CLOSE OF SEASON 1891-92. 187 



The season of 1891-92 was not remarkable for sport, 

 though rather better than its predecessor, and once more 

 hunting was seriously interrupted by a long frost in 

 January and February. 



The following are extracts from Dickins's diary : — 



"November 30th, 1891. Madeley Village. — Drew Wrinehill blank. Went on 

 to Checkley Wood ; found. Ean a couple of fast rings round Wrinehill, Barr Hill, 

 Onneley, etc., and killed at the Greaves Farm. Time, one hour and ten minutes. 

 Drew Finson's Hay ; did not find. Found in the Bitterns. Ean up to Barr Hill to 

 ground. 



"December ^Jth, 1891. Stoke-by- Stone. — Found in Orange Hayes. Ran a 

 ring and lost him. Found three foxes in Hardiwick Heath. Ran some time in 

 covert and killed. Drew Lodge Plantation and Cotwalton Dfurable, but did not 

 find, but found a good fox in Moddershall Oaks. Ran to Rough Close, and up 

 through Black Lake to Stallington Grange, on over the North Staft'ord Railway by 

 Caverswall to Dilhorn, and stopped hounds at dark. 



" Decembei' Wth, 1891. Fair Oak. — Found in Bishop's Woods. Ran fast by 

 High Offley to Wincote Wood, and lost in a snowstorm. Found another in the 

 osier-bed at Copmere End. Ran to Wincote Wood and Johnson Hall and 

 back to Sugnall, on to Blackwater and Charues to ChatcuU and Standon, and lost 

 him near Mill Meece through having to stop hounds at the railway. One hour 

 and fifteen minutes." 



After this a long frost set in and interfered greatly 

 with hunting, so that there is not much to record until 

 quite the end of January. 



" January 29;A, 1892. Bearstone Mill. — Went to Oakley to draw. Found, 

 and ran a ring jy Norton-in-Hales and back to Oakley and Tunstall, and lost 

 him. Found another at Oakley. Ran to the Folly, and lost. Found another on 

 Ashley Heath. Ran to Forty Acres and Broughton Birches into Burnt Woods, 

 and killed him. Found another in Burnt Woods, but did no good. 



" February 26<A, 1892. Seiyhford. — Drew Seighford blank, but found in 

 Walton Gorse. Ran fast back by Ellenhall to Seighford, and lost near Great 

 Bridgford. Found another in Yeld's Rough. Ran by Hilcote to Brockton, and 

 lost in a thick fog : could not get to hounds for wire. Did not draw again. 



" March 23rd, 1892. Stoke-by- Stone. — Found in Orange Hayes. Ran two 

 rings and lost him. Then drew Moddershall blank, but found in Black Lake. Ran 

 to Moddershall and Spot Nurseries, over Stallington Heath by the Hall to Lea- 

 croft Sprinks and Hose Wood at Draycot ; through it and on to Sherratt's Wood, 

 and killed him. One hour and five minutes." 



The season ended on April 4th with a moderate day 

 from Madeley village, Dickins entering in his diary, 

 " should have hunted later, but ground too dry." Record 

 for season 1891-92, fifty-five foxes killed, twenty -six run 

 to ground. Eighty-eight days' hunting altogether. Sub- 

 scriptions for the season 1891-92 were £2564 lOs., of 



