78 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



" 2. Names of farmers in your district wishing to avail 

 themselves of the services of these men, who will teach 

 their labourers the art of laying fences." 



We understand that this experiment has been attended 

 with fairly satisfactory results, and it is fervently to be 

 hoped that the wire grievance will rather subside than 

 increase. The feeling of owners and occupiers generally 

 towards the Hunt, and especially towards the noble 

 Master, is so friendly and cordial that we feel sure, when 

 the question is fairly understood by the farmers, they will 

 do their best to meet the views of the members of the 

 Hunt. It is unfortunate that, as a rule, not many farmers 

 in North Staffordshire are hunting men, so that the wire 

 question is not brought home to them as it would be if 

 they, as a class, were themselves in the habit of hunting, 

 and meeting fox-hunters, and hearing hunting topics dis- 

 cussed from day to day. There have already been several 

 accidents from wire in the North Stafford country, 

 fortunately none of them very serious ; but any day one 

 might hear of some terrible tragedy from this cause, and 

 at this the writer feels sure no one would grieve more 

 than the farmer who had thoughtlessly been at the bottom 

 of the mischief. 



Several years ago the Hunt Committee passed certain 

 resolutions on the subject of wire which have been 

 printed and circulated through the North Stafford 

 country, the effect of which may be shortly stated as 

 follows : The country was divided into five districts, with 

 a chairman and committee for each district, the com- 

 mittee to endeavour to remove all dangerous wire by the 

 beginning of November, and to supply timber, etc., in its 

 place ; timber depots being fixed in convenient places, 

 and the committee being responsible for its being properly 

 used. Information as to wire to be given to the committee 

 at the earliest possible date. A fixed price to be arranged, 

 if possible, for putting down posts and rails, and the 

 chairmen of committees to be responsible to the Hunt 

 committee. Accounts to be presented yearly. The 



