OTTER-HUNTING 



catchy in the open, where the sun has dried up all 



moisture, and even if hounds do show an inclination 



to turn up a runner or deviate at some point, they 



may not be able to carry the line far, even if 



encouraged to do so. If an early start is made, 



however, the drag is warm, and hounds can hit 



off the place with certainty where their otter has 



left the river, and what is more, they can run the 



line at speed, thus drawing up to their quarry's 



holt, or the spot where he is lying rough, without 



loss of time. The chief object of keeping a pack of 



otterhounds is to find, hunt, and if possible kill 



your otter in a sportsmanlike manner. 



Before you can hunt him you must find him, and 



on nine days out of ten, this is the hardest part of 



the business. An otter may be anywhere, and of 



course it may so happen that the water within your 



day's draw is not being worked by otters. In this 



case you cannot find what is not there. A blank 



day then is not only excusable, but inevitable. On 



the other hand, if your pack is made up of entered 



hounds, and you know their individual idiosyn- 



87 



