The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-02

they must have. This class Of
deal to prejudice people against rabbit
hunting.
The small coney rabbit, or Cotton
tail,u makes short runs when started
by the hound, and usually gets into
some stone wall as speedily as possible.
giving the hunter who is following the
dog little chance to get a shot. In
consequence, the pot hunter has been
dissatisfied. Tearing down stone
walls to get the rabbit means work
which, naturally, such fellow desires
to avoid, and the rabbit often escapes
at that. AS a result, this chap has
brought ferret into use. He trains
his dog to bark at the hole" and then
the rest is easy.
When a rabbit is run in the ferret
is sent after him, and moment later,
poor, frightened bunny comes out with
the fierce little beast hanging on to him
like a flend. A blow over the head
and all is over.
This process is repeated as long as
the dog will work and there are rab-
bits to be started Marvelously large
scores are made this way. 1t doesn't
sound like sport, and it isn't; but there
are many people who follow the prac-
tice in direct violation of the law. The
result has been a great decrease in the
number of rabbits, particularly about
Worcester, and the degradation of the
sport of rabbit hunting in its truest
sense. Last year ferreting was so gem
eral that the sportsmen who own good
dogs and love the sport for its highest
features, protested, and steps were tak-'
en- to bring some of the offenders to the
bar of justice. No arrests were made,
but the agitation resulted in stopping
ferreting to some extent. This year
further efforts will be made.
The sportsman rabbit hunter gets his
real pleasure, however, from the pur-
suit Of the big white rabbit, or Jack"
These fleet footed animals seldom seek
cover and they make a splendid chase,
often leading the hound on an exciting
run for hours. They run much as the
fox does, taking smaller circles instead
It's no boys play to stop one of these
rabbits as he goes past like streak,
and the big fellow, as you pick him up
and await the arrival of the dog, Is no
mean prize. It's a glorious sport and
may well have the support of any true
sportsman. The coney rabbit at dusk
often makes good runs, and if one knows
the territory, excellent sport may be
secured at any time. The rab-
bits are usually started from the
same location and make particularly
the same run, so that by securing q
stand before the dog starts the rabbit,
shot is secured. s.n
People who see dirty rabbits hanging
in the markets during the winter for
sale at a very low figure, cannot be
expected to look upon them with ia
vor for table use. Any game Of ques-
tionable age is a doubtful thing to
eat; but fresh game, properly treated,
is always delicious, and it is so with
| the rabbit There can be no more tooth
some dish than a tender Young rabbit
fried to a dainty brown, and served
with some fitting side dish. In pies
they are splendid. They may be fric
asseed in fact cooked In any way and
| they will always prove tempting The
| knowledge of this adds zest to the
sport.
There are many kinds of dogs used
in the sport. About Worcester beagles
are very popular. The music the lit
| tie fellows (hardly bigger than the
game they pursued make is shrill, clear
and exciting. The fox hound may,
when a puppy, be broken to run rab-
bits and many hunters use him for
| that purpose. Their voices are mel
| low and musical. Our German friend
pins his faith on the slow, sure, homely
good-natured "dachshuud," and the
| New Hampshire farmer uses spaniel
that will run rabbits, coons or foxes
and tree partridges and SQUIRRELS.
The big gray rabbit is found in
swampy localities and TO find them fin
any numbers one must know the COW
| ers. The coney abounds everywhere
when not killed off by the ferret fiend.
Mayor Dodge is an ardent admirer
of rabbit hunting, and Mrs. Dodge is
usually his companion in the field.
The mayors little hound, Trout" Is
a beauty and very clever.