342 STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



Somerset Railway, which cuts them off from 

 the home country of the Devon and Somerset, 

 much in the same manner that the line of the 

 Taunton to Barnstaple railway marks the northern 

 boundary of the Tiverton pack. In the case of 

 each pack local provision is made for the 

 compensation and settlement of deer damage 

 claims arising within the country lent them, and 

 neither pack employing professional huntsmen, 

 subscriptions are only taken for the purpose of 

 defraying such claims. When hunting by in- 

 vitation in the home country, the held turning 

 out with either pack are under obligation to 

 subscribe to the funds of the Exford establishment 

 as though they were hunting with the original 

 pack. 



While the Tiverton country is a great deal 

 too narrow, and its herd a great deal too thin 

 in point of numbers, for the regular exercise 

 of a two day a week pack, the Quantock Hills 

 with their numerous herd present far more scope 

 for a local hunt, which should be able to retain 

 within its borders ample material for its own 

 requirements. 



At Barnstaple, however, there is hardly room 

 for the maintenance of a sufhciently large herd 

 to stand regular hunting from season to season, 

 and the lie of the land hardly admits of many 

 days being given by invitation to a pack on 

 the western border of the moor itself. Here 



