CHAPTER XXVI 

 OTTER-HUNTING 



A notable revival "Jack Russell" and his experiences Otter-hounds 

 A welcome summer sport Beauties of the chase Peripatetic 

 masters A secretive beast Otters in Midland streams A Thames 

 morning- The spear abolished The death Strength of packs 

 Hunting terms Staff Terriers A fierce beast of chase " Tailing- " 

 an otter Food of these animals Swimming powers Weights and 

 measurements A strange repast Overland travels A wonderful 

 hunt. 



OTTER-HUNTING, which some years since 

 seemed likely almost to fade out of existence in 

 these islands, has had within the last few years a 

 sudden and remarkable resuscitation. In a book upon 

 sport published some seventy years since occurs the 

 following passage: " Otter-hunting is now little under- 

 stood, and is quite on the decline in this country." 

 But, happily for this most excellent pastime, a certain 

 number of enthusiastic supporters maintained during a 

 long period of decadence the pursuit of the otter and 

 upheld the hardy breed of hounds necessary for its 

 proper support. The well-known Rev. John Russell, 

 of North Devon, was one of these enthusiasts. In his 

 early days " Parson Jack " understood little or nothing 

 of the difficult science of otter-hunting, and wandered 

 over many hundred miles of country in process of 

 educating himself and his hounds before he was 

 enabled to kill an otter in proper and sportsmanlike 

 fashion. Wales has always been a great stronghold of 

 otter-hunting, and even in the dullest period of this 



249 



