Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-12
FOX sHvsTINGs IN GREAT BRITAIN.
An Expensive Sport When Pursued "a
the Engiishmen Follow 1t.

L HI
From Forest and Stream. d.. =
some OF the fox-huhting statistics will
give partial idea of the magnitude of the
sport IN Great Britain at the present day.
OF staghounds there are in England 4s7
couples, and of these the Devon and SOM
erset Hunt have fifty couples, the greatest
number used by one hunt. The master CT
them is the Earl Of Coventry To Ireland
Ill are credited, while Scotland has none.
In foxhounds the greatest numerical
strength appears. there being 6215 couples
owned by the different hunts in England.
and OF these the Blackmore Vale Hunt
leads in the number owned, ninety couples
being credited to it. Scotland has rela-
lively the Insignificant number of 3G5
couples. fftyseyen of which belong to the
hunt Of the Duke of Buccleugh Ireland
has S95 couples the Meath Hunt owpfn,
the greatest number of couples-sixty-four
Harriers are also strong in numbers but
they vary great deal in size and "sorti-
ness as general resemblance in type and
breed characteristics is termed. They arr,
classified as Stud Book, cross-bred. pure,
modern, Welsh, mixed and old English har-
riers and dwarf foxhound and Southern
cross, barriers with foXhound cross har-
riers and beagle cross, black and tan and
Old Southern, barriers and small foxhounds.
the extreme variation in height of the packs
enumerated being from sixteen to twenty
eight inches. OF this very yariable lot
classed as barriers. England has 2,O25
couples. Scotland the small number of six
ty-seven couples. and Ireland has 291
couples. AS to the beagles they seemingly
are out of favor in Ireland and Scotland
no packs being credited to those countries
though England has of them 748 couples.
Thus the list gives the large total of II =
800 couples of all kinds Of hounds used in
packs, and affords data from which to gain
all idea of the magnitude of the fox-huntinr
interests which are maintained by the
sportsrnen of Great Britain. These packs
are hunted from two to four days a week
in proper season, as general rule, and this
in turn necessitates the maintenance of
large stables of horses to properly mount
the master, huntsmen and whips of ths
various packs frequently, when hunting,
one or two horses are held in reserve for
them. Many such stables have from fifty
to 100 horses.
A notable feature of the sport is the sus-
tained and enthusiastic interest and active
participation In it by it's deyotees from
youth to advanced age. The passing of the
years neither lessons their hunting ardor
nor impairs their stamina and dash in the
difficult cress-couptry riding after the swift
hounds. A case In point one of many, is
that Of Mrta Jobsf Crozier, master of the
Blencathra Hunt cat present, as he has
been for the last sixty years. He succeeded
his father as master in 1899. At his age
men are more prone to the telling of what
they have. done than to be up and doing
with the best in the activities Of sport.
Wire fencing ID a. number of sections of
Great Britain offaRs serious modern prob
lem for the hunters. for it interferes to a
serious extaht %Rh the riding and hest
enjoyment efthe sport. A long purse how
ever, Is great AID in such matters and II
Is suggested thatTohe hunts pay for the taxi
ing down o6dhe nrtre fences in the fall and
the putting, ups Of them in the spring.
There is ssof friction between farmer and
hunter in England than there is between
the same classes in America though when
crops are ridden over in the former country
which Is n6t a common incident there is
likely to be dissatisfaction at the act. StIll
no class is more opposed to unnecessary
damage to the farmers interests than are
the hunters themselves.
The foregoing will give the American fox
hunter a general idea of the high degree
to which fox hunting is organized and spe-
cialized in Great Britain, and the distinct
manner in which it is conducted as COM
pared with fox hunting in America, From
the breeding and wedding out of the packs.
with a view to secure good voice, uniform
speed and "sortiness," to the breeding of
hunters which ara,weight carriers. Jumpers
and good runners, every detail of IT has
strict attention. but while England NAV
surpass America :, in the matter OF equip
ment as 1t pertains TO fox hunting, 1t can
not surpass us In the matter of enjoyment.