148 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



resigned after a mastership which will be remembered 

 as long as hunting continues in the Midlands. 



Then came Sir Bache Cunard of Nevill Holt, and 

 his mastership marks an important era in the history 

 of the hunt, for from his first year practically dates 

 its existence as a separate and independent body. 

 Sir Bache Cunard hunted two days a week, with an 

 occasional bye. This brings us to the reign of the 

 present Master, Mr. Fernie, and since he took the 

 country the sport has been better and the wire less 

 than before. In nine years of mastership Mr. Fernie 

 has received an increasing support from farmers and 

 landowners, and many people have settled within the 

 limits of the hunt for the sake of the hunting and to 

 share the privilege of riding over the best grass country 

 in England. The whole district has benefited in 

 consequence. The smallest villages have their tenants 

 for the hunting season, and Market Harborough has, 

 as we have seen, visitors who return there every year. 

 But the surest sign of the prosperity of the hunt is 

 to be found in the preservation of foxes, and there can 

 be no better instance of the growth of good feeling 

 in this respect than the history of this small piece of 

 country, but twenty miles by fifteen miles in extent. 

 In 1800 it was hunted for only a part of the season ; 

 later on, it had one day a week, and Mr. Tailby found 

 it hardly sufficient for two days ; and now it is hunted 

 seven days a fortnight, with very frequent bye-days, 

 and such a thing as a blank day is unknown. The 

 whole of the old undivided Quom country, from the 

 borders of Nottinghamshire to the boundary of 

 Northants, supplied foxes for four or five days in a 

 week ; now hounds are often advertised for nine 

 places within the same limits during each week from 

 November to April, 



