THE MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS 



boarded himself). Christmas, however, brought 

 in at least ^75 more, and other tips were fre- 

 quent. While the work is hard, for a few months, 

 it is easy the balance of the year, and the wage 

 drops correspondingly, as do the expenses of keep- 

 ing the animals. Hounds may be well fed at $2 

 each per month, when in work. .The expense of 

 repairs and damages will be light, if farmers are 

 favorably disposed to begin with, and are prop- 

 erly approached for the privileges desired. The 

 writer never had to pay a penny for anything 

 during three years in one country, and but a few 

 dollars in another for a calf and a few hens de- 

 stroyed by straggling hounds. 



All told, then, five months' hunting, spring, 

 six weeks, and late summer and fall, three months 

 or more, may be enjoyed for an outside expense 

 of about 1 1, 500, and probably for very much 

 less, which, if the club has twenty members or so, 

 entails a very slight individual outlay per month. 

 The season over, all horses and hounds may be 

 sold, and a fresh start made when time approaches 

 for again beginning. 



287 



