THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



worry and responsibility off many a huntsman's 

 shoulders. 



As you say in your letter to me, a book on 

 such an interesting subject is sure to create a 

 friendly criticism, more particularly on such 

 controversial subjects as early meets versus late 

 ones and pure-bred otterhounds versus draft 

 foxhounds. 



Admittedly you and I have always taken rather 

 opposite views on these two questions, so despite 

 the very fair pros and cons you give these 

 respective arguments in your book, may I put in 

 a further argument in each case on behalf of 

 hounds? 



Take early meets with a pack hunting three 



and four days a week. It is only possible to have 



early meets in the hottest part of the year — say 



middle of June to end of August in our North 



Country, and a rather longer period with South 



and West Country packs. Say hounds meet at 



five a.m. on four days in the week. Hounds may 



have to take anything from one to two hours to 



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