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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e4be591 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52071 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52071) diff --git a/old/52071-8.txt b/old/52071-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index f4b92b9..0000000 --- a/old/52071-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3069 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Otter, by Richard Clapham - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Book of the Otter - A manual for sportsmen and naturalists - -Author: Richard Clapham - -Commentator: William Thompson - -Illustrator: F. Lees - Alfred Taylor - -Release Date: May 15, 2016 [EBook #52071] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE OTTER *** - - - - -Produced by Tom Cosmas and The Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber Note - -Text emphasis is denoted as _Italics_. - - - - - -THE BOOK OF THE OTTER - -[Illustration: Otter Basking in Shallow Water. - - (_Copyright by Alfred Taylor, Whalley_). _Frontispiece._ -] - - - - - THE BOOK OF - THE OTTER - - _A MANUAL FOR SPORTSMEN AND - NATURALISTS_ - - BY - - RICHARD CLAPHAM - - AUTHOR OF - "FOX-HUNTING ON THE LAKELAND FELLS," - "ROUGH SHOOTING," ETC. - - _With Illustrations from Photographs by the Author - F. Lees and Alfred Taylor_ - - AND AN INTRODUCTION BY - WILLIAM THOMPSON, M.O.H. - - [Illustration] - - HEATH CRANTON, LIMITED - 6 FLEET LANE, LONDON, E.C.4. - - - - -PREFACE - - -In these days otter-hunting is a popular sport, and in consequence there -are now many more packs of otterhounds than was formerly the case. Of all -beasts of chase in this country, the otter is the one about which we know -least, for he is a great wanderer, a creature of the night, and therefore -difficult to study systematically. - -Of the many people who follow hounds, comparatively few understand the -science of hunting, or the habits of the creature which forms their -quarry. This is probably to some extent due to the fact that there are -very few books dealing exclusively with the otter and his hunting. A -knowledge of the science of hunting and the habits of the quarry can be -picked up by those who have leisure to study the subject afield, but -there are others whose opportunities of doing so are limited. It is, -therefore, in the hope of interesting and perhaps instructing the latter, -that we have written the following chapters. - - R. CLAPHAM. - - Troutbeck, - Windermere. - _April, 1922._ - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAP. PAGE - - PREFACE 7 - - INTRODUCTION 13 - - I. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE OTTER 21 - - II. THE OTTER'S HAUNTS AND HABITS 42 - - III. OTTER-HUNTING, PAST AND PRESENT 73 - - IV. HOUNDS AND TERRIERS 112 - - V. REMINISCENCES 132 - - INDEX 157 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - OTTER BASKING IN SHALLOW WATER _Frontispiece_ - - _To face page_ - - OTTER TRACKS LEAVING WATER, WALKING 40 - - FURROW MADE BY OTTER IN DEEP SNOW 40 - - TUNNEL MADE BY OTTER IN SNOW 53 - - OTTER TRACKS IN SNOW, JUMPING 53 - - THE HUNTSMAN BRINGING HIS OTTER ASHORE 79 - - K. AND D.O.H. RETURNING TO THE MAIN RIVER 79 - - A KILL WITH THE K. AND D.O.H. 102 - - HI, WORRY, WORRY! 102 - - A FAMOUS OTTERHOUND, MR W. THOMPSON'S "SNOWDROP" 116 - - SOME OF MR W. THOMPSON'S ROUGH OTTERHOUNDS 116 - - K. AND D.O.H. MOVING OFF TO DRAW 139 - - GOING TO THE MEET BY FERRY ON LAKE WINDERMERE 139 - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - - Beck House, - Giggleswick, - _Feb. 12th, 1922_. - -My Dear Clapham,--I am much flattered at your invitation to write an -introduction to your "Book of the Otter," and only wish I were a good -enough hand with the pen to do your most interesting book the justice it -deserves. - -If I were asked to find fault with your work I should say its only -failing was its brevity. And I would ask for a few more hunts and to -have them rather more elaborated. And if you could not only expound to -whips, either amateur or professional, how you do your own work as such -_but make them into whips as good as yourself thereby_ you would take -an enormous amount of worry and responsibility off many a huntsman's -shoulders. - -As you say in your letter to me, a book on such an interesting subject -is sure to create a friendly criticism, more particularly on such -controversial subjects as early meets versus late ones and pure-bred -otterhounds versus draft foxhounds. - -Admittedly you and I have always taken rather opposite views on these -two questions, so despite the very fair pros and cons you give these -respective arguments in your book, may I put in a further argument in -each case on behalf of hounds? - -Take early meets with a pack hunting three and four days a week. It is -only possible to have early meets in the hottest part of the year--say -middle of June to end of August in our North Country, and a rather longer -period with South and West Country packs. Say hounds meet at five a.m. -on four days in the week. Hounds may have to take anything from one to -two hours to get from kennels to the meet. The men are in kennel at -least an hour before the hunting pack turns out, so we know that hounds -get no rest after that hour, which is probably shortly after two a.m. -Hounds would normally be back in kennel after a day of this sort within -an hour or two of midday. For the rest of that day, apart from the -disturbance--to hounds--of ordinary kennel routine, they are unable to -get genuine rest on a hot summer's afternoon. The result is that after -a fortnight, or even a week of such work--and I have many instances in -my old hunting diaries of both--you get a jaded pack, a tired staff, and -a weary Master. And I have been unfortunate enough myself to have never -seen even a hunt before eight a.m. - -If anyone will guarantee to put hounds on to the line of a travelling -dog otter on a given day I would be there with hounds every time. But -otherwise, no thank you. - -As to otterhounds versus foxhounds, I am convinced that finance, or -rather the lack of it, is the only reason why draft foxhounds are -preferred to otterhounds. Otter-hunting is a poor man's sport, and few -people realise what it costs to run a pack and country. If you get a -Master to take a country he has very often spent enough out of his own -pocket when he has paid the difference between the subscription list and -the hunting expenses. And breeding hounds on a big scale adds enormously -to expenses. The result is that in nine cases out of ten the pack is -made up of draft dog foxhounds, and a very few rough-coated otterhounds. -An attempt may be made to breed a litter or two a year from the rough -otterhound bitches. Five or six puppies may be got out to walk, and three -or four left in kennel. As many of these as survive--possibly two and a -half or three couple--are brought on the following season, and unless -they are hopeless physical wrecks they are put into the pack to keep -up the theory that they are a pack of _otterhounds_. And good or bad -workers they are often kept on for this same purpose only. Under these -circumstances, and they are far from uncommon, no wonder the average -member of an otter-hunting field prefers the foxhound. Any M.O.H. can get -draft foxhounds, and frequently get them as a gift--hounds that have been -the best of fox-hunters and fox-catchers, but have got too slow or for -any of a dozen other reasons are unable to run up to the pace of a modern -foxhound pack. These draft hounds know all about hunting, and only want -entering to their new quarry to make most excellent otter-hunting hounds -at a minimum of expense and trouble. - -But if an M.O.H. breeds otterhounds on the same lines that foxhounds are -bred, breeds by selection, breeds each year enough puppies to get a big -enough young entry the following year--big enough not only to be able to -put down immediately any physical crock that may come in, but big enough -to allow for drafting a certain number--during and at the end of their -first season you can have, in my humble opinion, a pack of pure-bred -otterhounds, not only not inferior to, but superior to any pack of draft -foxhounds. I may appear too enthusiastic on this point--I am certainly -rather disappointed. I bought my first otterhounds in 1903. I started -breeding in 1905. In July, 1914, having for two or three years prior to -that date put over fifty puppies out to walk each year, I had just over -forty couple of pure-breed otterhounds in kennel. And I was hoping to -prove that before many more years passed my confidence in the otterhound -was not misplaced. But in 1919 I was reduced to under ten couple, and -circumstances have since prevented me continuing my experiment to -anything like the same extent. And I must say that I have never found the -otterhound quarrelsome either in kennel or out. - -I hope you will forgive my keen advocacy on behalf of the pure-bred -otterhound. I am sure we should both dislike to see him entirely -eliminated from the hunting-field, and only to be found as a weird and -useless animal on the show bench. - -May your book have the great success that it deserves. That it will -give great pleasure to all who know anything about the otter and the -hunting of it, I am sure. That it will be the means of attracting many -new converts I devoutly hope. And if I may add a wish with a yet more -personal note, may I meet yourself and all my other good otter-hunting -friends at many another good hunt, whether the meet be late or early, the -hounds otterhounds or foxhounds. - - Yours very sincerely, - - W. Thompson. - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE OTTER - - -The common otter of the British Islands, known in scientific -classification as _Lutra vulgaris_, belongs to the Mustelidę, or in other -words the weasel family. Included in the latter are the martens and their -allies, whose chief attributes are activity, length of body and tail, -shortness of legs, widely separated toes, and small claws. The otter is -the possessor of similar attributes, with additional developments to -fit it for an aquatic existence. If therefore we describe the otter as -an aquatic marten, living chiefly on a fish diet, we shall probably not -be deviating very far from the truth. Swimming is an inherited instinct -handed down through the ages, and though it has been lost by man, it has -been developed and taken advantage of by many creatures, in order to -enable them to lead an aquatic existence. The reason for this intensive -development of their swimming powers by certain animals probably lies in -the fact that aquatic life opened a wider and safer field for them, both -in the matter of food supplies and protection from their natural enemies. - -The otter family is widely distributed over the globe, so before entering -upon a detailed description of our British otter, it may be of interest -to glance at other species inhabiting foreign countries. The typical -otters are marine as well as aquatic in their habits, many of them -visiting the sea, where they live in the caves and other retreats along -the coast. There is one of the family, however, i.e., the sea-otter, -which is entirely marine. The skin of this otter has always been keenly -sought for by fur-traders and trappers, and it is owing to constant -harassing by such people that the sea-otter is now all but extinct. This -otter differs in many ways from its aquatic relations. It possesses large -flipper-like hind feet, a short tail, and small, delicate forefeet. -The hind paws alone are used for swimming, the delicate and sensitive -forefeet being employed in locating the otter's food, consisting of -mussels, crabs, and other shell-fish, which it hunts for amongst the -rocks at the bottom of the sea. This otter spends its entire existence in -salt water, and has been found as far as twenty miles from land. - -The female usually has but a single young one, born, so it is thought, on -the large beds of seaweed commonly known as kelp. Lying on her back in -the sea, the mother sleeps and suckles her baby in that position. - -In Africa there is a species known as the spotted-necked otter, which has -shorter ears, longer toes, and more hair about its nose than the common -otter. Africa also produces a large otter which has more or less given up -its aquatic habits. The claws on this otter's forepaws have disappeared, -while those on the hind feet have practically done so. In India there is -a small otter whose claws resemble those of the foregoing, and in both -animals the sense of touch in the forepaws is extremely delicate, which -no doubt enables the creatures to locate certain of their prey by feeling -for it. In the large African otter the webs between the toes are greatly -reduced, and the facial bristles or "whiskers" are much softer than those -possessed by the common otter. - -South America can boast of a very large otter, whose tail is wider and -more flattened than is the case with the otters above mentioned. It will -thus be seen that there are only slight differences between individuals -composing the typical otters. - -[Illustration: No. 1. - -Otter's Rudder.] - -The common British otter (_Lutra vulgaris_) is known by a variety of -names in this country. The Welsh call the animal dwrgi, while in Cornish -it is written durgi. In the Highlands, where Gaelic is spoken, the name -is dņbhran. The physical formation of the otter is admirably adapted to -fit it for an aquatic existence. In order to offer the least possible -resistance to the water when the animal is swimming below the surface, -the otter's head and muzzle are flattened, and the ears are very small. -Both ears and nostrils can be closed to exclude the water. The body -is long, low, and sinuous in movement, set upon short legs which are -loosely articulated. The feet are palmate, with five toes armed with -short, non-retractile claws, and perfect interdigital webs. The tail is -more than half the length of the head and body, broad at the base, and -horizontally flattened. Beneath the root of the tail will be found a pair -of small glands containing a fetid liquid secretion. Being an aquatic, -sub-Arctic species, the otter is furnished with a body covering of two -kinds. The thick, close under-fur, which attains special luxuriance of -growth, is provided for two purposes, i.e., for keeping out the wet when -the animal is in the water, and for preventing loss of heat during cold -weather. Overlying this under-coat is a covering of longer hairs, which -are stiffer and more shiny, greyish in colour at the base, and brown at -the tips. This dark colouring shows in most pronounced fashion on the -upper portions of the body, and on the outer surfaces of the legs and -shoulders. The inner portions of the legs, belly, chest, throat, and -cheeks are brownish-grey. The throat often shows a good deal of white or -greyish-white in irregular patches. This, however, varies considerably in -individual specimens, some showing a good deal of it, others practically -none at all. Turning again to the head, we find the eyes small and dark -coloured, while the so-called "whiskers" are long, stiff, and thick at -the base. These long, stiff hairs grow on the upper-lip, and there is a -tuft of them over each eye, and two tufts--one below the other--on each -cheek. In the case of the domestic cat these "whiskers" are soft, and -possess a very delicate sense of touch, thus enabling the animal to creep -noiselessly through undergrowth in pursuit of prey. Should the cat's -"whiskers" touch the grass or other growth on each side, puss is then -instinctively aware that there is not sufficient room for her body to -pass, and that she will therefore make a rustling sound if she persists -in her advance, and so alarm her prey. These soft hairs on the cat's face -are quite adequate for her purpose, because she hunts on land and hates -wet. Soaked with water the soft hairs would droop and prove useless, -and so it is for this reason that the otter's "whiskers" have gradually -developed until now they are strong and stiff in order to withstand the -exigencies of frequent underwater journeys. They are used, too, in a -rather different way, for although while on land they may aid the otter -to make a quiet approach on prey, their chief purpose is for locating -food--in the shape of frogs, fish, etc.