the " cap," you are introducing an unknown quantity 

 into the monetary calculations of a hunting establish- 

 ment. One can only guess at the amount which the 

 " cap " will bring in, though it is easy to tell within a 

 five-pound note how many subscriptions have been lost 

 by the " capping " system, for, if this system is revived, 

 the value of the subscription list must diminish. 

 Besides, what is the legal aspect of the " capping " 

 system ? Is the payment of the " cap " a defence 

 against an action for trespass ? Or is there to be a 

 tariff war between the tenant-farmers and the non- 

 resident hunting-men ? Hitherto the hunting-field has 

 been regarded as a club. Apparently the promoters 

 of the " capping " system wish to turn it into a 

 commercial hotel. 



It is not a pleasant task for the man, who subscribes 

 towards the expenses of his sport as much as he can 

 afford, and denies himself many luxuries and comforts 

 in order that he may enjoy his sport, to discuss sordid 

 details connected with finance. The truth is, that 

 hunting-men should regulate their subscriptions 

 according to their incomes. I once heard a man 

 praised because in a provincial country he subscribed 

 fifty guineas to hounds. The man is one of the 

 richest commoners in England, and his annual expen- 

 diture cannot be less than fifty thousand pounds* 



