FOXES AND THE EVERLASTING QUESTION 181 



community. I have not at hand any computation 

 of the sum circulated by shooting, but it must far 

 exceed whatever is the actual hunting figure. How 

 does the money expended locally per square mile of 

 a hunt's ' country ' compare with that disbursed by 

 shooting ? If there were no hunting, I do not think 

 it would make much difference to the labouring 

 classes. When a labourer is out of work, he may 

 get from hunting a limited amount of free sport 

 on an empty stomach. If he is very lucky indeed, 

 he may ' pick up a bob ' by holding a horse ; but 

 there are always dozens of hands ready to hold one 

 rein. If it were not for shooting, how would 

 thousands of families of the labouring class get 

 through the winter ? Ask any beater which 

 pays him better, hunting or shooting, and he will 

 gape at you in astonishment, and whenever he 

 recovers the power of speech will ask what you 

 ' me-ans.' 



