The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-06-08
MAINE FoxHoUNDs
Peculiar Breed Evolved by the
Needs of AroostOo< County
How They Are Trained.

0vv AMGS ARC AKAhAG@e
The three chief products of Aroo-
stock county are said to be potatoes,
politicians and red foxes. A year ago
Charles E. Oak, of Caribou, land agent
and forest commissioner for Maine,
told legislative committee that his
county could furnish 100000 fox pelts
year for ten years without diminish
ing the supply. Hunters from Boston
and Worcester, Mass, who have shot
and trapped foxes in Aroostook say
that Mr.. Oaks estimate is too low by
half.
The great wine-red fox that will
run for days without firing; that will
double and turn to laugh at the dogs
and then go on refreshed from the ex-
ercises, reaches fullest perfection in
Aroostook county. OF the 10000 or
$4,000 foxes taken in Aroostook this
winter more than half were caught in
traps. Nearly all the others were shot
while running before the patient and
slow-footed hounds that abound in
northern Maine.
The Maine foxhound is hunting
machine that was developed for GER
tain purpose. The Maine hunter &C.
knowledges that the English fox
hounds reared in Pennsylvania and
western New York are the best dogs
in the world for straightaway hunt
ing, for the chase where the sport Is
of more consequence than the game;
but foxes are so plentiful down east
that the man who kills one is a public
benefactor. and as many Of the hunt
ers are too poor to follow the chase
for the sport alone, finely special
lied race of hounds was demanded to
suit the peculiar conditions. The re-
suit of so years breeding Is short
legged, deep-chested. slow-running
race of dogs that will run day and
night without firing, breed that will
annoy the foxes and cause them to
run in more or less restricted circles,
and brighten them enough to cause
them to hole. The Maine hound to be
of value must also be taught to hunt
singly, SO that If hunter takes out
half dozen dogs for a days hunt
every dog will pick up a track of his
own and follow it to the death. As
the hunter can distinguish the cries
of his dogs without trouble and is
soon able to locate the circles they
are following, he first selects the path
of the dog that stands In most need Of
encouragement and posts himself on
the circle to shoot the fox as 1t comes
around, after which he proceeds to
another circle and repeats the per-
Torrance. 1t Is not surprising feat
for q hunter with six hounds to go
out in the morning and return at
night with ten or IL pelts. As the
skin of an Aroostook red fox is worth
anywhere from SIPS to $3.50, the occu-
patton is profitable as well as pleas
ing.
To train a hound pup for the duties
he is expected to perform requires
much time and labor. A male pup
that is eight weeks old and untaught
can be bought for five dollars, while
the same dog will sell for $75 or 800
after he has been educated. No dog
is worth having unless his master can
shift him frr.m one fox's track to
another's or from y fox's track to u
rabbits and back again, but II any
dog makes one of these changes with
out his masters consent he is dis
graced and punished severely. 1t is
point of dog honor among Aroostook
hounds to chase fox by day, by
night and on Sundays until it is
caught, shot or run to earth. There
are dozens of dogs in the county that
have followed foxes from six to ten
days without food or rest. SUCH
hounds are beyond value. They have
the best the house affords while they
live and are buried in expensive collins
like one of the family-after death.
If hound shows taste for deer
hunting he is at once sold or killed,
as the heavy fine imposed by the state
makes the animal too expensive for a
poor man to keep Such dogs as are
inclined to follow bob cats and hedge
hogs find their punishment when they
oyertake their foes.-N. Y Sun.