--either beneath stones, or on -the bottom of the riverbed. The long hairs on the otter's upper-lip are -susceptible of considerable movement, for their development has been -followed by that of the muscles beneath, which give the puffy appearance -to the otter's face. Provided with perfect interdigital webs on all four -feet, the otter when swimming slowly, paddles in exactly the same manner -as a dog. When the speed is increased, however, the tail is brought into -action, being moved from side to side, while the body is thrown into -sinuous curves. - -[Illustration: No. 2. - -OTTER'S HEAD, SHOWING WHITE MARKINGS ABOUT THE MOUTH AND THROAT.] - -The otter, like the seal, feeds upon fish, but whereas the seal swallows -its prey whole and entire, the otter masticates its food. The teeth -of the otter are therefore adapted to crushing bones, which, if not -thoroughly broken up, would lodge in the animal's throat. The two back -teeth in the otter's upper jaw are considerably enlarged, and are -provided with cutting edges and a flat crushing surface. Provided with a -short and powerful jaw, armed with a formidable array of teeth, the otter -is capable of inflicting a very nasty bite, as many a hound and terrier, -as well as otter-hunter, has had cause to remember. Luckily the otter is -a clean-feeding animal, and the after results of a bite are usually not -serious. - -In the matter of size and weight, otters vary considerably, those found -on or near the sea coast being usually heavier than otters frequenting -inland waters. No doubt the quantity and quality of the food supply has a -good deal to do with the variation. Roughly speaking, the average weight -of a dog otter is from 20 lb. to 24 lb., and of a bitch, 16 lb. to 20 lb. -As far as record weights are concerned, Daniel mentions an otter taken in -the river Lea in October, 1794, which scaled "upwards of 40 lb." Turning -to a more reliable source of information, however, we find in the _Field_ -of July 5th, 1919, a list of the lengths and weights of eleven large -otters killed in Norfolk. I take the liberty of quoting the particulars -which are as follows: - -Males, 48 inches, 37 lb.; 53½ inches, 30 lb.; 50½ inches, 28 lb.; -53 inches, 27 lb.; 50 inches, 27 lb.; 50 inches, 23 lb.; 48 inches, 23 -lb.; 49 inches, 18½ lb. - -Females, 46 inches, 16 lb.; 43 inches, 16 lb.; 44 inches, 14 lb. - -It will be seen from the above how extremely weight varies in relation -to measurement. Bitch otters occasionally weigh far heavier than any of -those mentioned in the foregoing list. - -In the _Field_ of September 22nd, 1917, an old record is given (March, -1813) of a large bitch otter trapped near Leven's Hall, Westmorland, -measuring 54 inches, and weighing 27¾ lb. The record otter killed by -hounds, a dog otter of 34 lb., was accounted for by the Essex O.H. on -July 10th, 1907, during Mr Rose's mastership of that pack. This otter -was found in the sea marshes near Ipswich. Generally speaking, very few -otters of 30 lb. or over are accounted for by hounds. - -It appears to be a matter of uncertainty as to how long a bitch otter -goes with young. We have heard it said nine weeks, but have no reliable -evidence to go by. As to the number of cubs in a litter, two appear to be -more often laid down than three, although five have been more than once -found in the same couch. Roughly speaking, the average number appears to -be from two to three. - -As to how many years an otter in a wild state will live, it is -practically impossible to say. We have seen otters killed by hounds, -whose general appearance and state of their teeth pointed to the fact -that they had arrived at a ripe old age. Otter cubs of similar age have -been found in every month of the year, thus exploding the old supposition -that otters bred only in spring. Young bitch otters appear to pair as -soon as they arrive at maturity, thus cubs are produced as above stated. - -Otters of abnormal colour make their appearance from time to time. In the -Badminnten volume on "Hunting," there is an account of a cream-coloured -otter killed on the West Dart, while in "A Fauna of Argyll" by -Harvie-Brown and Buckley, there is mention of a pure white otter which -was killed in Jura. - -Although a clean-feeding animal, the otter is a creature one hardly -associates with human food. For all that the heart and other portions of -an otter's anatomy have been served up at table on several occasions ere -now, presumably we suppose for experimental purposes. Which reminds us -of the yarn concerning the old trapper, who when asked if he had ever -eaten turkey-buzzard, replied "Yes, siree, I _have_ eaten turkey-buzzard, -but I don't _hanker_ after it." On one occasion we became possessed of -a dead otter, whose carcass, after skinning, we presented to two dogs. -The latter promptly turned up their noses at it, whereas several cats to -which it was afterwards given set about devouring it quite keenly. In the -case of hounds, unless the carcass of their quarry is still warm and they -are excited by the free use of horn and voice, they will show no great -desire to do more than tear the body of an otter. - -The otter's hide--covering a sinuous body, with loosely articulated -limbs--is tough, and offers more resistance to hounds' teeth than the -skin of a fox, which soon disintegrates when worried by the pack. As far -as hounds are concerned, the scent of an otter must at times be to them -exceedingly strong, yet to the human nose--even if the latter is held -close to the animal's body--there is only a faint and not unpleasant -odour, very different to the rank scent of a fox. - -As previously mentioned, there appears to be considerable uncertainty -as to how long the bitch otter goes with young. In the "Master of -Game," the oldest and most important work on the chase in the English -language, written between the years 1406 and 1413 by Edward III.'s -grandson Edward, second Duke of York, there is a short chapter on "The -Otter and His Nature," in which it says that the otter bears her young -as long as the ferret does. This chapter is of great interest, both as -regards the knowledge of venery possessed by mediaeval hunters, and the -quaint wording of the letterpress. For this reason we take the liberty -of quoting it in full. It says, "An otter is a common beast enough and -therefore I need not tell of his making. She liveth with (on?) fish and -dwelleth by rivers and by ponds and stanks (pools). And sometimes she -feedeth on grass of the meadows and hideth gladly under the roots of -trees near the rivers, and goeth to her feeding as doth other beasts to -grass, but only in the new grass time, and to fish as I have said. They -swimmeth in waters and rivers and sometimes diveth under the water when -they will, and therefore no fish can escape them unless it be too great -a one. They doth great harm specially in ponds and stanks, for a couple -of otters without more shall well destroy the fish of a great pond or -great stank, and therefore men hunt them. They go in their love at the -time that ferrets do, so they that hold (keep) ferrets in their houses -may well know the time thereof. They bear their whelps as long as the -ferrets and sometimes more and sometimes less. They whelp in holes under -the trees near the rivers. Men hunt at them with hounds by great mastery, -as I say hereafter.[1] And also men take them at other times in rivers -with small cords as men do the fox with nets and with other gins. She -hath an evil biting and venomous and with her strength defendeth herself -mightily from the hounds. And when she is taken with nets unless men get -to her at once she rendeth them with her teeth and delivereth herself out -of them. Longer will I not make mention of her, nor of her nature, for -the hunting at her is the best that men may see of her, save only that -she has the foot of a goose, for she hath a little skin from one claw -to another, and she hath no heel save that she hath a little lump under -the foot, and men speak of the steps or the marches of the otter as men -speak of the trace of the hart, and his fumes (excrements) tredeles or -spraints. The otter dwelleth but little in one place, for where she goeth -the fish be sore afraid. Sometimes she will swim upwards and downwards -seeking the fish a mile or two unless it be in a stank. - -[Footnote 1: The author of "Master of Game" does not say anything more -about the otter.] - -"Of the remnant of his nature I refer to Milbourne[2] the king's -otter-hunter." - -[Footnote 2: The Milbourne referred to by the Duke of York can scarcely -be any other than the William Melbourne we find mentioned in Henry IV's -reign as "Valet of our Otterhounds" (note in appendix to "Master of -Game").] - -If otters "bear their whelps as long as the ferrets," the period of -gestation is six weeks or forty-five days. Bitch ferrets come in heat in -April or May, and unless mated some of them apparently remain more or -less in that condition during the summer months. - -The excrement of the otter, known in hunting parlance as "spraints," -"wedging," or "coke," is usually of a blackish colour, and contains -the bones and scales of fish. Sometimes it shows the remains of fur or -feather, which is proof positive that the otter does not live entirely -upon a fish diet. - -Where an otter has been feeding on frogs, the coke is usually a yellowish -colour. In sand or soft earth an otter will scrape the latter into a -small mound, like a cat, and for the same purpose. - -Coke is generally found on stones in midstream, or at points where -the otter enters or leaves the water. A small grassy promontory is a -favourite place, and at such spots the grass often grows particularly -green. If the grass is long, the coke will be found hidden amongst -it. It is popularly supposed that the direction in which an otter is -travelling--up or down stream--can be verified by the position in which -the coke is left on the stones. In our experience there is little -reliability about this theory. On a rock in midstream the position of the -coke is quite as likely to be in the centre as at the sides, particularly -if there is a tuft of grass or other growth on the stone. - -An otter is quite likely to turn round, just as a cat or dog does, prior -to depositing the coke, therefore the position of the latter can hardly -be a reliable guide as to the direction taken by the animal when it -eventually moves off. - -Owing to being the possessor of a webbed foot, with five toes and short -claws, the otter leaves a track--in hunting parlance "spur," "seal," or -"mark,"--entirely different from that of any other animal to be met with -in this country. Amongst the general literature relating to the otter, -we have found small reference to the animal's footprints, while in some -cases the information on the subject was incorrect. For instance in one -article we read, it states "No other creature, saving a cat, leaves such -a print on Nature's page as does an otter. Four round small toes and, if -the soil be favourable, a plain triangle just behind where the webbing of -the foot has rested." - -[Illustration: No. 3. - -LEFT FOREFOOT OF OTTER, OPEN, SHOWING INTERDIGITAL WEBS.] - -[Illustration: No. 4. - -LEFT FOREFOOT OF OTTER, CLOSED.] - -Now an otter--like the badger, stoat, weasel, and hedgehog--has five toes -on each foot, and the marks of the claws or nails are always visible in -the footprints. A cat has four toes, armed with retractile claws, the -marks of which are not shown on the ground, except when the animal is -about to make a spring. Although a cat track may approximate in size to -that of an otter cub, the latter always shows claw-marks, and partial if -not entire imprints of five toes. On hard ground, claw-marks will show -when the impression of the rest of the foot is practically invisible, -so anyone with a knowledge of woodcraft can hardly mistake the track of -a cat for that of an otter cub. In the same way with the footprints of -hounds, terriers, or other dogs, their tracks all show the imprints of -four toes, plus the marks of the claws. A terrier's track is far more -like that of a fox than an otter, while hounds leave large footprints, -easy to distinguish. - -[Illustration: Otter Tracks Leaving Water, Walking. - - (_Photo by R. Clapham_). -] - -[Illustration: Furrow made by Otter in Deep Snow. - - (_Photo by R. Clapham_). _To face p. 40._ -] - -We have also seen it stated that the track of an otter is "recognisable -by the mark of its five toes, and the absence of a heel." Under certain -conditions this is true enough, but on favourable ground the mark of the -heel is plainly visible. In like manner an impression of the webbing is -sometimes left. In snow of fair depth, the individual tracks of an otter -are more or less obliterated by the drag of the animal's body, which -leaves a furrow as if a miniature snow-plough had been at work. Also -in snow the drag of the otter's tail--in hunting parlance "rudder" or -"pole"--is generally to be seen. - -The otter has three gaits: walking, jumping, and galloping. The walk -shows a line--usually rather twisting--of footprints one behind the -other. When jumping the tracks appear in pairs, with an interval between -each pair. At this gait the imprints of the hind feet cover the tracks -made by the forefeet. At the gallop, which is really jumping at top -speed, the hind feet are thrown ahead of the forefeet. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE OTTER'S HAUNTS AND HABITS - - -As mentioned in the previous chapter, otter cubs may be born in any month -of the year. Prior to laying down her young, the bitch otter selects a -couch in the vicinity of good feeding ground. Her choice of a retreat -will vary with the locality in which she happens to be at the time. In -the low country her cubs may be laid down in a dry drain in the meadows, -where frogs are plentiful, and the ditches contain a supply of eels, or -amongst the brushwood in some large covert, where the ground is swampy, -and through which one or two small runners meander on their way to -join the parent stream. In the north, where the rivers are swift and -rocky, the cubs may first see the light of day in some cairn or pile of -boulders, situated high up near the source of the stream, or in some -rocky earth adjacent to a mountain tarn. On the grouse moor they may -be found in some sod drain or other hiding-place amongst the peat and -heather, near a pool or pools containing fish, and frequented by wildfowl -as well as frogs and such small deer. - -Quite small cubs are often found in holts in the bank of a main river, -but it is pretty safe to say that the majority of bitch otters move -up-stream, either to the head-waters, or up some side-runner prior -to laying down their cubs. The latter have on various occasions been -discovered actually beneath, or in close proximity to human habitations. - -In the _Field_ of October 29th, 1921, there is an interesting description -of such an occurrence, which we take the liberty of quoting. It says: -"An odd experience is recorded to have happened in the year 1790 to -Mr William Bethel, the then owner of Watton, and a guest. He and a -clergyman were sitting quietly at dinner, when they were surprised by an -extraordinary noise beneath the dining-table for which they could not -account, and at length they were so much annoyed by it that they sent -for a workman to take up the floor, when to their great astonishment they -found that an otter which had inhabited the moat had established her nest -beneath the boards of the floor, and had there deposited her litter of -young ones, by whose uncouth cries it was that the dinner-party had been -disturbed." - -In _The Gamekeeper_ for May, 1914, there is another interesting account -of a somewhat similar nature. It says: "On March 13th last, Mr Colwill, -a tenant on the Trebartha Estate, Cornwall, lost a lamb, and there being -a mouth of a large drain in the field, thought perhaps there might be -a chance of the lamb having gone up the drain. Getting a long stick he -put it up the drain, and feeling something move he thought it must be -the lamb, but on turning round, saw the lamb coming up the field towards -him. The same evening he put some lambs in the shippen in front of some -cows, putting them on some hay. Before going to bed he went to see -that the lambs were all right. He was just hanging up his lamp, when -something--he could not see what--rushed out past him. When he went to -look at his lamb, he found a young otter lying with the lamb." - -The account goes on to say that on the particular night in question, the -local rivers were in flood. The above seems to point to the fact that the -bitch otter had been flooded out of the drain, and had carried her cub to -the shelter of the shippen. A photograph of the lamb and the otter cub -was reproduced in conjunction with the above letterpress. - -Otter cubs, like young foxes, are born blind. Fox cubs remain so for a -period of about three weeks, and it is probable that a similar length -of time, or perhaps rather more, elapses ere young otters can see. In -the _Field_ of November 26th, 1921, there is an account of an otter cub -whose mother was inadvertently killed by hounds. This cub was rescued and -brought up by hand. When taken from the holt its age was estimated at -fourteen days. Sixteen days later the cub opened its eyes, thus a period -of thirty days elapsed from the time of its birth until it could see. At -the end of the thirty days the cub weighed 14 ounces. It was at first fed -on milk and water, but became very thin on this diet, so a change was -made to "Mellins" as mixed for a new-born child. On this the cub thrived, -its weight on October 11th being just under 2 lb. It was taken from the -holt on August 20th. Had this cub been fed in the ordinary way by its -mother it would possibly have opened its eyes at a rather earlier date, -as it would have escaped the set-back caused by an unsuitable diet. The -eyes of the adult otter are very dark coloured, but those of a cub are at -first much lighter, not unlike the eyes of a young fox cub. - -When the cubs are able to travel, the bitch otter leads them down from -the head-waters to the larger streams. The cubs remain with their mother -for some considerable time, as witness the constant occurrence of cubs -of from 10 lb. to 12 lb. being put down in company with the bitch. They -consort with their mother until she goes off to rear another family, -when they are then left to fend for themselves. From this it is apparent -that the otter has but one litter per year. - -There is a great deal yet to be learnt about the otter, for, being -more or less a creature of the night, and elusive in its movements, it -is extremely difficult to study systematically. Otter cubs, although -somewhat delicate, are not difficult to hand-rear, and make very -interesting and tractable pets. If healthy to start with, cows' milk -diluted with water is at first a satisfactory diet. Both cubs and adult -otters are of course easy enough to study in captivity, but like many -other creatures confined under similar conditions, they soon exhibit -certain abnormal tastes and habits, and therefore afford little or no -real clue to their behaviour in their natural habitat. At the Zoological -Gardens in London, the otters will eat almost anything thrown to them by -visitors. - -The bitch otter shows great affection for her young, and will hang about -in their vicinity in the face of hounds or human intruders. If a bitch -with cubs is killed, the cubs, if well grown, will search the vicinity -for their parent, the same applying to one of a pair which has been -caught in a trap, its mate remaining near it all night in an attempt to -get it away. On these occasions the otters make a considerable noise, -blowing and snorting in their agitation. On one occasion some years ago, -a brother of ours found three small otter cubs on a Yorkshire beck, which -he eventually captured. The bitch otter remained close at hand, making a -great fuss, regardless of any possible danger to herself. The cubs were -carried home, a distance of a mile or more, but were returned within a -short time to the pool where they were found. The bitch otter again made -her appearance, and eventually went off with her restored family. - -Otters, being great nomads, wander long distances up and down our rivers, -frequently crossing high watersheds, and travelling far across country. -Having no fixed abode like the fox, the otter inhabits temporary retreats -or holts during the course of his journeyings. Most of these holts have -been used by generations of otters, and many a drain or other shelter -long forgotten by the people of the neighbourhood is still regularly -inhabited by _Lutra_ and his kind. A holt may consist of a tree-root on -the river-bank, a dry drain, or a wet one containing a dry lying place, a -stick-heap near the stream, or situated in a plantation at some distance -from the water. On the rocky rivers of the North, many of the holts -consist of piled-up boulders on the hill-side, most of which are at some -distance from the nearest beck or tarn. These rock-holts, many of which -lie at a high altitude, are occupied by otters when crossing from stream -to stream over a watershed. In summer, otters frequently "lie rough," or -in other words spend the day above ground. Near a lake or tarn an otter -will often curl up in the rushes or long grass at the water's edge. If -disturbed he will then slide quietly into the pool, and unless hunted -by hounds, will not show himself again. Sometimes he will lie on a bank -or in a hedge close to the mouth of a drain, the latter serving him as -a safe retreat when danger threatens. In fact, during the warm weather, -otters are found lying rough in all sorts of unexpected places, often to -the great surprise of those who fondly imagine that the animals never -leave the vicinity of