Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1898-01-29
AN OTTER HUNT.
The Animal Makes a Brave Struggle For
Its Life.

The otter, an aquatic and carnivorous
animal, is found in many places i'll Eu-
rope and Asia There are several vari-
eties, all of them having great swim
ming and diving powers. They attain a
length of two and half feet, with a
strong, thick tail, about half as long as
the body; broad, fiat head; very short
rounded ears, and the long body cover
ed with beautiful chestnut fur. The
legs are very short, but strong; the feet
are not only webbed, but are armed with
formidable claws Indeed, in strength
and agility, keen scent, acute hearing
and general cunning the otter deserves
high rank among mammals. 1t is
what boys would call "never say die
animal" so that an otter hunt is a
very attractive pursuit to men who do
not object after long days sport to
come home drenched to the skin, if not
covered with mud, and N-haps without
having killed an otter after all. For the
otter always makes brave struggle for
freedom and life. When once it reaches
its hole on the banks of the stream, it
is not to be dislodged without heavy
work, while after it is dislodged, so
sharp is it, that though the dogs are
keenly on the watch it again takes to
the water like a flash of lightning, and
the chase has to be begun all over again.
To insure a successful otter hunt
much depends upon the dogs The true
otter hound is a bold, hardy, rough
coated animal, nearly two feet high at
the shoulder and very game. The hunt
ers are armed with spears, and one can
easily imagine that great deal of
shouting and yelling attends this most
exciting chase.
The otter is very destructive to fish of
all kinds, and he has the good taste to
prefer a salmon if he can find one 1t
has also this popularity, that it kills
and tears to pieces many more fish than
it can devour, and also that it always
eats the prime parts only, while it
leaves the more worthless morsels to
the crows.
1t is really a very inspiriting scene to
see six or eight couple of wiry, true bred
otter hounds on fine summer morning,
for it is ill summer that this sport is
carried on. AS the men of the party
gather the dogs cannot be prevented
from showing their interest by yelps of
pleasure, while tho whip keeps them
sternly in order till the hunters are
ready to start.
A crowd Of onlookers have collected
in the background, armed with sticks
and eager for sport. At a given signal
off they go, the men on the river bank
hunting about among the bushes, hop
ing to see some trace of the otter, the
dogs in the water eagerly shifting about,
when suddenly there is one prolonged
shOut-the otter has been seen, his
round head just above water for mo-
ment. But next moment sudden plump
is heard, the agile creature has dived
again, and every hound is after him,
the men pursuing as best they can,
straining every nerve to keep up the
pace at which the hounds have started.
The otter, however, seems to be far
from his hole, for he still holds down
the stream, followed by his enemies,
though, as mile after mile is passed,
one or two of the less sturdy are fain to
lag behind; but again the hounds stop
and begin to search about. The otter
has once more dived and is out of sight.
He is there, however, beyond doubt,
for the dogs will not leave the place,
and the hunters are urging them on to
search. At last yelp from the foremost
dog and shout from one of the men,
Hes here, he's here!' show that the
otter has been compelled to take to the
water again. But this time the poor Of
ter has the worst of it. Scarcely is his
head above water when tremendous
worry takes place, and the chase is over,
the otter having been caught and stran-
gled almost before he had been fully
seen. One sturdy dog had done the deed,
and now, painting for breath, men and
dogs gather round, while the head and
pads are duly cut off, and the weary
men and hounds go home.