The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
AFox Hunt on spesutia Island.

Upon invitation of Mr. c. w. Middleton, the
owner, and MrD f. Mitchell, the tenant on the up
per farm, Spesutia Island. Mr.. Charles A. McGaw,
OF the first district lately had his annual fox hunt
on the island. He was accompanied by Mr.. j. w.
Magness. Spesutia Island is the finest place in
the county for the sport, when favored with high
tides and marshes clear of ice, and one of the
poorest when you strike ice and low tides. Tn
fortunately we found the latter conditions, but
Notwithstanding had several fine runs, during a
stay of three days. besides several hours each day
or duck shooting.
Spesuta Island contains three fine farms.
which in certain high tides are divided, each one
SUBSTITUTING separate and distinct island
These farms are designated the Middle, the Up.
per and the Lower farm, there being between
5000 and 1000 acres in all.
On the morning of the 10th, when we began our
hunt, the ground was frozen quite hard and
therefore we did not make an early start. We
lett the house at O'Clock, and in very short
time had two foxes under way. After an excit-
ing run of an hour and twenty minutes the first
was forced to earth, and seeing that he could not
escape he was left for future attention. Another
was soon started and after a chase of several
hours he passed from our sight into marsh with
dog grabbing at him, and was supposed to have
A council of war was held and it was decided to
dig out the first one and have bag hunt To say
was to do and we soon had him out. Taking the
FOX out OF his den was very interesting to the
spectators. particularly to Messrs. Middleton and
Platt, of Philadelphia. who had never seen this
done before. After bagging him we started him
In sight race, across an eighty acre field. before
eleven hounds. all under full yelp, and in fifteen
minutes his bush was captured within fifty yards
u
After lunch we had several hours of duck shoot
ing, thus ending the first day.
On Friday we hunted the entire Island but
were not able to make start, on account OF the
ice and low tides.
The weather being favorable we decided to
have moonlight hunt, and after supper we sal
lied forth and soon started Reynard on Col. j. M.
Simmons Middle Island farm. We ran the fox
at lively rate for an hour in the meantime hav-
ing to release one of our dogs from large steel
trap. We thencaled our dogs off. At that time
they were running very hard with every prob
ability of killing or earthing their game in short
time.
On our way back to Mr.. Mitchell's the whole
pack bounced another fox in a corn field and
went off like the wind, under full cry. Even the
one we had shortly before released from the jaws
OF the steel trap Joined his comrades on three
legs. In five or six minutes the dogs ceased rum
ming and returned to u.s. The next day we dis
covered that they had run large gray fox up
tree IN Mr.. simmons front yard. Seen in the
moonlight he had the appearance of a coon, and
as such was shot by one of his men.
Gray foxes are very rare in this county. This
one is supposed to have crossed the bay on the
ice, last winter, from the Eastern Shore.
Mr.. Middleton proposes to have him prepared
and set up by a taxidermst
After three days of pleasure we reluctantly
took our departure from the Island and returned
home, hoping to renew our sport next spring.
HUNTER