water. - -Certain tree-roots and also rock-holts have their entrances under water. -In some of them there cannot be any great amount of ventilation. An -otter cannot live without air, yet presumably it can exist with less -than most creatures. Otter cubs are sometimes laid down in holts of the -above nature, where there is no ventilation shaft, and we have heard the -theory expressed that under such conditions practically all the fresh -air that the cubs get is carried in to them in their mother's coat. In -our experience, however, even though a holt has an underwater entrance, -there are usually plenty of air passages coming down from above, at any -rate, sufficient to supply a more than adequate amount of fresh air for -breathing purposes. The advantage of an underwater entrance to an otter -lies in the fact that he can get in and out without showing himself, and -once inside he may be "out of mark," or in other words, his scent is not -carried to the outer air, so that if hounds come along they cannot wind -him in his retreat. - -After his night's peregrinations, an otter will return to his holt, but -prior to settling down in his chosen retreat, he often visits one or -two other tree-roots on the river-bank. Hounds sometimes mark at these -places, only to find that their otter has gone on. - -Along the sea coast, otters inhabit the water-worn caves and other -retreats about the cliffs. Wherever there is an open boathouse on lake -or river, otters are pretty sure to resort to it. We have examined many -such places, and almost invariably found otter coke lying about on the -planking, and sometimes actually in a boat or boats. In bad weather a -boathouse affords a dry lying spot, and no doubt this is why otters visit -it. - -In order to thoroughly realise the wanderings and often long -cross-country journeys undertaken by otters, one must track them in the -snow. On one occasion such a trail led us for a good ten miles overland, -the otter having left a stream, and made his way uphill via a small -runner. The latter petered out in the open ground, but the trail led on -in the direction of a frozen reservoir. Round this the otter had gone, -then he followed the stream from the outlet for some distance, after -which he turned straight across country. Three or four big stone walls -had then intervened, but the otter--which had probably been over the same -route before--made straight to certain smoots, and passed through with no -unnecessary searching for a way out. He then visited a small lake, also -frozen, and again took to the outlet stream, down which he went until he -arrived at the main river. It must have been a pretty hard trip for so -short-legged an animal, for the otter left a furrow in the snow which -was quite deep. From the point where he left the stream where we picked -up his tracks, to the spot where the trail entered the main river in -the next dale across the watershed, the otter had not stopped once, but -had kept toddling on. In the Lake District, otters regularly travel the -passes over the hills, visiting the mountain tarns, and going from one -dale to another. - -[Illustration: Tunnel Made by Otter in Snow. - - (_Photo by R. Clapham_). -] - -[Illustration: Otter Tracks in Snow, Jumping. - - (_Photo by R. Clapham_). _To face p. 53._ -] - -Otters are playful beasts, a favourite game of theirs being sliding. They -choose a steep clay bank, or a smooth snow slope, and toboggan down it -on their stomachs with evident enjoyment. Although one seldom sees these -slides in this country, they are very common in Canada where we have -often come across them. During the cold weather of a Canadian winter, -otters spend a good deal of their time beneath the ice, being able to -breathe at the air-spaces round the shore. These air-spaces are left when -the water lowers after the ice is formed. - -Concerning the otter's feeding habits, there appears to be a good deal -of misconception. Some people imagine that the otter exists entirely on -fish, and for this reason should be done to death as a river-poacher -at every opportunity. We have in the previous chapter compared the -teeth of the otter and the seal, the latter animal swallowing its food -whole, while the former masticates its food. Seals live upon fish, but -it must be remembered that the otter belongs to the marten family, and, -though well adapted to lead an aquatic existence, it still retains some -of the marten's hunting instincts, and its teeth are suited to seizing -and holding both furred and feathered prey. The pine marten, stoat, and -weasel will all eat trout greedily when they can get it, so it is only -natural that the otter, their relation, well equipped for swimming and -water work, should show the same taste. As a matter of fact he _does_ -exhibit the same taste as his smaller relatives, and to a much greater -degree, but he is also glad to vary his diet and add both flesh and fowl -to the menu. - -The uninitiated, whose knowledge of otters has been gained by visits -to the Zoological Gardens, while realising the swimming ability of the -animals, look upon them as clumsy beasts on land, and ill-adapted to lead -an active existence on terra firma. In an article comparing the badger -and the otter, it says, "The otter, on the other hand, though an expert -swimmer, is on land nearly as clumsy as his cousin the badger." The -author of the said article can have done little or no otter-hunting, for -if he had, he would never have made such a foolish statement. Despite his -webbed feet, the otter is built like the weasels, and exhibits a great -deal of their activity and quickness on land. For this reason he is well -able to cope with furred and feathered quarry. - -Beginning the otter's menu with fish, we find he eats salmon, sea trout, -trout, and coarse fish. On the west of Scotland and in the Hebrides, -otters live a good deal on the coast, but in the autumn they follow the -salmon up the streams. Where salmon are plentiful and easily secured, -otters kill a fish, take it ashore, and eat a portion of the shoulder -only. In the old days in the Highlands, when otters were more numerous -than they are at present, the crofters used regularly to visit the -otters' landing places, in order to gather the salmon left there. The -marks on such fish were known as the "otter's bite." In that delightful -book, "Wild Sports of the Highlands" by Charles St John, the author -refers to the above practice as follows: "I was rather amused at an old -woman living at Sluie, on the Findhorn, who, complaining of the hardness -of the present times, when 'a puir body couldna' get a drop smuggled -whisky, or shot a rae without his lordship's sportsman finding it out,' -added to her list of grievances that even the otters were nearly all -gone, 'puir beasties.' 'Well, but what good could the otters do you?' I -asked her. 'Good, your honour? Why scarcely a morn came but they left a -bonny grilse on the scarp down yonder, and the _vennison_ was none the -waur of the bit, the puir beasts eat themselves.' The people here call -every eatable animal, fish, flesh, or fowl, venison, or as they pronounce -it 'vennison.' For instance they tell you that the snipes are 'good -vennison,' or that the trout are not good 'vennison' in the winter." - -Although an otter is a capable swimmer, he cannot travel half as fast -as a salmon under water. In low water a single otter can tire out or -corner a salmon in a pool, but evidence leads us to believe that otters -often work together, one driving the salmon about, while the other -keeps watch on the shallows. On all rivers there are places where fish -can be more or less cornered when the water is at normal level, and of -course when it is very low in time of drought, salmon and other fish -are practically pool-bound, and thus fall victims to otters and other -predaceous creatures. It is pretty safe to say that an otter--like a -pike, or a cannibal trout--will go for any fish which appears to be weak -or in difficulty. A spinning lure--such as a spoon that wobbles instead -of turning truly--is often far more attractive than one that spins "like -a streak of silver." - -In the _Field_ of June 5th, 1920, there is an account of an otter -attacking a hooked salmon. The writer of the account says, "While I was -playing a salmon on the Teify on Friday, May 21st, an otter made two -attempts to get at him, and very nearly succeeded once. This seems -so unusual to me that it would be of great interest if others have -had a similar experience. This incident took place about eight in the -evening, and in a pool where there was only an opening of a few feet -where one could gaff the fish owing to trees. The trees undoubtedly -accounted for the otter failing to see me, but as soon as he raised -his head above water in midstream and saw that there were others as -well as himself after that fish he soon cleared off, and the fish was -successfully landed. The wild rushes made by the salmon after the otter's -first attempt were extraordinary, as the fish was about done and fit -for gaffing. To me this was a clear proof of the instinctive fear and -wonderful vitality in a fish when his natural enemy appeared." - -Other instances of a similar nature have been recorded from time to time, -in some of which the otter has succeeded in taking the hooked fish. There -is no doubt that an otter or otters frighten fish, particularly salmon, -when chasing them about a pool. The instinct of all wild animals is to -attack a weakly or wounded creature, even if belonging to their own kind, -and the otter which goes for a hooked salmon does so because he knows he -stands a better chance of catching it than other fish in the same pool -which are free and untrammelled. - -The otter must, therefore, do considerable good by ridding the streams of -weak and sickly fish. An otter deals with large sea trout as it does with -salmon, but in the case of trout it frequently eats them entire, leaving -nothing to waste. When devouring fish an otter eats like a cat, with -half-closed eyes. In the case of coarse fish, the otter often discards -the head and tail, and in the same way with an eel, the head may be -left. Those who decry the otter as a fish-poacher should remember that -the animal does not confine his attentions solely to one pool or to one -species of diet during his nightly wanderings. He may fish and otherwise -feed up-stream for some miles, taking a trout here, an eel there, and -perhaps a young rabbit somewhere else. - -We have already seen that the otter must do good by killing sickly or -wounded salmon, and in the same way with trout, he captures many an old -cannibal fish which is far better out of the water. These old trout not -only prey on their own smaller relations, but are great devourers of fish -spawn, and the same applies, only in a much greater degree, to eels, -which are the worst vermin in or about a river or lake. Many coarse fish, -too, are inimical to spawn and young fry, therefore the otter does far -more good than harm by feeding on them. Eels and frogs, the latter being -skinned by an otter, are the first quarry that the bitch otter teaches -her cubs to hunt. These are sought for on land and in the wet ditches and -shallow runners. Later, the cubs are initiated in the art of fishing. - -When first introduced to water, the cubs show considerable reluctance to -swim. This can hardly be because they are unable to do so, but rather -owing to a youthful aversion--as in the case of a puppy--to entering a -strange element for the first time. The bitch therefore takes them to -a stone in midstream, and either pushes them in, or leaves them there -until they are at last tempted to enter the water and follow her. On -the sea coast otters spend a good deal of time searching for flounders -in the shallow pools. They also eat crabs, lobsters, sea anemones, and -various crustaceans. Otters sometimes visit the lobster fishers' creels, -and there are instances on record of partially grown otters having been -found drowned in the creels. On inland lakes and streams otters feed on -fresh-water mussels and cray-fish. - -As previously mentioned, it is no uncommon thing to find the remains of -fur and feather in otter coke. Otters capture waterhens and dabchicks, -although we are of the opinion that they prefer other food if they can -get it. At any rate we are familiar with a certain reed-fringed pond -on the hills, where a bitch otter and two cubs of about 12 lb. weight -resided for some months. This pond was also occupied by quite a number of -waterhens, yet there were no apparent remains of these birds to be found -in the vicinity, which pointed to the fact that the otters left them -pretty much alone. - -A rather curious thing happened when we visited the pond with hounds. -At first the waterhens were much in evidence, but after hounds had -been at work for an hour or two, we began to find dead waterhens -lying about. These were not killed by hounds, but were drowned, and -had practically--as far as we could see--committed suicide. To escape -danger a waterhen will keep diving, and the birds under discussion had -evidently--owing to the continual presence of hounds--done so until they -were tired out, and subsequently perished under water. What made their -behaviour stranger still was the fact that there was a small covert -adjoining the pond, in which the birds could have found sanctuary on -terra firma until all danger was past. - -Both dabchicks and waterhens devour fish spawn, so otters do good -by thinning out the ranks of these birds. At times otters will take -game-birds, and there are authentic records of grouse, pheasants, and -duck having been killed by them. One or two instances of this will -suffice. In "The Natural History of Sport in Scotland," by Tom Speedy, -the latter says: "That he can scent and pounce upon his prey like a fox -was demonstrated by following his tracks among snow up Corrie Macshee -Burn at Dalnaspidal. The trail left the water-side and showed where the -animal had made a bound and caught a grouse in its roosting-place among -the snow. Returning to the stream, he had crossed on to a boulder in the -centre of the burn, where he devoured part of his prey." The same author -mentions a case of an otter on the Biel estate in East Lothian, which -dragged a foster-mother hen out of a coop and partly devoured it, as well -as a number of young pheasants big enough to sit out amongst the grass. -Traps were set, baited with the dead bodies of the birds, and a large -otter was secured; the massacre then ceased. - -In _The Gamekeeper_ for August, 1913, there is a note concerning the -deaths of fifteen sitting pheasants in a covert beside a river. Each -bird had a hole gnawed down through the back, the carcasses being left -lying near the nests, not an egg having been touched. A duck caught on -her nest is treated in the same way by an otter. In _The Gamekeeper_ for -June, 1919, there is a note concerning an otter which was caught in a -tunnel-trap baited with rabbit paunch. The trap was set in the middle of -a one hundred acre wood. The otter was a cub, weighing 9½ lb. - -Waterhens and dabchicks, particularly the latter, when taken by otters, -are pulled under the water, though they may be captured amongst the reeds -and other undergrowth as well. Ducklings sometimes fall victims to the -otter, though as a rule big pike do the greatest harm in this direction. -Pike have been known to take pheasants as well as duck which had fallen -into a lake during the course of a shoot. From available evidence, otters -on a stream containing trout and coarse fish seem to prefer the latter. -Possibly they are easier to capture than trout. On hill-streams, where -the fish are small but very numerous owing to shortage of food, otters -must do a great deal of good by reducing the stock. - -As far as furred prey is concerned, otters will kill and eat rats, -water-voles, and young rabbits. We have on several occasions seen -where a small bunny had been caught by an otter. On marshes where duck -shooting is carried on, otters find and feed on wounded duck, exactly as -do foxes. Here again they do good by acting as scavengers, as well as -by putting winged birds out of their misery. Rabbits appear to be the -largest four-footed creatures preyed upon by otters, but we have heard -it suggested by an old Lakeland dalesman that they will on occasion take -lambs. Although we bring forward this suggestion with great diffidence, -it is quite possible that there is some truth in it. Our informant -lived by the shore of a lake in an out-of-the-way part of the country, -where at one time pine-martens were very plentiful. It is a well-known -fact that martens will kill lambs, and an otter, which is a much more -powerful animal, could easily do the same if so inclined. Anyway, the -old dalesman more than once found the carcass of a lamb left close to -the edge of the water on the lake shore, with the tracks of otters round -about it. Neither a hill-fox nor marten would be likely to drag or carry -the carcass to water, and the whole thing certainly pointed to the work -of otters. - -An otter is a predaceous animal of the weasel family, strong, and active -in its habits, and would experience no difficulty in tackling a lamb. It -is never safe to be dogmatic in one's statements concerning the habits -of wild creatures, because generally speaking, the only regular thing -about them is their variability. Cases have occurred where otters were -responsible for killing ducks, grouse, pheasants, and rabbits, and though -such behaviour is only occasional on the part of the average otter, it -shows what he will do when so inclined. - -In winter otters are sometimes hard put to it to find food, and they -have been known to take poultry at such times. In the same way regarding -the dalesman's statement about lambs, an otter _may_ occasionally kill -one, although most people would laugh at such an idea. We know that -hill-foxes take lambs, having scores of times found carcasses in and -about the earths, yet one meets hunting people who resolutely refuse to -believe that Reynard ever falls so far from grace as to feed on lamb. A -fox will eat trout when he can get it, and so will many dogs. We have -one now which eats small trout as greedily as a cat, and no doubt foxes -secure many fish when the hill-streams are dead low in summer. It is no -more strange for a fox or a dog to eat fish than for an otter to take an -occasional lamb. All three are carnivorous--the otter being least so--and -when all is said and done, wild animals show very unusual traits at times. - -Summing up the otter's feeding habits, we find he kills fish, and in the -case of salmon he is certainly wasteful. To set against this he takes -many a sickly fish, as well as cannibal trout, all of which are better -out of the way. He kills waterhens and dabchicks, both devourers of fish -spawn, and he slays quantities of eels, which are the worst vermin to be -found in lake or stream. Game is only an occasional item on his menu, and -nobody grudges him a few young rabbits. - -Otters, therefore, if kept within reasonable limits, do their share of -good, and, like