DEVON AND SOiMERSET. 259 



company. Increased numbers and increased 

 hunting have rendered the Exmoor deer more 

 clever than ever in running to herds, and 

 nothing but the pace, which is constantly 

 increasing too, prevents them from lookmg for 

 their comrades v^henever they find themselves 

 in the least danger. 



Porlock Weir is a chosen spot whence 

 many a generation of staghunters has enjoyed 

 the noble sport, and it is well placed indeed 

 for many of the best meets. Save that one 

 has a steep hill to climb it is within very easy 

 reach of all the great plains of heather that 

 lie before the eye in looking outward from 

 Culbone Stables and when the days have 

 turned colder and the rain clouds begin to 

 sweep across the moor, the seaside climate and 

 warm shelter of Porlock Weir form a verv 

 acceptable change to the bleak heights over 

 which the deer are always travelling. One 

 great feature of the Weir is the deer-catching 

 boat with its lustv crew of swarthv fishermen, 

 who have brought to hand many a score of 

 deer that have made their last bid for safety 

 by striking out to sea. On this rock bound coast 

 there are many states of the weather when no 

 boat can live at sea, but whenever it is 

 possible to venture Noah Pollard and his 

 merry men can be relied upon to secure a 

 swimming deer however far out to sea he 



