296 HUNTING. 



travelled into counties far distant from their own kennels ; 

 Wiltshire, Dorset, and Hants have been visited in turn, and 

 many a fine day's sport has been witnessed for the first time 

 in those counties. Consequently, a far greater number of 

 otters have been annually killed by those packs, the score 

 of each amounting to no less than twelve to fourteen brace a 

 season. 



The institution of railways throughout the land has probably 

 done more to promote the sport of otter hunting than any other 

 cause ; but far distant be the day when this advantage shall lead 

 to the disappearance of the otter from these islands. Its extinc- 

 tion, like that of the wolf, the boar, and the beaver, would be a 

 national calamity ; but such a result, I rejoice to think, is most 

 improbable. The fox could be exterminated, but the otter, by 

 man's power, never. 



The following letter from Mr. Collier, of Culmstock, con- 

 veying as it does the opinion of an observant and thoroughly 

 practical man, is most interesting in reference to the animal he 

 has hunted so long and so successfully. He says : 



You ask me to name the best head-quarters for hunting with 

 my otter hounds, and I do not think a stranger could do better than 

 fix upon Taunton. That town being situated on the main line 

 most if not all my meets, extending from the Bristol to the English 

 Channel, can be reached from it on the evening previous to the 

 meeting day ; that is, either by the main or branch lines diverging 

 therefrom. The rivers usually hunted by my hounds are, as you 

 well know, the Exe, Barle, Tone, Culm, Otter, Yarty, Axe, He, 

 Char, and those near Dunster and Watchet on the Severn 

 sea. 



Since 1879 I have killed over 144 otters ; thus averaging [2 brace 

 per season. In 1880 I killed 15 brace; and that was the best 

 season I ever had. This past year (1884) I have brought to hand 

 20 full-grown otters ; but, strange to say, have neither killed a cub 

 nor spurred one on all my rivers ; nor have I killed a bitch-otter in 

 milk. A similar occurrence, to the best of my recollection, I never 

 before experienced, although I have now hunted these rivers for 

 forty-nine seasons. I trust it does not augur ill for the future 

 stock. 