the fox, provide the very best of sport when hunted. -When Reynard is rolled over by hounds it is the debt he pays for the -privileged existence of himself and his kind, and the same thing applies -to the otter. Given a good pack of hounds, hunting their district -properly, otters will be kept sufficiently in check, and good sport will -be enjoyed by riparian owners and others. - -The only occasion on which an otter can do really extensive damage is -when he gets access to a trout hatchery. Once he finds his way to the -breeding ponds he will kill fish right and left. If, however, such places -are properly fenced off--as they should be--they will never suffer from -the attentions of otters. Swans and other wildfowl, herons, dabchicks, -waterhens, kingfishers, frogs, cannibal trout, and eels do far more -damage to fish and fish spawn than otters, and with the exception of -certain wildfowl, provide no sport in return. The otter, like the -fly-fisherman, is a sportsman, and for this reason the one should deal -leniently with the other. - -Otters do most of their feeding and travelling at night, but it is not -an uncommon occurrence to find them abroad in daytime. In Canada we have -on several occasions seen them on the ice during the day, and once while -watching a deer runway near a river, a big otter floated downstream -within twenty yards of us. Having fed up-stream during the night, an -otter may take to some holt at the end of his journey, or he may float -down with the current--if the water is fairly deep--and return to the -holt from which he started. Although an otter can make wonderful headway -against a strong current, he generally avoids rapids and rough water -when travelling up-stream. On coming to such a place he lands, makes a -detour, and enters the water again higher up. His feeding expeditions -are not necessarily restricted to the main river, for he often explores -side-streams, ditches, and other places, which lie at a considerable -distance from deep water. He usually leaves his holt--or couch if he is -lying rough--about dusk, and returns to it before daybreak. For the most -part otters are silent creatures, but they whistle when calling to each -other, and will snort and blow when playing together. In Canada their -playgrounds are the "slides," and there two otters will gambol like -puppies between the intervals of tobogganing down the bank. - -Although an otter does not dig to any extent, he will, as already -mentioned, scratch up sand or soft earth for a certain purpose, and his -feet and claws aid him in securing crustaceans and other food. Although -the otter is unable to climb like the marten, he can on occasion jump and -scramble over high places in a wonderful manner. In the North, otters -regularly travel deep ghylls and watercourses where they are obliged to -climb to some extent, and when hard pressed by hounds it takes a very -rough place indeed to stop an otter. In big coverts an otter will stand -up before hounds like a fox, and will travel at a surprising pace. - -On rough, rocky rivers, an otter's claws, particularly those on the hind -feet, are often very much worn down. This may be accounted for by the -state of the going. A mounted specimen now in our possession has the -claws of the hind feet practically worn off, whereas the nails on the -forefeet are nearly perfect. - -There are probably few waters in Great Britain which are not at some time -or other haunted by otters. Even in the vicinity of towns the marks of -otters may be found beside canals and streams, the surroundings of which -would appear to be anything but attractive to _Lutra_. Being chiefly a -creature of the night, nomadic and elusive in its habits, the otter often -spends a peaceful existence in the vicinity of human habitations, the -occupants of which never dream that the "sly, goose-footed prowler" is -a frequent visitor to their water. The majority of people have never -seen an otter, except under a glass case in some museum, or within the -confines of the Zoological Gardens. The angler, fishing at dusk, may -sometimes be favoured by a glimpse of an otter, bent on the same errand -as himself, but as a rule few otters are seen except when put down by -hounds. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -OTTER-HUNTING, PAST AND PRESENT - - -It was not until a comparatively recent date, that the otter became an -accredited beast of chase. He was hunted, after a fashion, from the very -earliest times, but the value of his skin--like that of the fox--had more -to do with his capture than the sport he afforded. - -King John of England appears to be the first Master of Otterhounds -of whom there is any record, and Twici seems to have been the first -huntsman. In "The Master of Game," written between the years 1406 and -1413, there is a chapter on "The Otter and his Nature," illustrated by -a reproduction of an old illumination entitled "Otter Hunting." This -picture represents a hound--apparently smooth-coated--swimming an otter -in a river. On the farther bank are two hounds, and two men. One of -the latter is transfixing the otter as it swims with a long-handled, -three-pronged spear. The other man is apparently about to throw a similar -kind of spear at the otter, while holding in his left hand a second spear -with the ordinary type of single-bladed head. On the near bank are two -more men, and two hounds. One of the latter appears to be rough-coated, -or at any rate broken-haired, the other being a large, white, -smooth-coated animal. This hound is evidently a limer, as it is held in -leash by one of the men. The other man, armed with a single-bladed spear, -is stabbing the otter in the hindquarters. - -It is apparent that in those early days the chief use of the hounds was -in finding the otter, and once the latter was put down, the spears were -brought into play. In the chapter on the otter, it says: "Men hunt at -them with hounds by great mastery," and "men take them at other times in -rivers with small cords as men do the fox with nets and with other gins." - -Thus we see plainly that the otter was little thought of in those days, -except for the value afforded by his skin. In early times a lime-hound, -i.e., a hound held in leash, was used for harbouring deer and other game. -Such a hound was keen and staunch, not too fast, and was taught to run -mute, in order not to disturb the game whose exact whereabouts his master -wished to discover. The rope by which the hound was led was known as a -liam, being made of leather or silk. Both collar and lead were often -gaily coloured, and adorned with silver. - -The method of conducting the chase when hunting at an otter "with -hounds by great mastery" was no doubt similar in some respects to that -practised at present. Instead, however, of hunting the drag with the -pack, lime-hounds were used to locate the quarry, the latter being then -bolted by terriers. In the prologue to "The Master of Game," it says with -regard to dogs: "And first I will begin with raches (running hounds) -and their nature, and then greyhounds and their nature, and then alaunts -and their nature, and then spaniels and their nature, and then mastiffs -that men call curs and their nature, and then of small curs that come to -be terriers and their nature." What these terriers were like compared to -the present-day breeds, it is difficult to say, but no doubt they were -hard-bitten animals, well able to bolt otters or foxes. - -Having bolted the otter, probably several hounds were then uncoupled, -which kept the quarry on the move, so that the men got plenty of chances -to use their spears. The otter was allowed no law as is now the custom, -but was transfixed at the first opportunity. The spears were evidently -thrown at the otter, as well as used to transfix him on the shallows. - -At a later date, in Somervile's days (1735) the spear was in general -use, and it is mentioned as late as 1878 in the "Manual of British Rural -Sports" by Stonehenge. Turning to the "Otter Hunting Diary" of the late -Mr James Lomax, of Clayton Hall, which dates from 1829 to 1871, we find -no mention of the spear. In "Field and Fern" (South), by H. H. Dixon, -published in 1865, there is an account of Dr Grant, of Hawick, and his -otterhounds, without, however, any reference to spears. Although the -employment of the spear, or "otter-grains" as it was sometimes called, -was no doubt almost universally discontinued fairly early in the last -century, it was probably used till a later date by individuals who kept a -hound or two, and pursued otter, fox, and foumart after the manner of the -Scotch "tod-hunter" with his scratch pack. Nets were sometimes used in -conjunction with spears to keep an otter from reaching tidal waters. - -To-day, however, all such abominations have been done away with, and -now it is left for hounds to hunt and kill their otter, if they can, -unaided. Until a few years ago, it was customary to meet quite early in -the morning, often soon after daybreak. Nowadays, however, people are -less energetic, and it is nothing unusual to read of fixtures as late as -ten a.m. Although from a social or "love and lunch" point of view, late -meets are no doubt convenient, the same can hardly be said as regards -hunting. Some Masters of Otterhounds are averse to early meets because -they say that the drag is then often so strong that hounds are very apt -to pass over their otter. By getting to the water later the drag has lost -some of its strength, and hounds are then brought to their noses, and -travel slower, thus being less inclined to pass their otter in its holt. -Really the time of meeting should depend upon the character of the water -you intend to hunt. On a river flowing through marsh or water meadows, -where the long grass and rushes are always more or less damp and the -ground beneath them shaded from the sun, scent will lie for hours, and -there is no necessity to make a very early start. In the North, however, -where the streams are swift and rocky, and have their sources far up the -hill-sides, there is often little shade, except beside some covert, or in -some ghyll or ravine to which the sun's rays seldom penetrate. Meeting -at ten o'clock on such water, there is little chance of a good drag, -and it may mean hard work for both men and hounds before they find, and -eventually put their otter down. - -[Illustration: The Huntsman Bringing his Otter Ashore. - - (_Photo by N. Clapham_). -] - -[Illustration: K. & D.O.H. Returning to the Main River. - - (_Copyright by R. F. Lees, Blackpool_). _To face p. 79._ -] - -Many an instance comes to mind, when if hounds had been put to water -three or four hours earlier, they would have had a hot cross-country -drag, and probably a fine swimming hunt at the end of it. We have known -hounds meet at nine o'clock at the foot of a Lakeland beck, and travel -several miles up-stream without a whimper. On nearing the source, they -spoke to a drag in the depths of a shady ghyll, and carried it at a -fast pace out on to the open fell. There the sun was beating down with -tremendous power, and under its influence the drag died out. Hounds were -on the line of a travelling otter, and had they hit off the drag in the -ghyll at five or six o'clock instead of nine, they could easily have -carried it over the watershed, and down a runner which enters a tarn in -the next valley. A good hunt was thus spoilt, simply because of a late -start. - -An advantage of meeting early lies in the fact that you perhaps find -and kill your otter before the real heat of the day begins, thus making -things easier for both hounds and field. It is impossible to lay down -any hard and fast rule as regards the time of meeting, for as already -mentioned, this will be influenced by the character of the water you are -going to hunt, and, if you are dependent on subscriptions, the keenness -or otherwise of your subscribers. - -In the case of making a start with a newly organised pack, containing a -good proportion of unentered hounds, it is advisable to get out early in -the morning until such time as your hounds begin to understand their job -and take an interest in the business. Scent lies stronger both on land -and water during the early hours, and if your few entered hounds find -and mark their otter, the unentered ones have a better chance when their -quarry is eventually put down. - -To a lover of hound work, the drag left by an otter during his nightly -wanderings, provides as much of interest when hounds can own it, as the -actual hunting after the otter is afloat. With entered hounds which try -the banks carefully it is possible to find an otter without touching a -drag at all. This frequently happens after a late meet, when the huntsman -is a real trier, and can depend on his hounds. Still, we imagine that -the majority of keen otter-hunters enjoy watching the pack at work on a -drag, and the music seems a fitting prelude to the chorus that arises -when finally hounds mark and acknowledge in no uncertain tones that their -quarry is "at home." - -Under favourable conditions the scent of an otter will lie for a very -long time. In the shade, amidst tall herbage, or among the water -lilies, hounds can speak to it hours after their otter has gone, and -it is sometimes difficult to know whether they are the right way or -running heel. Then is the time to look for the seal of your otter in -the sand, mud, or other soft places, and note whether the footprints -point up-stream or down. Half the pleasure of otter-hunting is to see -hounds draw, that is if they draw well, trying every root as they go, or -swimming out to some stone in midstream on which perhaps there is a piece -of wedging. Here a hound will try a patch of water lilies, there another -will investigate a stick-heap, until at last there is a welcome note from -Thunder, Sailor, or some other member of the pack, which denotes that a -drag has at last been found. Gradually they work it out, fast or slow -according to its strength, until at last they mark at a tree-root on -the bank. If you know your hounds you can tell pretty well whether your -otter is there, or has merely run through the place and gone on. One or -two of your most trusted favourites perhaps show an inclination to push -forward up-stream, so you go ahead, taking plenty of time at all the -likely holts. Suddenly old Warrior's head goes up, he winds the air for -a second or two, then goes straight across the river, and his well-known -voice rings out as he proclaims that his otter is this time in the holt -in front of him. The others surge over, splashing the water as they go, -and a wild chorus awakens the echoes as hounds mark solidly, some of -them tearing at the bank in their eagerness to have their quarry "out -of that." There is no doubt he is at home, but if there was, you need -only watch old Boatman swimming round and round beneath the holt in an -endeavour to take the scent or "wash," to convince you that hounds are -right. - -The great advantage of meeting early lies in the fact that if there -is an otter or otters working the water that you propose to hunt, you -are practically sure of finding a drag, which at that time of day will -lie strongly. As already mentioned, otters lie rough, as well as in -holts, and may be found almost anywhere, often far from the main river. -Here is where you benefit by a warm trail, for there will be no doubt -as to the point at which your quarry left the main river, and took to -a side-runner, or out across country to some pond or other favourite -feeding ground. Supposing, however, that your otter has left a drag on -the banks of the main river, which leads hounds steadily up-stream. -If the drag is hot, the pack will run it at speed, until they finally -mark their otter in his holt, or the trail suddenly comes to an end, -and hounds are at a loss. In this case your otter may have gone on -some distance in the water, the latter having carried all scent away, -and then landed at some holt farther up. He may, too, have crossed the -stream--perhaps in deep water--and retired to a holt on the opposite -bank. Again, he may have dropped down with the current to his original -starting point, leaving no trace behind him. If the river is narrow, he -may, of course, have crossed and re-crossed it in his journey up-stream, -the same applying in a lesser degree, to a wide river. If possible, it is -wise therefore to have a number of hounds on each bank, instead of, as -some huntsmen do, crossing with the pack at shallows or other spots where -the stream can be forded. - -By keeping hounds on the one bank and crossing here and there, much water -and many a likely holt is passed over. Harking back, however, to where -hounds checked. The otter may still be in front, therefore it pays to -make good the water for some little distance up-stream. If, within a -reasonable distance, hounds hit off his landing place and mark him at a -holt, well and good, but if there is only a "touch" here and there on -which hounds feather, denoting a stale line perhaps a day or two old, it -is then advisable to try back. If hounds have carried the drag at speed, -they may, in their eagerness, have overrun their otter, and left him not -so very far behind. When casting back therefore, go slowly, and keep some -hounds if possible on both banks. Sooner or later, with anything like -luck, hounds should locate their otter on one bank or the other. Just as -an early start affords a hot drag, so does it help hounds to more easily -wind their otter in his holt, should he have crossed and left no trace -behind him in the stream. Some hounds exhibit great aptitude for winding -an otter in this manner, therefore when you see a member of the pack -throw up his head and begin testing the air, you can be fairly sure that -your otter is not far off. If, instead of meeting early you had arrived -at the water late, on the foregoing occasion, you would probably have hit -off a weak or catchy drag, and have had to go slow, trying both banks -carefully en route. If this happens on a stream which the Master knows -well, and has often hunted before, he may simply cross and re-cross the -water to the various holts from which he has put down otters on previous -occasions. Should hounds refuse to mark at any of these holts, and the -limit of the day's draw is reached, the result is a blank. - -The same thing may happen on a river which has not been hunted for a -long time. The meet is late, hounds are left to pick up a drag if they -can, the field following at their leisure, and once more it is a case of -"nothing doing" at the conclusion of the draw. It is when an otter has -left the main river via a side-stream, or travelled a long way overland -to some pond, or other retreat, that the advantage of meeting early is so -conspicuous. - -Late in the day the drag is very weak and catchy in the open, where -the sun has dried up all moisture, and even if hounds _do_ show an -inclination to turn up a runner or deviate at some point, they may not -be able to carry the line far, even if encouraged to do so. If an early -start is made, however, the drag is warm, and hounds can hit off the -place with