184 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



" All farmers, keepers, labourers, and others whose names are down in the 

 huntsman's book as being responsible for earth-stopping receive 15s. each for 

 showing foxes. 



" Not more than 15s. is given to each man during one day. 



" If a regularly used earth which in the judgment of the huntsman should 

 have been stopped has been left open, the earth-stopper is fined 10s. for every 

 such case, 



" It is desirable that the man who does the earth-stopping should get the 

 rewards for showing foxes, and from this will be deducted the amount he loses 

 by carelessly leaving his earths open. 



" If trouble is taken to stop the earths at the proper time, viz. between 12 

 and 2 in the night, the earth-stopper can earn a considerable sum of money by 

 the end of the hunting season. 



" Those having charge of large covers can more easily show foxes than those 

 who look after the smaller ones, although it should be remembered the former 

 have more earths to put-to. 



" The Master and huntsman together carefully consider each individual case 

 at the end of the season, and the more trouble an earth-stopper may have taken 

 the larger will be his reward. 



" If an earth-stopper should not receive his proper warning at least two days 

 before the hounds meet in his district, he should at once let the huntsman know, 

 otherwise he may lose his reward through no fault of his own. 



" The earth-stoppers will understand that they are paid by results, i.e. the 

 man who takes the most trouble will get the largest reward. 



" It is most important, in order to show foxes, that earths shoixld be stopped 

 in the night and not in the morning, and the earths should be unstopped in the 

 evening, after the day's hunting is over. 



" If a head-keeper gets the whole of the money for showing foxes, he is 

 expected to divide a fair share with his under-keepers. 



" Earth-stoppers, when putting the earths to, should not disturb the coverts 

 more than they can help, as this often frightens foxes away just before the 

 coverts are di'awn." 



