2 so THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



when to refuse, there is certain to be trouble all round. 

 Wages vary from 15s. to 25s. a week, with a uniform 

 that includes boots and stockings, and occasionally 

 with house room as well. The whip entails taking out 

 a 15s. licence, but no licence is necessary for the 

 kennel-boy, and his wages run from 5s. to los. a week. 



Such are the chief expenses in kennel. Hunting 

 expenses vary in different countries, chiefly, of course, 

 according to the number of days or weeks that the 

 pack has to lie out. Every railway company will keep 

 a proper hound-van for you, and for a two-horse fare 

 (half-return) you can take any number of hounds any- 

 where. Horse-boxes are always draughty, and nearly 

 always dirty into the bargain, so the Master should 

 insist on having a proper hound-van, or, at least, an 

 empty brake-van. It is often cheaper to van to and 

 fro by train than to stay at an hotel, and hounds are 

 naturally more comfortable at home. Most of the 

 " fights," moreover, occur when hounds are kennelled 

 in a strange place. 



Glancing collectively at these expenses, we can see 

 that no one can reasonably expect to do a pack of 

 otterhounds on less than ;^35o a year. Indeed, ;^45o 

 is nearer the mark, and the total expenditure may 

 easily exceed even that figure. Subscriptions, a matter 

 of moment to the new Master, vary considerably. The 

 Culmstock get about ;^i90, the Cheriton ;^i90 to 

 ;^200, the Essex about ;^23o. 



Claims for damage should be few, that is, so long 

 as the members of the Hunt are careful to close gates 

 after them, and also to avoid hay-grass or standing 