certainty where their otter has left the river, and what is -more, they can run the line at speed, thus drawing up to their quarry's -holt, or the spot where he is lying rough, without loss of time. The -chief object of keeping a pack of otterhounds is to find, hunt, and if -possible kill your otter in a sportsmanlike manner. - -Before you can hunt him you must find him, and on nine days out of ten, -this is the hardest part of the business. An otter may be anywhere, and -of course it may so happen that the water within your day's draw is not -being worked by otters. In this case you cannot find what is not there. A -blank day then is not only excusable, but inevitable. On the other hand, -if your pack is made up of entered hounds, and you know their individual -idiosyncrasies, and have in addition a fair knowledge of the habits of -your quarry, there should be little excuse for a blank day, provided you -start early enough in the morning to afford your hounds the chance of -picking up and sticking to a decent drag. The _surest_ way of finding -an otter is to drag up to him, any other method, at any rate on rivers, -holds an enormous element of chance. On a lake or a tarn, which you -yourself _know_ is inhabited by otters, it is a different matter, for you -can then throw off in the reed-beds or other undergrowth bordering the -water, with a good hope of putting your otter down before hounds have -been long at work. - -No fixed rules are applicable to otter-hunting, or any other kind of -hunting for that matter, but it is safe to say that the Master who is a -trier, and keeps on trying, will be the one to bring to hand most otters. -Being himself of the "never say die" order, he will inculcate the same -spirit in his hounds, for a slack huntsman makes a slack pack, and vice -versa. - -The late Rev. Jack Russell, of Devonshire fame, walked some hundreds of -miles before he found his first otter. This was owing to the fact that -his hounds at the beginning were unentered to otter. When he finally got -hold of an entered hound, matters took a different turn, and he showed -capital sport, but his ill-success at first was certainly not for want of -trying. - -When hunting a river, particularly in a hilly district, a sudden flood -may put a stop to sport. When the weather is unsettled it is wise, -therefore, to allow for such a contingency, and be prepared to arrange -matters so that a smaller stream or lake can be substituted. - -A frequent reason for blank days lies in having too wide a district to -hunt. This means that certain streams are visited but once a season, -and a single day on each is not sufficient to insure sport. A certain -river is perhaps visited to-day, and hounds hit off a drag and carry -it up-stream a long way, until the hour is late, and their otter still -unfound. The next fixture is probably in another county, whereas if -hounds were put to water on the following morning at the place where they -left off, a hunt would be practically a certainty. Again, if a brace of -otters are put down, and one of them is hunted and eventually killed, a -visit to the same water on the following day would result in the survivor -providing some pretty work for hounds. There is hardly an Otter Hunt in -the kingdom but what attempts to cover more water in a season than it -can properly manage. The chances of continuous good sport are on this -account exceedingly doubtful, for unless rivers are frequently visited, -and a fair percentage of otters are killed, riparian owners, keepers, and -others will refuse to protect otters, and instead, go in for the killing -business themselves. Hunting is in this country dependent upon the -goodwill of landowners and tenants, who are as a rule only too pleased to -welcome hounds. If, however, the Hunt does not properly reduce the stock -of foxes or otters, other methods are then resorted to. The more otters -or foxes you kill in your district, the more you will have, for directly -people realise that you and your hounds mean business and are "out for -blood," they will leave it to you to do the killing, and confine their -attentions to preserving your quarry. A small district, regularly hunted, -will provide much better sport than a large one casually attended to. -The fixture card of the average Otter Hunt should show "Where leave off" -much oftener than it does at present. In a small district a Hunt is much -less dependent on trains for moving hounds from place to place, and there -is far more opportunity to "lie out" overnight at some farm or other -homestead, and thus continue hunting at the same place on the following -day. - -Harking back to the river, a great many people imagine that when hounds -hit off a line away from the water, and go full cry through a wood, -across open country, or up some tiny streamlet, that they are running -riot. That hounds occasionally run riot, more especially the young entry, -we do not for a moment deny, but when a pack of entered hounds performs -in the above manner, they are not rioting, but running the line of a -travelling otter. The huntsman then, instead of blowing his horn while -the whippers-in rate and attempt to stop hounds, should put his best -leg foremost and try to keep in touch, so that if hounds check, after -covering perhaps a mile or two, he will be there or thereabouts and have -a good idea what to do. - -We have vivid recollections of a day on which hounds hit off the line -of an otter that had stolen away from a rock-holt without being seen or -tallied. She, for it was a young bitch otter, left the main stream with -a good start, and turned up a runner which lay in a deep, narrow valley. -At the head of this valley the otter turned left-handed and crossed over -more than a mile of open country comprising the watershed. Descending the -other side, she entered a stream via a hanging covert on the near bank. -When hounds hit off her line, they raced up the valley with evidently a -screaming scent. At the top they hovered for an instant, then swept on -left-handed over the hill. The huntsman, who was convinced that they were -running riot, attempted to stop them, and succeeded in getting hold of -some of them, but the others went on, and we could hear them speaking -merrily in the direction of the stream in the valley below. We passed the -huntsman, blowing his horn, with a couple or two of hounds round him, and -on asking him what was the matter, he said hounds were rioting. Seeing we -did not believe him, he reluctantly followed on, and to cut a long story -short, hounds eventually killed their otter handsomely, after dusting her -up and down the stream for some three-quarters of an hour. We can see the -expression on that huntsman's face yet, when hounds collared their otter, -and he was obliged to acknowledge he had been in the wrong, while his -hounds had been right. - -Now the first lesson a huntsman, professional or amateur, has to learn is -to _trust his hounds_. If he can't do this, he had better leave hunting -alone, and look for another job. Once your hounds are properly entered, -and you know their individual traits and idiosyncrasies, always trust -to what _they_ say about it, and pay no attention to the utterances of a -sceptical field, many of whom know little or nothing about the science -of hunting. The line hounds are running may perhaps seem a very unusual -one, even to you, but if Rouser, Thunder, Marksman, and a few more of -your trusted favourites are voicing the fact that an otter is in front -of them, then you can bet your life it is so, and your job is to keep -in touch with them if possible. Always remember that an otter may be -found anywhere, and may do anything once he is afoot or afloat. The only -certain thing about him is his variability. You will learn something -new about him every day you go out with hounds, and if you store up the -information thus obtained, it will come in mighty useful on many a future -occasion. - -The Master who hunts his own hounds should study the habits of otters -in winter as well as in summer. After a prolonged snow-fall a visit -to one or other of his rivers, lakes, etc., will afford a variety of -useful information regarding the whereabouts and the doings of otters. -Their tracks will be plain enough in the snow, and by following these -footprints a knowledge of the various routes traversed by otters will be -gained, and many a long forgotten drain or other hiding-place discovered. -The lessons thus learnt will come in mighty useful when the hunting -season again begins. When thus scouting his country, he should not forget -to drop in at the mill, or the various farmsteads near the river. The -miller can be a good friend, or, if he likes, a bad enemy, and the same -applies to farm-hands, and other people who work on the land. A chat with -the farmer and his wife goes a long way towards smoothing the ground for -hunting, and a friendly word and a pipe of baccy with the river-watchers -and labourers ensures amicable relations, and paves the way towards -encouraging an interest in hounds and hunting. - -It is the Master who is thus on the job in winter as well as summer who -gets plenty of good walks for his puppies, and is free to hunt when -and where he likes during the season. On his journeys he will hear -much about otters and their doings, a great deal of which information, -however, he will take with the proverbial pinch of salt. Half the people -you meet, even those who live near rivers, have never seen an otter, -although there are, of course, certain individuals whose information -is to be depended on. These are few and far between, however, and the -wise Master will trust to his own powers of observation, rather than to -reports of hypothetical otters, which in the end turn out to have been -black cats, or some other animals seen near the water at dusk. - -Harking back to our hunting, however, hounds have marked their otter in -his holt in a root or some other retreat, and the next job is to evict -him. Hounds are called off and taken back out of sight in a nearby field, -and the terriers come on the scene. Vic or Vengeance is sent in, and -very soon there are sounds underground betokening "something doing." The -barking ceases for a moment, and then a dark brown object glides out -through the tangled roots, there is a slight splash, and a long chain of -bubbles as the otter takes to the river. A shrill tally-ho! brings hounds -pell-mell to the scene of action, and the hunt is on. It all sounds very -easy, and sometimes is so, but on other occasions the otter refuses to -bolt, or the terriers cannot bring sufficient pressure to bear, so there -is nothing for it but send to the nearest farmhouse for tools. Spades, -pick, and crowbar are soon on the spot, and there may then ensue some -strenuous digging, before the terriers are located, and finally the -otter. Occasionally, when the terriers are sent in, a rabbit or rabbits -may bolt, or even as has happened before now, a fox. Then is the time you -are likely to hear subdued remarks from sceptical members of your field. -Take no notice of that. Your hounds say their otter is there, believe -them, no matter how many rabbits appear. Otters lie very close at times, -often till you dig right up to them, and on such an occasion you will -have the laugh on the "doubting Thomases," when you pull little terrier -Vengeance out by the stern, and your otter takes to the river. If a -terrier can get behind his otter, he will generally persuade the quarry -to bolt, but if the otter backs up into a cul-de-sac, the dog is obliged -to face him in front, and if the terrier is a real "sticker" he will hold -his otter there until the diggers work down to the spot. - -Otters will lie up in rabbit burrows, drains, tree-roots, and sometimes -in fox or badger earths. Rock-holts are also favourite places on the -north country rivers. Where there are several side-drains branching off -a main drain, it is often difficult for the terriers to locate their -otter. Some rock-holts, too, are practically impregnable, and the same -applies to many a big head of earths in covert. Occasionally an otter may -be persuaded to bolt when other means have failed, by getting a number -of people to jump on top of the holt, the party doing so in unison. When -digging or terrier operations are going on, someone should be stationed -where they can keep watch for the otter bolting. If the quarry can slip -out under water, he may get away undetected, unless a bright look out -is kept. During the time that digging is going on, the field should be -made to stand well back from the scene of operations. When they crowd -round the place, as the average field so often does, they are a nuisance -to the diggers, and talk so much that it is often impossible to hear the -terriers underground. Again, should an otter bolt from a drain, and have -some distance to go before reaching the water, the field are nearly sure -to start halloing, with the result that hounds break away and arrive on -the scene ere the otter has had fair law. - -Once the otter is afloat, the next thing is to keep him going until -hounds tire him out, and at last gain their reward. The field should now -spread out at intervals, along the bank, and _stand still_. By doing so -each individual can watch the water in front of him, and tally when he -is certain he sees the otter. When the field persists in rushing up and -down the banks they are a nuisance to both hounds and huntsman. Standing -still, and keeping a bright look out, they can be of the greatest -service, and at the same time they see more sport than when constantly -shifting their positions. After he has been hunted for some time, the -otter will begin to show himself, and it is then perfectly legitimate -for the watcher to tally-ho if he sees the otter. Unless, however, he is -sure that it is the otter, he had best keep silent. A salmon in rapid -water, or a moorhen crossing a pool, has often deceived a watcher on the -bank, therefore make sure before tallying. Also, never tally because -someone else says he has seen the otter, see it yourself first. It may -be necessary to send some of the field to form a "stickle" across the -shallows, above or below the scene of action. These people must keep -a sharp look out, watching the water carefully. If they do their work -properly, the otter should not get past them without being seen. If the -hunt gradually works up-stream, the people on the lower stickle should -not be forgotten. Some signal, say a few notes on the whistle, should be -given in order to let them know that they are at liberty to leave their -posts. - -[Illustration: No. 5. - -TALLY-HO!] - -In rapid, or deep water, an otter will often pass an experienced hunter -without being tallied, particularly if it is moving close to the farther -bank. The angle at which the light falls on the water often makes -it extremely difficult to detect an otter as it passes. After being -hunted for some length of time, the otter shows himself more and more -frequently. He may vary the water work by making an excursion overland, -or running the length of a nearby wood. Perhaps he takes refuge in a -holt, and is then bolted by the terriers. Anyway, if things go right, the -time comes when he can do no more, and he dies fighting on the shallows, -leaving his mark on nearly every hound. The huntsman at last gets the -pack to leave him, not using a whip, but pushing hounds off with knees, -hands, and pole, after which he slips the carcass under water for a -minute or two until he recovers his wind, and then carries it ashore. -There it is weighed, mask, pole, and pads are severed, the carcass is -slit up, and tossed to the eagerly expectant pack. "Hi, worry, worry, -worry," "Who-whoop! tear him and eat him." After blowing the "rattle," -and cheering hounds to keep up the excitement, the various trophies are -distributed, and one's thoughts then turn in the direction of certain -bottles which are snugly reposing in a friend's car on the nearest -highway. - -[Illustration: A Kill with the K. & D.O.H. - - (_Copyright by Mrs. R. F. Lees, Blackpool_). -] - -[Illustration: Hi, Worry, Worry! - - (_Copyright by R. F. Lees, Blackpool_). _To face p. 102._ -] - -Early, or late in the season, when the weather is boisterous and the -water cold, it pays to hold up a few couples of hounds, reserving them -until the working pack has had about enough of it. Then at the right -moment, throw in your reserves and make a quick finish. This plan is -especially applicable to lake hunting, when hounds are continually -swimming in deep water. - -When hounds are on a drag, or have put down their otter, the huntsman -should encourage them, cheering them on to any particular hound which has -made a hit, and the same when they mark solidly at a root. There is no -need to be noisy, but hounds work all the better for encouragement, and a -bit of excitement at a holt teaches young hounds to mark their otter. To -make a success of otter-hunting, or any other kind of hunting for that -matter, a man must use his brains, and to some extent call on his powers -of imagination. - -A chapter on hunting is hardly complete without some mention of that -elusive mystery called scent, so a few words will be devoted to it here. -You get good and bad scenting days in otter-hunting just as you do -when hunting fox or hare, but the chase of the otter has the advantage -of being conducted both on land and water, and if scent is bad on the -latter, it may be quite the reverse if your otter takes to terra firma. -Sometimes it is good on both, though it may happen that an otter which -has been hustled about the woods or across country apparently gives off -little scent when he returns to the water. A bitch otter in cub, or one -with a young family, appears to often give off little or no scent, and -where hunting takes place on a river polluted by oil, or other foreign -matter, scent is generally conspicuous by its absence. Scent varies too -at different times of day. In the early morning, before the sun has -dispelled the dew, it is generally good, but dies away as the atmosphere -becomes warmer. When the sun begins to sink and the air becomes damp -again, scent is likely to freshen; while a shower of rain may affect it -in the same way. The vagaries of scent are impossible to foretell with -anything like certainty, and perhaps it is as well so, otherwise sport -would become too cut and dried, and would lose much of its interest on -that account. - -Occasionally an otter takes refuge behind weiring or in some other -retreat, that necessitates pulling down a certain amount of the -obstruction before he can be evicted. In this case, permission from -the owner or tenant of the place should be obtained before beginning -operations. In the same way, should the owner or tenant object to the -presence of hounds on his land, always be civil, no matter what he -says, and take hounds away without any argument. The life of the sport -depends upon the existence of amicable relations between the Hunt and -the owners of the land which they cross. Although terriers can as a rule -bolt an otter if they can get to him, ferrets have been used for