FOXES AND THE EVERLASTING QUESTION 169 



because my orders were to preserve foxes, but 

 partly out of sporting sympathy. 



To return to the question of foxes, I admit that a 

 few shooting-men and a few keepers may be 

 inclined to exaggerate the damage foxes have 

 inflicted on their game. But the majority of hunting 

 folk will persist in minimizing the tribute levied by 

 foxes on game, and so tend to bring about the very 

 result they wish to avoid. What surprises me is 

 not so much that hunting-people should fail to 

 show sympathy toward shooting-men, but that they 

 should arrogate themselves to dictate to them. To 

 me this seems like pure folly, seeing that the most 

 vital interest of hunting is entirely in the hands of 

 those who hold shooting-rights. All shooting-men 

 and their keepers are ever ready to admit that 

 hunting-people ought to know their own business 

 best, as no doubt they do, so far as the interests 

 of hunting alone are concerned, irrespective of all 

 other interests. The only way to further the 

 interests of hunting is through the interests of 

 shooting. Instead of which, many hunting-people 

 (who are apt to forget that they are permitted to 

 pursue their sport solely by the courtesy of holders 

 of shooting-rights) defeat their own ends by their 

 selfishness and dictatorial bearing toward those 

 whom rather they should approach as suppliants. 

 I think a very small percentage of shooting-men 

 are unreasonably selfish, yet obviously their attitude 



