RECORD SEASON OF 1883-84. 129 



excitement. He then crossed the Nantwich and Woore road straight for and 

 through Mill Hay to Canridden, where he dwelt a few minutes, but was soon 

 viewed away heading for College Fields ; then bent to the right, leaving the 

 Three Brooks to his left and Harrow's Wood to his right, and again Admiral's 

 Gorse to his left, and seemed going for Woore village. Turning to the left, he 

 re-crossed the Nantwich and Woore road ; he then seemed to get on the line he 

 ran the previous Monday, and it was at this point the tug-of-war commenced, 

 and the hounds raced him straight to Maer Hills, and he died as all good foxes 

 should, yielding only to the inevitable. The time was one hour and fifteen 

 minutes. I believe all who rode to the end will confess that they and their 

 horses had had enough. It was to be regretted that her ladyship, the wife of a 

 Master of Foxhounds, with several others, had to leave early, and thus missed 

 this capital run. 



Pink. 



The above account reminds us that for a season or two 

 the Master gave up advertising the meets, but this was 

 not continued long, as it was found inconvenient for 

 farmers and others. This was a sanguinary and a record 

 season for the North Staffordshire Hounds, and for Stephen 

 Dickins, for he brought to book no less than 101 foxes, 

 a total far in excess of anything done by this pack either 

 before or since, and a result entirely after Dickins's heart, 

 who was always keen to kill his fox if possible. The 

 record shows one hundred and twenty-five days out, a 

 hundred and one foxes killed, and thirty-five run to 

 ground. There was very little interruption by frost. 



K 