the -same purpose before to-day. Both otters and foxes have on occasion been -bolted from rabbit burrows during ferreting operations. In some countries -artificial drains or holts have been constructed for the use of otters, -but there is usually a good deal of uncertainty as to whether the otters -will take to such abodes. Where old drains run a long way into the land, -with possibly a number of branch drains, it is often wise to place iron -gratings at some distance from the mouth, in order to facilitate matters -when it comes to bolting an otter. As the great charm about otter-hunting -is its freedom from artificiality, _made_ holts or drains need hardly be -encouraged, except perhaps in extreme cases where there is no suitable -lying-up place for otters over a long stretch of water. - -When hunting hounds, the Master will be assisted in the field by two -whippers-in, which may consist of the paid kennelman, and an amateur. -Their job is to keep hounds in check when necessary, prevent rioting, -if any, and keep in touch with the pack should hounds go off across -country with a screaming scent. Taking it for granted that the paid hand -knows his job, the amateur should be equally proficient. He must keep a -keen look out as he goes for signs of otters, as well as hidden drains, -etc., and he must know the names of all the hounds and their individual -idiosyncrasies, so as to tell instantly if they are inclined to riot, or -they show an inclination to mark at roots, or take a line away from the -river. Speaking broadly, the whippers-in prevent hounds going too fast -and outpacing the Master and the field, but it should be remembered that -hounds can be kept _too much_ in check, and by so doing they are balked -in their desire to hunt, as well as drive on when scenting conditions are -good. In fox or hare hunting, the huntsman's place is with his hounds, -whether they are drawing or running, and there appears to be no good -reason why an otter-huntsman should not "get a move on" when his hounds -push ahead on a hot drag, or drive along across country. It is quite -as necessary to run, and often run hard, with otterhounds, as to ride -hard with foxhounds, and the huntsman who takes his own time whilst -his whipper-in is bursting himself across country is surely lacking in -keenness. - -Although otter-hunting does not call for as much quickness on the part -of the huntsman as fox-hunting, we still must confess we like to see -a huntsman of otterhounds show some agility when his hounds run fast. -This particularly applies to hunting in the north, where otters so often -cross steep watersheds. A great deal of valuable time is frequently lost, -simply because the huntsman prefers to take his own time, instead of -attempting to keep in close touch with hounds, and thus be on the spot -should they momentarily require his assistance. As far as the field are -concerned, it is their own fault if they are left behind when hounds -run. When travelling with hounds on the highway, however, the huntsman -and whippers-in should go at a reasonable pace, so as to give the field -a chance--particularly the ladies--to be there when hounds are put to -water. Racing ahead with hounds on the roads gets the pack into the habit -of pushing on when there is really no need for it, so a reasonable -walking pace should be aimed at. - -When hounds have put their otter down, or "hit him abroad," to use an old -expression, and are swimming him, the huntsman should keep on the shallow -side of the river, more particularly if the farther bank is thickly -overgrown with willows or other cover. From the shallow side he has a -clear view of what his hounds are doing, and if it is necessary to pole -the farther bank if an otter persists in hanging there, he should ask one -of his whippers-in, or some experienced member of the field to do it for -him. - -With regard to clothing and etceteras for otter-hunting, little need be -said here. Hunt uniforms are usually made of woollen serge material, -which dries quickly, and withstands a lot of rough usage. Shorts are -sometimes worn, but in our experience loose knickerbockers are much -preferable, particularly for hunt officials who may have to force their -way through briers or other undergrowth in the execution of their duty. -Bare knees and thorns do not associate well together, while breeches of -the semi-riding type are too tight-fitting, and retain water. Boots or -shoes should be well nailed to prevent slipping, preferably with soft, -wrought-iron hobs, which get a better grip on rocks than steel nails. -An iron-shod pole of ash or hazel--the latter is light yet strong--is -necessary for crossing deep or swift water, and in some districts as -an aid to jumping wide ditches and open drains. A pole shod with a -double-pronged spike is less liable to slip than one armed with a single -spike. Likewise a pole cut from the growing tree or sapling looks more -workmanlike than a "made" one, ornamented with a fancy metal head or -other embellishment. With regard to the whip, for use by Hunt officials, -one with a short lash is to be preferred, for it can be far more easily -cracked when the user is standing in water than a long-lashed affair. - -The huntsman who cannot blow an ordinary horn without unnecessary -discords will be well advised to secure a reed-horn. Every call can be -sounded on this, with the exception of that "to call hounds away," and -for this quite a good substitute can be blown. When using the horn, he -should employ distinct calls, then both hounds and field know what he -means. Some huntsmen blow the same note all day long, and hounds take no -heed of it, while the monotonous sound gets on the nerves of the field. - -Nowadays the otter-hunting season extends from April to September, but in -the fourteenth century it lasted from February to June. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -HOUNDS AND TERRIERS - - -The average otterhound pack to-day is usually composed of foxhounds, -cross-bred hounds, and a few couples of pure, rough-coated otterhounds. -In the old days the latter predominated in most packs, and it is only -of late years that the foxhound has come to the fore in the pursuit of -_Lutra_. - -The origin of the rough-coated hound is more or less shrouded in -mystery, but it is pretty safe to say that he is closely related to -the bloodhound. If true to type he possesses many of the bloodhound's -characteristics, including the long pendulous ears, the deep-set -eye showing the haw, and the black and tan colour which so often -predominates. The rough coat was gained by a cross of some sort, but it -is impossible to say with certainty what this cross was. The wire-haired -Welsh harrier may have had something to do with it, and again it is quite -likely that the old hard-coated Lancashire harrier may have been used for -the same purpose. It is possible, too, that the old southern hound was -crossed with the bloodhound, while there are those who believe that the -French griffon had a share in the business. Thus we see that the rough -outer coat may have come from a variety of sources, but the thick, woolly -under-coat is no doubt a provision of nature to protect the hound from -the effects of frequent and long-continued immersion in the water. This -under coat is worn by the Chesapeake Bay dog, a breed of retriever much -used by wildfowl shooters in America. - -In the fourteenth century raches or running hounds--known later simply as -hounds--were of various kinds. In the "Master of Game" it says: "There be -also many kinds of running hounds, some small and some big, and the small -be called kenets, and these hounds run well to all manner of game, and -they (that) serve for all game men call them harriers. And every hound -that hath that courage will come to be a harrier by nature with little -making." - -Harrier was in those days spelt heyrer, and it was not until after the -sixteenth century that the modern spelling came into vogue. It was -probably derived from the Anglo-Saxon _herian_, to harry or disturb. In -the "Boke of St Albans" it says that the hart, the buck, and the boar -should be started by a limer, and that all "other bestes that huntyd -shall be sought for and found by Ratches so free." Thus it appears that -all beasts that were enchased were moved by a lime-hound, while those -that were hunted up were found by raches. The otter-hunting illustration -in the "Master of Game" shows five hounds, one of which is on leash, and -appears to be a limer. The otter was certainly not enchased in those -days, being looked upon as vermin, yet as the picture shows a limer at -work, it is possible that lime-hounds were sometimes used for other game -than the recognised beasts of chase. The hound shown swimming the otter -is bloodhound-like, while two smaller hounds appear to have broken coats. -In the fourteenth century the otter and various other creatures, such -as the rabbit, fox, wild cat, etc., were hunted by _biss hunters_ (fur -hunters) for their skins, and no doubt the smaller breed of hounds then -known as heyrers were employed in their capture. - -Coming down to modern times, there are, as far as we are aware, but -two existing otterhound packs entirely composed of pure, rough-coated -otterhounds. All other establishments employ mixed packs. Cross-bred -hounds are usually the result of a union between a pure otterhound bitch -and a foxhound. The majority of foxhounds which find their way to the -otterhound kennels have been drafted for over-height, age, or faults. -They are often presented to the M.O.H., or he buys them at a low figure. -Having purchased or otherwise got together sufficient hounds to make a -start, you can gradually weed them out, retaining the best workers for -future breeding operations. It is perhaps unnecessary to state that you -must have a couple or two of entered hounds to begin with, otherwise you -are likely to walk as far as the Rev. Jack Russell did before you find -an otter. As regards cross-bred hounds, the first cross may be capital -workers, but it is doubtful if much good comes from breeding from them. - -One sees all shapes, makes, and sizes of rough hounds in the various -packs, but the best bred ones are big, upstanding animals, from -twenty-two to twenty-four or more inches in height. Speaking from our -own experience, we have found the majority of rough hounds to be much -more clumsy and less active than foxhounds. Their feet, too, are often -inclined to be open and flat, and they lack the heart and stamina of the -foxhound. There are, of course, exceptions, and we have come across rough -hounds that were capital workers, but take them all round they are too -big and clumsy, at any rate for work on rough, rocky streams. Despite -their rough jackets, they suffer from the effects of long immersion -in water far more than the foxhound, whose short, smooth coat is dry -after a shake or two. In addition they are not such good doers as the -foxhound, and require more attention after hunting. They are also apt to -be quarrelsome in kennel. Many of them possess extremely fine noses, and -can speak to a line a day or two old, but this is of no practical help in -hunting, because it is impossible to drag up to an otter that has been -so long gone. They swim well, and often draw well when swimming, but the -foxhound is quite their equal in this respect. In our experience the -hound that can wind his otter across the stream and go straight to him is -more often a foxhound than a rough hound. - -[Illustration: A Famous Otterhound, Mr W. Thompson's "Snowdrop." - - (_Photo by R. Clapham_). -] - -[Illustration: Some of Mr W. Thompson's Rough Otterhounds. - - (_Photo by R. Clapham_). _To face p. 116._ -] - -The foxhound, too, is usually a better marker once he has entered -properly, and when it comes to holding and killing an otter, the rough -hound cannot compare with him. Across country, too, and when an otter -runs through covert, the foxhound's dash and drive at once put him -in the lead. The rough hound has a resonant, musical voice, and a -picturesque appearance, but taking him all round, from a solely _working_ -point of view, he is, in our humble opinion, inferior to the foxhound, -particularly on rough, rocky rivers, where a light-built, active type of -hound shows to advantage. Custom ordains that hounds for otter-hunting -should be rough jacketed, and by employing cross-bred or rough Welsh -foxhounds you get the rough coat, without the undesirable qualities found -in the pure otterhounds. - -The latter show to the best advantage in low-lying country, where the -rivers are slow running, and the going easy. In these days, when meets -are late and time is valuable, pure otterhounds with their tender noses -dwell and revel on the drag instead of pushing forward. The foxhound, on -the other hand, may feather on a stale line, but he will not as a rule -open unless the drag is fairly fresh. When he does throw his tongue, you -can confidently cheer the others to him, knowing that your otter is not -so very far in front. Although we cannot deny that the deep, resonant -music of a pack of pure otterhounds is delightful to listen to, something -more than the "band" is required to kill an otter. - -Foxhounds, cross-breds, and Welsh hounds throw their tongues well -enough, and in addition they possess dash and drive, with little or no -inclination to dwell. Foxhounds, before they have entered properly, draw -wide and will not always stick to the river, but if they have done a few -season's stag-hunting--thus being used to water work--they generally -enter well to otter and draw closely enough. A hound may not take any -interest in the sport during his first season, but the following season -he may prove to be one of the best. Unfortunately the majority of draft -foxhounds are aged before they find their way to the otterhound kennels, -therefore any lengthy delay in entering to their new quarry shortens the -period of their usefulness, that at the best cannot be very long. - -Aged foxhounds after a time show an inclination to dwell and revel in -the scent, and when this happens it is a sign that their utility is -coming to an end. If possible always get hold of foxhounds which throw -their tongues freely, and have nothing whatever to do with a mute hound. -However closely you keep an eye on the latter, he will sooner or later -get away "on his own," and be the means of spoiling more than one good -hunt. No matter how good a mute hound is in his work, get rid of him, for -unless he lets you know what he is doing he is useless to you. Likewise, -never on any consideration be tempted to breed from a mute hound. Rough -otterhounds cannot stand punishment like the foxhound, and will howl and -kick up a dreadful racket if hurt, or hit with the whip for some fault. - -It is during the course of a long hunt in heavy or chilly water that -the average rough otterhound will pull out and sit shivering on the -bank, while the foxhounds are keeping their otter on the move. In our -experience, the foxhound is a much better fresh-finder than the pure -otterhound, and it is the hounds good at fresh-finding and keeping -their otter going that do most towards bringing the quarry to hand. At -the end of a long day, too, the cross-breds and foxhounds will return -to kennels with their sterns up, while many of the rough sort exhibit a -very depressed appearance. They never seem to pick their feet up like -a foxhound, but shuffle about in an ungainly fashion. When it comes to -killing an otter, the foxhound has it all his own way. Time and again -we have seen him seize and hold a big otter, often shaking his quarry -like a fox. The rough hound often fails in this respect, for he has not -the courage to make him a good seizer and killer. A foxhound which comes -to the otterhound kennels with the reputation of being a good marker -nearly always keeps up his fame in the same way when entered to otter. -Good marking hounds are the mainstay of any pack. As far as brains are -concerned, the foxhound appears to make more use of his "grey matter" -than the rough hound, and shows more initiative and individuality. His -pace and activity, too, are beyond question, both of which qualities are -of the greatest assistance when swimming an otter, and more particularly -when hunting one across country or through extensive coverts. It is -the active hounds which score so often on rough and rocky rivers, for -drive and pace are an occasion quite as necessary in otter-hunting as -fox-hunting. - -The cross between foxhound and rough otterhound possesses many of the -attributes of the former, including a rough jacket, and thus is admirably -fitted for the pursuit of _Lutra_. - -Turning to Welsh hounds, some of which have rough, and others smooth -coats, we find a breed admirably suited to both fox and otter-hunting. -Many Welsh hounds are white or nearly so, while others are the old -black-and-tan colour. The English foxhound of standard type is bigger and -has more substance than the Welsh hound, but the latter excels in nose -and tongue, and can stand any amount of hard work in rough country. In -our experience, too, Welsh hounds--particularly those of the smaller -type--are very active, and have plenty of drive, while they are often -capital markers, and can hold and kill an otter quite as quickly as any -English foxhound. - -Another type of hound admirably suited to otter-hunting is the -fell-foxhound of Cumberland and Westmorland. He is for the most part a -light-built, active sort, with a capital nose, and any amount of tongue. -In the Lakes and certain districts adjoining, fell-hounds often hunt -fox in winter and otter in summer. The fell-hounds are kennelled in the -fox-hunting season, but go out to walk in summer, and generally a few -couples are lent to the local otterhounds for the chase of _Lutra_. In -our experience fell-hounds enter quickly to otter, and on our rough and -rocky northern rivers they are very hard to beat as all round performers. -Many of them are capital markers, and they will hunt a drag, and kill an -otter with the best. - -Turning to the "Otter-hunting Diary" of the late Mr James Lomax, of -Clayton Hall, who kept a pack from 1829 to 1871, we find an illustration -of the old Lancashire harrier or foumart-hound. The picture shows a -couple of rough-haired hounds in full cry, which appear a medium-sized, -light-built, active type; more suggestive of the rough Welsh foxhound -than the modern otterhound. Mr Lomax used these foumart-hounds in -crossing with his otterhounds. In another illustration, showing some of -the pack in 1835, the type of hound appears to be lighter-built and more -active-looking than the big, present-day rough otterhound. - -The tendency with English foxhounds has been to breed them much bigger -than was the case in former years, and the same apparently applies to -the rough otterhound. Certainly a tall hound can wade where a smaller -hound is obliged to swim, but a medium-sized, active type is less -clumsy, and more fitted for work on rocky streams than the heavy hounds -now seen in most packs. From a purely working point of view, a pack -composed of