New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-07
Future of Sport in England
Is Menaced by Shooting
of the Animals.
SLAIN REWARD GIVEN
CEREMONIAL, BURIAL
Raids on Poultry Yards Lead to
Offers Of BOGntieS-SOlu-
ton Suggested.
From Tho Tribune Correspondent.

from The Tribune Correspondent
London. Nov 29-CuriOusly enough, one
Of the oldest sports in England-fox hunt
inc-is in danger at the hands Of that
middle class part OF the social fabric
the country farmer.
Hostility to fox hInting is breaking out
In the various parts Of England, the rea-
son being that the farmers are not only
getting very tired OF hounds and horses
pounding across their fields. but, because
the foxes themselves wreak havoc nova
DAYS. i'm many instances Reyuard comes
10 an untmely death through load Of
buckshot rather than at the white teeth
Of hound
Only this week ". 4. Thomas. Of Sand
bach. posted on his farm at Middlewich
notices threatening 10 shoot any foxes
rambling over his 500 acres. Thomas and
two other men with guns patrolled the
farms when the hounds drew Kinder
ton Gorse, which is one OF the coverts so
popular for hunting.
There were considerable number OF
people on foot who took UP a sympathetic
attitude toward the hunt. and criticised
Thomas very hostilely The hounds hunted
over the farmers land. but we're out or
guushot range. and neither Thomas nor
the men with him saw the fox and not
snot was fired
No III will has previously existed be.
tween the hunt and the tenants, and
Thomas's sudden aggressiveness caused
much Indignation. This particular coun-
try, however. Is not one OF great i'm
portance 10 the hunt, and the general in
terests OF hunting in Cheshire. involving
an expenditure Of thousands OF pounds
each year, which the tenant farmers
get the benefit of-will not be affected
week or two ago a fox was shot by
farmer IN the area OF the Sinnington
Hunt. and the hUntsmen. as. a protest,
gave the dead fox ceremonial burial,
wearing Grape and firing volley and
sounding the Last Post" on the horn
over the grave.
one farmer in the Warwickshire coun-
try has offered s. for each carcass OF a
fox delivered TO him. and has also openly
$50 annually because they dare not keep
poultry or chickens In a country overrun
by foaca lie is anxious to organize an
anu-hunting league strong enough at
least he rays TO make the sport almost
impossible. or at least to spoil the enjoy
ment OF IT."
At Heathneld. Sussex. the centre OF the
poultry farming industry OF tho county.
y. T.. H!rst, n farmer, issued poster.
authorizing the price OF 81 " each on 100
dead foxes This was In February last.
and the stipulation was that the foxes
must be shot during the hunting season
and only come from the district hunted
by the Eastbourne Foxhounds.
Hirst complains OF what amounted 10
"A raid" on his fruit land. Such pro-
ceedings added TO the damage by ver-
min. heavy taxation. tithes and the pes
ter!ng ~ swarms OF officials OF all kinds
Overcoming the land like the locusts OF
Egypt make small holder wonder II
he would not be better OF cultlvatin8 a
little province in Hades. with his Satanic
Majesty as landlord.
The quarrel between farmers and hunts
led TO the formation OF society In Wor-
cestershire In March last for the killing
OF foxes This followed action by the
Poultry Keepers Protection Society.
which reported about that time that four
of the largest poultry farmers in Eng
land dn Kent. Surrey. Hertfordshire and
Yorkshire) continued 10 kill foxes openly.
The society named put forward the sug-
gestIon that hunts should wire their foxes
into coverts, and contended that this re-
striction did not injure the sport.