Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-13
FOX HUI NTIN G.
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

The coming week will see the attention
of the fox-hunting world directed toward
Crab Orchard, KY, where the National
Fox Hunters Association will hold it's
seventeenth annual meet. This associa-
ton was formed in 1894, with Rear Ad-
miral James E. Jouett of the American
fox-hunting events in the United States
since then have been held under the
general conditions laid down by this as
ISOLATION. The registry books of the fox
hounds Of the United States are kept
under association auspices. and the rules
under which dogs are eligible for regis
try are made by it.
1t is estimated that there are more
than fifty organized fox-hunting asso-
Citations in the United States with as
many packs of hounds. In addition to
these, there are hundreds of private
packs of from five to twenty-five cou-
pies, and throughout the south the hunt
ers of different communities frequently
bring their hounds together for a neigh
borhood chase. AS an organized sport
fox hunting is of comparatively recent
origin, growing into public favor after
the passing of the wolf and the wild
boar The first pack Of hounds kept
exclusively for foxes was founded in 175O,
and is today the Belvoir pack OF Eng
land. The first fox-hunung clun IN the
United States was organized in Glouces-
ter Mass. in 1893, and the second was
the Brooklyn Hunt Club, formed in 1871.
The Montreal Hunt Club of Canada was
organized in 1925.
Fox hunting varies widely in different
Tn "a r
ern states. where
Fast Eollnxus the big hunt clubs
are located, the
English System. sport takes the
form Of the English chase. Hounds pred
after English standards constitute the
packs. and all Of the fashions and Gus
toms Of the clubs are modelled after Eng
Iish standards. In New England foA
hunting takes the form OF shooting the
foxes. The huntsmen go out in wagons
and hide themselves at convenient plnos
near which the chase is likely to lead.
When the fox goes by well dlrecteo
shot is relied on to end his flight. Inc
southerner would have no patience with
such a procedure. He regards the tox
as an animal made for sport and II ne
succeeds in eluding the hounds he is en-
titled to his liberty.
In the south little attention is paid to
the conformation and appearance OF the
fox hounds. The thing the southern fox
hunter is most interested in is that his
dog shall give Sir REWARD the chase OF
his life. He cares little whether he has
any pedigree, appearance, or anything
else that is pleasing to the eye II MS
hound has endurance without limit, a
musical voice when in full cry and a
readiness for the chase at all times, his
owner is. ready to assert that his dog is
indeed the best in the state.
The southern huntsman knows the run
ming habits of the fox to a nicely. He
seldom rides after the hounds. but cuts
across country to place where he may
watch the fox go by with the hounds
close at his brush. He is also fond of
night hunting. and will unhesitatingly de-
clare that no sound is SO sweet as the
musical bay of a pack of southern fox
hounds in full voice. He has no more
patience with the eastern custom OF drag
hunting than the eastern drag-hunter has
with his system of watching a chase. In
drag-hunting an anise seed bag or a
sheepskin kept in tame fox's cage is
dragged over the ground and the hounds
taught to follow the trail. Drag-hunting
east who have not the time to wait for
the dogs to uncover live fox.
Il X
There are many unsettled questions
with reference to fox hunting 1t is
claimed by some
Foxes Learn to that the foxes learn
Run in Relays. One fox will lead
the chase until he is well winded, and
then give it over to another. 1t is related
by the Western Field that upon one &C.
casion a party of fox hunters were pur-
suing a fox When Reynard had almost
reached the limit of exhaustion he ran
into a hollow log and apparently waited
until the dogs were upon him. Then he
shot out the other end of the log and ran
with the fieetness of the wind. Again he
showed signs Of WEAKNESS. and ran into
a gulley, where he disappeared until the
dogs arrived on the scene. Once more he
jumped out, apparently refreshed by his
moments rest, and able to run faster
than at any previous time in the chase.
Still another time this same performance
was observed. and by then the hounds were
nearly exhausted. This time the fox cir
csSi around to theoriginal hollow logI dis
appeared into it. and then out again.
One Of the hunters gave up the chase at
this point and investigated the hollow log.