English, Welsh, and fell-foxhounds would be very hard to -beat. By judicious crossing, an ideal pack could be bred, retaining to -a great extent the rough coat of the Welsh hound, if that was thought -indispensable to the appearance of the pack. - -Although draft foxhounds are generally used for otter-hunting, it pays -to get hold of a bitch or two and breed from them. By so doing you can -gradually get together a pack composed of hounds of the desired sort, and -if you are lucky you may be able to hunt fox with them in the winter, and -thus keep hounds in condition for their summer work. Hounds, like human -beings, get very fed-up with continual road exercise, therefore a bit of -winter hunting appeals to them far more than the dull routine of exercise -walks. - -Next in importance to the hounds are the terriers, for without their -help it would be impossible to eject an otter from his holt. The most -important quality in a terrier is gameness, for no matter how well built -he is, if he has not the courage to go below ground and stay with his -otter until the latter bolts, or the diggers unearth him, he is not -worth his keep. Provided he is thoroughly game, and not too big, it -matters not how a terrier is bred. He is there to work, and not to be -looked at. Roughly speaking, a terrier of about 14 lb. weight will be -suited to otter-hunting. As, apart from bolting otters, he will not be -called upon to do any great amount of travelling over rough country, -short legs are no great drawback to him. For all that, however, we -like to see a terrier with a fair length of leg, for there are certain -holts, particularly amongst rocks, where an otter can command the upper -position, and a short-legged terrier is much handicapped when trying to -get at him. A terrier should have a fair head and jaw, and he should -be as narrow in front as is compatible with adequate heart and lung -room. A narrow-fronted dog can always get into a smaller place than a -broad-chested one, even if he is longer on the leg. A terrier that will -lie up close to an otter and move him with his tongue is preferable to -one that goes straight in to the attack. His barking eventually gets on -the otter's nerves and causes him to get "out of that," while should the -otter refuse to bolt, the terrier's voice is a guide as to where to dig. -A terrier soon learns his job, and after getting mauled a time or two by -otters, he will make more use of his tongue than his teeth. When entering -a puppy for the first time, choose an easy place, so that the youngster -has a fair chance to get in touch with his otter. - -As to the colour of a terrier, good ones--like horses--come in all -colours. White is perhaps preferable, as a white terrier is less likely -to be mistaken for the otter by hounds at a kill. Certainly white -terriers appear to suffer fewer casualties in this respect than coloured -ones. As to whether terriers should run loose with hounds is a question -the Master must settle for himself. When terriers are loose, there is -always the chance that cubs may be chopped by them, though to set against -such a contretemps, many an otter is found and put down by the terriers. -Again, coloured terriers running loose may be killed or badly mauled by -hounds, when the latter are hard at their otter. - -During the season of 1921, with the K. and D.O.H., we had two coloured -terriers worried by hounds, one of which recovered but the other died the -same night. The otter, which was getting beat, took to land, and hounds -collared him as he left the water, the terriers being seized by some of -the pack in mistake for their quarry. Had those terriers been in the -couples at the time, they would have been saved. It is really safest to -lead the terriers until they are wanted, and after bolting their otter -they should be got hold of again as soon as possible. The same when -hounds are worrying their otter, always pick up the terriers if any of -them are loose. - -In order that hounds shall keep fit and well, they must receive proper -attention in the kennel. Less flesh is needed for feeding otterhounds -than foxhounds, because they do their work in summer, and both the -season of the year and the work itself do not make so great a call on -their powers as does the chase of the fox in winter. During the off -season, otterhounds should be exercised for two or three hours daily, -and as the hunting season approaches the exercise can be gradually -lengthened. With a pack of cross-bred, Welsh, or English foxhounds, it -is possible to hunt otters in summer and fox in winter, and where this -can be done, hounds will, of course, keep perfectly fit. In the case of -the fell-foxhounds, those hunting otter in summer return to their own -kennels for the winter fox-catching. As far as food is concerned, this -should always be given thick, rather than soft and sloppy. Hounds splash -"slop" into their eyes, and get particles of it up their nostrils, to the -detriment of both sight and olfactory powers. On the return from hunting, -cuts and bruises should be attended to, and thorns, etc., extracted. -Hounds' coats should also be brushed, and burrs, etc., removed. Rough -hounds require more looking after in this respect than smooth-coated -ones. The huntsman should see that his hounds are fed and properly bedded -down before he attends to his own wants. If hounds look well and hunt -well, you can rest assured that your huntsman or feeder is paying proper -attention to the pack in kennel. As regards kennels, these need not be -of an expensive nature, but the drainage and general sanitation _must_ -be adequate if hounds are to keep fit. Wherever waste matter is present, -either in the boiling house, feeding place, or yards, there will disease -germs gather, and complaints amongst hounds will be for ever breaking -out. The old adage "Cleanliness is next to godliness" applies as much to -hounds and their kennels as it does to human beings and their houses. - -Some huntsmen are apt to let hounds get very much out of condition -during the winter months, instead of exercising regularly, which means -that on the approach of the hunting season all sorts of physic is used -in an attempt to get them fit again. It is quite safe to say that the -less medicine you employ about the kennels the better, and there will be -little or no need for it if hounds are rationally fed and exercised in -the winter. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -REMINISCENCES - - -There are very few Masters in the country who hunt fox in winter and -otter in summer with the same hounds, and fewer still we imagine who have -killed an otter and a fox on the same day. The latter feat was performed -by the Master of the South Tetcott, whose hounds found and killed an -otter on the River Othery, after which they unkennelled a fox cub, and -after rattling him about a bit, eventually brought him to hand. - -One of the few packs hunting both fox and otter is the Ynsfor, a -private pack owned by Major Evan Jones. His country lies in Carnarvon -and Merioneth, Snowdon and the adjoining mountains lying within its -borders. The Master is his own huntsman, and hounds are followed on foot, -owing to the precipitous nature of the country. The pack is composed -of the old Welsh breed, some rough and some smooth, with many of the -old black-and-tan colour amongst them. These hounds have been in Major -Jones's family since 1765. - -Probably few people have been out with both foxhounds and otterhounds on -the same day, but we can plead guilty to having accomplished this feat. -Before the L.D.O.H. were disbanded, hounds met very early one morning, -but failed to get an otter afloat, and when they returned to kennels we -went off and joined the Coniston Foxhounds, and eventually saw Reynard -accounted for. - -A great many people appear to have a rooted idea that an otter is a -slow-moving, clumsy creature, which never leaves the vicinity of water. -Such an assumption is, to say the least of it, inaccurate, as anyone can -easily testify, particularly those who have done much otter-hunting on -the rocky rivers of the north. In a previous chapter we have mentioned -a hunt during which the otter crossed a watershed, and this brings to -mind a seven and a half hours' hunt by the K. and D.O.H. on the River -Lune in the season of 1921. The otter was lying rough in a hanging wood -overlooking the river, and was found by a little fell-foxhound named -Cragsman, belonging to the Ullswater pack. After some up and down work -on the river, our otter stole away on land, and crossed some fields to a -small stream which runs between steep banks. There was a screaming scent, -and hounds fairly flew in pursuit. The otter ran the small stream nearly -to the top of the ghyll, then turned and came back. In a rock-bound pool -he lay low, but hounds were soon at him again. The pool lay between -smooth and slippery walls of rock, and at first the otter barely showed -his nose. Suddenly, however, he made a terrific spring--his hind legs no -doubt getting purchase on a ledge below the surface of the water--and all -but got clear of the pool. He hung for a brief instant on the rock wall, -making the picture of a lifetime for anyone lucky enough to have been -there with a camera, then he turned and fell with a splash into the pool. -It was a miracle how he got clear, but get away he did to run the fields -again, and take refuge in a rabbit burrow on the bank of the main river. -Hounds were taken away, and after a bit of work the terriers bolted him. -He took down stream, and after the pack was laid on, a couple of hounds -collared him on the shallows. He appeared to fling these hounds off as if -they were straws, then he shot into a pool, raising a splash and a wake -like a hydroplane as he crossed it. - -Reaching the farther bank, he at once took to the hanging wood, and went -straight up it. He gained a short start by this manoeuvre, then the pack -was roaring in his wake. Running the wood like a fox, it looked at first -as if he was going right out at the top, but he turned and came down -again, crossed the river and took refuge in a strong root holt. Some -time was spent digging before he could be ejected, and when he was at -last obliged to bolt, he again went straight across the river and took -to the wood. Hounds drove him round it, and he once more took the water. -Here he entered a long but not very deep pool, and hounds swam him down -it, then he turned and hounds checked. There was little or no cover on -the banks, but he got out without being seen, the first warning we had -of his departure being given by a young, rough hound which hit off his -line in the wood. This time he ran straight out to the top of the covert, -turned left-handed and crossed the open fields for more than a mile, just -beating hounds to a drain, the grating of which had been moved, where he -got in and was eventually left. - -We viewed this otter several times at close quarters, and estimated his -weight at nearer 30 lb. than 25 lb. - -He showed extraordinary running powers and activity for so large an -otter, and it was hard luck on hounds that he beat them. - -There was a screaming scent on land, but when he took the water for the -last time, hounds had some difficulty in owning the wash. That otter -would most certainly have convinced anyone who was sceptical of _Lutra's_ -activity and running powers. - -We have already mentioned the fondness that otters have--particularly -in Canada--for sliding. When engaged in this amusement, they tuck their -forelegs in, and toboggan down the bank on their stomachs. This season -(1921), whilst the Coniston Foxhounds were hunting on the fells, a -couple and a half of hounds ran a fox in the direction of an earth on -which some of the field were standing. About the same time, an otter -suddenly ran out from some rocks near the main earth, and after going -some distance, tucked in its head and forelegs, and actually _rolled_ -some yards downhill. We were on the opposite side of the valley at the -time, but a very keen and experienced fox and otter hunter who was there, -and witnessed the incident, said that he had never seen anything like it -before in his life. - -A name to conjure with in the annals of Lakeland otter-hunting is that -of the late Bobby Troughton. He was born on Fellside, Kendal, in 1836. In -the early eighties he purchased three hounds, "Raleigh," "Ragman," and -"Londesborough," and with these three hounds and a couple of terriers he -began to hunt the local rivers. Having thus formed the nucleus of a pack, -he gradually added to it and improved it, until the late Mr Courtenay -Tracy, M.O.H., said there was not another pack like it in England. -Bobby's heaviest otter was a big dog weighing 32 lb., and was killed in -Rydal Lake. One of his most famous hunts took place in Lever's Water on -the Coniston fells. Hounds met at 5 a.m. at the foot of Yewdale Beck, and -striking a hot drag at once, went out towards the hills. Near the edge of -the tarn they put their otter down, and he at once took to the water. For -nine hours he kept hounds going, and it was not until some of the field -volunteered to go to Coniston for a boat--no small undertaking--that -Bobby was able to get afloat himself, and give his hounds a helping hand. -At long last the otter attempted to land, and hounds collared him, thus -earning their reward. - -[Illustration: K. & D.O.H. Moving Off to Draw. - - (_Copyright by R. F. Lees, Blackpool_). -] - -[Illustration: Going to the Meet by Ferry on Lake Windermere. - - (_Photo by R. Clapham_). _To face p. 139._ -] - -At one time in the north, packs of rough hounds were kept for hunting -otter, marten, and foumart. One of the last of these packs to hunt in the -Lake District belonged to the late Mr Fleming Green, of Grasmere. Anthony -Chapman, who was his huntsman, and later hunted the Windermere Harriers -for many seasons, is still hale and hearty, and delights in a "crack" -about old times. - -Another well-known Master in the north was the late Mr James Lomax, of -Clayton Hall, Great Harwood, Lancashire. - -His "Otter-hunting Diary" contains an account of the sport he enjoyed -from 1829 to 1871, and is most interesting reading. Like Bobby -Troughton in later years, he bred a very perfect pack of hounds of -the rough-coated type. In 1871 rabies unfortunately broke out in his -kennels, necessitating the destruction of all but three of the hounds. -Being himself advanced in years, he made no attempt to start a new pack, -despite the many offers of hounds he received, and one cannot blame -him. By the time he had got together another pack as good as the one he -had lost, he would as he said himself have been too old to follow and -enjoy the sport. Mr Lomax always met very early in the morning, often as -soon as 3 a.m. He showed wonderful sport on Ribble, Lune, and many other -rivers, and old men who can remember hunting with him, speak in glowing -terms of the great hunts they enjoyed with his pack. In one respect -Mr Lomax differed from present-day Masters, i.e., in the practice of -"sacking" otters and removing them to more huntable waters. There are in -the diary, several instances recorded of such otters having died, so that -the practice was not a profitable one. - -The most famous otter-hunter Scotland has ever seen was the late Mr -Waldron Hill, of Murrayfield House, near Edinburgh. - -When quite a young man he contracted consumption, and was told by his -doctors that he had not long to live. Nothing daunted, however, Mr Hill -took to otter-hunting, and the sport agreed with him so well, that he -hunted practically every river in Scotland, and lived to be far advanced -in years. - -When the West Lothian Foxhounds were in existence, Mr Hill used to run -with them, and saw as much sport as most of the mounted brigade. - -In "Field and Fern," _The Druid_ wrote regarding Mr Hill: "Some years ago -he had a pack of otterhounds in Monmouthshire, of the Welsh breed, smooth -and white with yellow ears; for the last five years he has had black and -tans, a cross between the bloodhound and rough Lancashire hound, which is -used in that country for otter and foumart. Their nose is nearly equal -to the Lancashire hound, who are unrivalled in this respect and never -disposed to be tonguey. The bloodhound cross also makes them more savage -in their worry, but they are often very unpleasant to manage in kennel. -Mr Hill has found the foxhound fail in working up to his otter in a cold -drag, but excellent on the line when the game is fairly started. With -him the southern hound has only failed from lack of constitution, which -is injured by too much swimming." - -Mr Hill used terriers of Welsh breed, which he got from the kennels of Mr -Ramsay Williams, after the latter's death. These terriers weighed about -15 lb., and were bred as flat-sided as possible to enable them to squeeze -into narrow places. They were fairly long on the leg, and were used for -bolting fox, otter, marten, and foumart. Mr Hill's principal river was -the Tyne, flowing through Haddingtonshire. Speaking of the South Esk, -_The Druid_ says: "Last August it was the scene of a very remarkable run, -as the otter only touched the water twice for a few minutes throughout a -run of eight or nine miles, and was eventually pulled down in the heart -of one of the East Lothian fox-whins." Regarding a long drag with Mr -Hill's hounds, _The Druid_ says: "In '62 the hounds hit upon one at the -Clutby Dam reservoir on the north side of the Pentlands, and hunted him -through the sheep-drains right over the Pentlands, down to the reservoir -at St Catherine's. He had gone through it on the north side, and from -there down the Glencorn burn, nearly to the North Esk. Leaving this for -another burn across the country, he headed back to the reservoir at St -Catherine's, where, on account of the water being too high, he could not -be moved. This otter must have travelled nearly twenty miles during the -night, and it was well for Mr Hill that his terriers were long-legged; -and that he himself is always in condition summer or winter, or he would -have seen nothing of the fun on that hot and very wet September morning." -We wonder how far the members of a modern otter-hunting field would get, -if asked to follow hounds on a hot drag for twenty miles? Not far we'll -warrant, for most of them would swear that hounds were on a fox. - -People who incautiously "tail" an otter are very apt to get bitten, and -regarding this _The Druid_ says: "In all these forays Mr Hill has never -got heavily bitten himself; but many years ago, when he was hunting on -the Kenvy near Abergavenny, the otter came out of the water just before -it was killed, made straight at the whip, who was a few yards off his -master, shook him savagely by the trousers, and then passed on." - -We have heard people say that an otter makes no splash when diving or -otherwise entering the water. Certainly at times he does not make much -of a disturbance, for his sinuous body is built for swimming, but when -playing in the water, or when hunted, he splashes quite a lot. We were on -one occasion watching the mouth of a drain on the river Lune, in which -the terriers were baiting an otter. In front of this drain was a row of -willow trees. Standing quietly a yard or so to one side of the drain -entrance we at last saw the otter show himself. He stood at the drain -mouth sniffing the air, the muscles working his thick "whiskers," giving -his face a very puffed out appearance. Hearing or seeing some of the -field on the opposite bank of the river he turned round and went back up -the drain. A fairly long interval elapsed, and we were just bending down -to listen at the drain mouth, when, without the slightest warning the -otter shot out, and leapt straight through the willow tree, to land in -the water with a splash like a sack of oats. From where he took off, to -the point where he hit the river, constituted a remarkable jump, and he -must have been coming pretty fast when he shot out of the drain. - -On another occasion at the same drain, which is a favourite resort of -otters, the terriers were at work, and an opening had been made into the -drain at some distance from the river. We were watching the drain mouth, -and after a bit the otter showed himself, but went back. The bank where -we stood was high, and there was a certain amount of rubbish in the -way of dead branches, etc., partially covering the drain mouth. Being -below the bank we could not see what was happening in the field, and we -were greatly astonished when a big otter suddenly rushed over the edge -of the bank, nearly on top of us, scrambled through the branches, and -disappeared up the drain. The terriers had bolted him in the field, and -we, of course, were unaware of what was happening. This otter finally -emerged at the drain mouth, but unlike his predecessor, took the water -quietly below the willow trees. - -In Walton's description of a morning's sport with Mr Sadler's -"Otter-dogs," Sweetlips--one of the hounds--brings the carcass of the -otter to "Venator." We have on several occasions seen a hound seize and -carry a dead-beat otter ashore. This is easily done in the case of a 12 -lb. or 14 lb. otter, but it is a different matter for a hound to handle -a big, fighting dog otter. When a hunted otter is floating on top of the -water, he often makes a considerable splash if he dives in a hurry. - -Although perhaps not so good a climber as some other members of the -weasel family, the otter is no slouch at negotiating steep, rocky ghylls, -and can scramble about in a wonderful manner. It seems rather hard to -account for the fact that in some seasons hounds kill a majority of dog -otters, while in other seasons the total is chiefly made up of bitches. -Where you find a bitch otter, there is often a dog within a mile or -so, either up or down stream; and no doubt the two of them keep that -particular stretch of water free from other lutrine intruders. - -Scent and its vagaries will no doubt always be a mysterious problem. -How often have we seen hounds able to hunt quite well amongst the -undergrowth, yet when they reached an open expanse of sand where the seal -of an otter was plainly visible, they have crossed it without a single -hound speaking. An instance of this comes to mind during the season -of 1921, when hounds ran well across country, whereas on a sand-bank, -literally padded flat with otter tracks, never a hound opened. - -Although hounds may sometimes travel a long way up-stream without -touching a drag, that does not always signify that you will not find. An -instance of this comes to mind when we were hunting a small hill-stream. -Hounds had covered some miles of water without a sign of a drag, and the -field was becoming rather discouraged, when suddenly the pack opened -in no uncertain manner, and began tearing at a holt on the bank. While -hounds were thus occupied, the otter bolted and went downstream, and -after a short hunt was accounted for. Until reaching the spot where -hounds marked, there was little or no lying ground, and seeing that there -was also no up-stream drag it pointed to the fact that our otter had -travelled over a neighbouring watershed, and had entered the holt on his -journey downstream. It is always well to remember that an otter may be -found anywhere, and because there happens to be no drag up-stream that -does not mean to say that you may not find when you reach the head waters. - -Regarding the agility and jumping powers of otters we remember hounds -finding an otter lying rough, which, after a certain amount of dusting -up and down stream, jumped a wall into a road, passed under a motor -car standing there, and went over another wall into the field beyond. -Leaving the field it scaled a third wall before returning to the water. -Eventually it took to some extensive coverts, and after running a ring -through them, it was bowled over by hounds in the open as it was making -its way back to the river. That an otter knows every inch of ground over -which he has once travelled is made quite apparent to those who do much -otter-hunting. - -We have, in a previous chapter, told of an otter which travelled ten -miles overland from one stream to another, going straight to the various -smoots through the walls which barred its passage. In an emergency, too, -an otter makes up his mind pretty quickly. On one occasion the terriers -got to their otter in a drain, and after opening the latter, the otter -backed out. The drain lay parallel to a hedge, and like a flash the otter -darted through this, ran down behind it, and was into another underground -retreat before anyone had time to realise his game. - -As a rule, if two otters are put down together, the one which is not -being hunted will promptly make itself scarce. We remember on one -occasion, however, when hounds were hunting a bitch otter, the dog hung -about in plain sight under a bridge, and remained there until the bitch -was accounted for, after which he himself suffered the same fate. - -Otter-hunting is the least artificial of our British field sports. The -otter is a wild animal, living the same free life that he has done for -generations, and we have yet to learn a good deal concerning him. Being -a great wanderer, he is here to-day and gone to-morrow, and his hunting -provides more "glorious uncertainty" than the chase of any other beast. -Before you can hunt him you must find him, but whereas with deer, fox, -and hare, the finding is often the easiest part of the business, in the -case of the otter it is the most difficult. In a previous chapter we have -made brief mention of otter-hunting dress. In these days blue is the -popular colour for Hunt livery, the material most favoured being woollen -serge. We wonder how modern otter-hunters would like to wear the dress -mentioned by Blaine, i.e., a green dress turned up with red, fur cap with -gold band, and waterproof hip-boots decorated with red or gold tassels. - -It was Somervile in _The Chase_ who coined the phrase "sly goose-footed -prowler," and gave to the world one of the best accounts of an otter-hunt -ever penned. Otter-hunting seems to have been little catered for in the -matter of songs pertaining to the sport. No doubt there are many purely -local ditties concerning the doings of various packs, but few songs -of real worth have made their appearance. In "The Poetry of Sport" by -Hedley Peek, we find one or two, and in the "Otter-hunting Diary" of Mr -James Lomax there are a couple of Lancashire otter-hunting songs. One of -these songs is in dialect, and we take the liberty of quoting a verse or -two for to anyone who understands broad Lancashire they convey a lively -description of the sport. The song is entitled "The Hunt in the Hodder." -In the first verse the narrator goes to the meet: - - "Old Squire Lomax's dags I'd oft heerd um tell, - I bethought me one morning I'd see um mysell, - So I donn'd me, and reet off for Mytton dud trig, - Un I landed me just as they loosed under th' Brig. - - _Chorus_ - - Cobbler wur theer, Carver wur theer, - Random and Rover, oud Pilot and aw." - -After a good drag, hounds mark their otter in his holt, and Crab the -terrier is sent in. - - "Hark! Crab's agate feighting him, hard as he con, - Be sharp un seize howd of a dog, every mon. - We had nobbut just cleeked um, un roven um back, - When th' grey-headed maister croap eawt in a crack." - - _Chorus_ - -Hounds swim their otter for some time until at last he takes refuge in a -holt. - - "We swum him to Winckley, un theer he dud hoyle, - But a pick un a spade soon his harbour dud spoil; - Then he fought into Ribble, ay, reet thro' the pack, - Thro' foar on um once had him dean of his back." - - _Chorus_ - -Hounds eventually account for their otter, and the song finishes with: - - "This otter whoas weight wor just twenty-four peands, - Two hears, forty minits, wor hunted by th' heands; - Heer's luck to all th' pack, when they meeten next year, - May th' Captain, un me, un aw us be theer." - - _Chorus_ - -A rather amusing incident occurred some years ago when we were -whipping-in to the now disbanded Lake District Otterhounds. Whilst -waiting at Lakeside for the boat that runs up Lake Windermere, a -char-a-banc load of trippers arrived, to whom the sight of a pack of -otterhounds was evidently a novelty. Before we knew what was happening, -the crowd of sightseers had formed a ring round hounds, each member -of the party producing a song book. There then rose on the air the -well-known refrain "John Peel." The old huntsman listened whilst they -sang the first verse, then suddenly exclaimed "Give it more weft! give -it more weft!" Isaac evidently thought that their efforts compared badly -with the way in which the old song is sung by fox-hunters in Cumberland -or Westmorland. - -In addition to being the least artificial of our British field sports, -otter-hunting affords unrivalled opportunities for those who love to -watch the work of hounds. It is more popular now than it ever was, yet -there is still ample room for many more packs before our rivers and -lakes are thoroughly hunted as they should be. The more otters you kill -the more you will have, for riparian owners and tenants are for the most -part quite willing to afford protection to _Lutra_, when they know that -a keen huntsman and a killing pack of hounds are hunting their waters -regularly throughout the season. - -In conclusion we will finish with the old south-country toast "Death to -dog otters! Long life to the little bitches!" - - [Illustration] - - FINIS - - - - -INDEX - - - Abnormal colour, 32 - Activity of otter, 55, 137 - Adult otter, eyes of, 46 - African otter, 23 - Age of otters, 32 - Air, in holts, 50 - "Argyll, a Fauna of," 32 - - Back teeth of otter, 22 - Bethel, William, 43 - Bitch otter, breeding of, 31 - Biss hunters, 115 - Black-and-tan Welsh hounds, 122 - Bloodhound, 112 - Blaine, 150 - Bobby Troughton, 138 - British otter, 22 - "British Rural Sports, Manual of," 76 - - Coke, 37, 38 - Colour of otter, 26 - Charles St John, 56 - Claw-marks of otter, 40 - Clothing for otter-hunting, 109 - Claws, otter, 71 - _Chase, The_, 151 - Colour of terriers, 127 - Chesapeake Bay dog, 113 - Cross-bred hounds, 115 - Cubs, 31, 32, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 60 - - Dabchicks, 62 - Dalnaspidal, 63 - Digging by otter, 70 - Dixon, H. H., 77 - Digging, 98 - Drains, 106, 107 - _Druid, The_, 141, 142, 143 - Dress, otter-hunting, 150 - Drag, 78, 79, 80 - Ducklings, 64 - - Eels, 60 - Early meets, 77-80 - Essex O.H., 31 - Equipment, otter-hunting, 110 - Evicting otter, 96 - Exercising hounds, 129 - Excrement, 37 - - Feet, otter's, 25 - "Field and Fern," 77 - Finding otters, 87, 88 - Food for hounds, 129 - Footprints, 38-40 - Fur, otter's, 25, 26 - - Gaits of otter, 41 - - Harrier, Lancashire, 113 - Hazel pole, 110 - Head, otter's, 24, 26 - Hebrides, otters in, 55 - Hide, otter's, 33 - Highlands, otters in, 55 - Highway, hounds on, 108 - Hill, Mr Waldron, 140 - Holts, 49, 50 - Hound, lime, 75 - Horn, 110 - - Indian otter, 23 - Interdigital webs, 28 - - James Lomax, 77, 123 - John, King, 73 - Jones, Major Evan, 132, 133 - John, Charles St, 56 - Jura, 32 - - King John, 73 - Kenets, 113 - Kennels, 130 - - Lash, whip, 110 - Liam, 75 - Lime hound, 75 - Lomax, James, 77, 123 - - "Master of Game," 73, 75, 113, 114 - Marten, 65, 66 - Meeting early, 77-80 - Milbourne, 36 - - Notes on the horn, 111 - - Otter, natural history of, 21-41 - ----, head of, 24, 26 - ----, hide of, 33 - ----, Indian, 23 - ----, digging, 70 - ----, excrement of, 37 - ----, feet of, 25 - ----, fur of, 25, 26 - ----, footprints of, 38-40 - ----, African, 23 - ----, age of, 32 - ----, activity of, 55, 137 - ----, British, 22 - ----, back teeth of, 29 - ----, colour of, 26 - ----, cubs, 31, 32, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 60 - ----, coke, 37, 38 - ----, claw-marks of, 40 - ----, claws, 71 - ----, holts, 49, 50 - ----, abnormal colour of, 32 - ----, weights and measurements of, 30, 31 - - Peek, Hedley, 151 - Pine-marten, 65, 66 - "Poetry of Sport," 151 - - Record weights, 30 - Rose, Mr, 31 - - Salmon and otter, 57, 58 - Seal, 38 - Scent, 104, 105 - Signal, on whistle, 100 - Size of otters, 30, 31 - Songs, otter-hunting, 151 - Spears, otter, 74 - Spraints, 37 - Spur, 38 - - Tail, otter's, 25 - Tame cubs, 47 - Tallying, 99, 100 - Teeth, otter's, 29 - Track, otter's, 38 - Troughton, Bobby, 138 - Terriers, 125-128 - - Uniforms, hunt, 109 - - Weights of otters, 30, 31 - Welsh hounds, 122 - - Ynsfor O.H., 132 - - Zoological Gardens, 47, 54, 72 - - - PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN AT - THE NORTHUMBERLAND PRESS LIMITED, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE - - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber Note - - -Illustrations moved so as to not split paragraphs. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Book of the Otter - A manual for sportsmen and naturalists - -Author: Richard Clapham - -Commentator: William Thompson - -Illustrator: F. Lees - Alfred Taylor - -Release Date: May 15, 2016 [EBook #52071] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE OTTER *** - - - - -Produced by Tom Cosmas and The Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 264px;"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="264" height="429" alt="The Book of the Otter -- Richard Clapham" /> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">« 1 »</a></span></p> - - -<p class="caption1 pmt4 pmb4">THE BOOK OF THE OTTER</p> - - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">« 2 »</a><br /> - <a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">« 3 »</a><br /> - <a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">« 4 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 650px; margin-bottom: 4em;"> -<a id="Frontispiece"></a><img src="images/image1.png" width="650" height="428" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Otter Basking in Shallow Water.</span></div> - -<div class="fig_left">(<i>Copyright by Alfred Taylor, Whalley</i>).</div> -<div class="fig_right"><i>Frontispiece.</i></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">« 5 »</a></span></p> - - -<p class="caption1">THE BOOK OF<br /> -THE OTTER</p> - -<p class="caption3nb"><i>A MANUAL FOR SPORTSMEN AND<br /> -NATURALISTS</i></p> - -<p class="center">BY</p> - -<p class="caption2">RICHARD CLAPHAM</p> - -<p class="center pmb2">AUTHOR OF<br /> -"FOX-HUNTING ON THE LAKELAND FELLS,"<br /> -"ROUGH SHOOTING," ETC.</p> - -<p class="center"><i>With Illustrations from Photographs by the Author<br /> -F. Lees and Alfred Taylor</i></p> - -<p class="caption4 pmb2">AND AN INTRODUCTION BY<br /> -WILLIAM THOMPSON, M.O.H.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 154px;"> -<img src="images/logo.png" width="154" height="158" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="caption3 pmb4">HEATH CRANTON, LIMITED<br /> -6 FLEET LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">« 6 »</a><br /><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">« 7 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE">PREFACE</a></p> - - -<p>In these days otter-hunting is a popular sport, and -in consequence there are now many more packs of -otterhounds than was formerly the case. Of all -beasts of chase in this country, the otter is the one -about which we know least, for he is a great -wanderer, a creature of the night, and therefore -difficult to study systematically.</p> - -<p>Of the many people who follow hounds, comparatively -few understand the science of hunting, or -the habits of the creature which forms their quarry. -This is probably to some extent due to the fact -that there are very few books dealing exclusively -with the otter and his hunting. A knowledge of -the science of hunting and the habits of the quarry -can be picked up by those who have leisure to -study the subject afield, but there are others whose -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">« 8 »</a></span> -opportunities of doing so are limited. It is, -therefore, in the hope of interesting and perhaps -instructing the latter, that we have written the -following chapters.</p> - -<p class="tdr2">R. CLAPHAM.</p> - -<p class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Troutbeck,<br /> - Windermere.</span><br /> - <i>April, 1922.</i></p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">« 9 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></p> - - -<table summary="ToC" style="width: 35em;"> -<tr> - <td class="tdl smaller" colspan="2">CHAP.</td> - <td class="tdr smaller">PAGE</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td></td> - <td class="tdl">PREFACE</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#PREFACE">7</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td></td> - <td class="tdl">INTRODUCTION</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#INTRODUCTION">13</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">I.</td> - <td class="tdl">THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE OTTER</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">21</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">II.</td> - <td class="tdl">THE OTTER'S HAUNTS AND HABITS</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">42</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">III.</td> - <td class="tdl">OTTER-HUNTING, PAST AND PRESENT</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">73</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">IV.</td> - <td class="tdl">HOUNDS AND TERRIERS</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">112</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">V.</td> - <td class="tdl">REMINISCENCES</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">132</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td></td> - <td class="tdl">INDEX</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#INDEX">157</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">« 10 »</a><br /><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">« 11 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</p> - - -<table summary="LoI"> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">OTTER BASKING IN SHALLOW WATER</td> - <td class="tdr smaller"><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2"><i>To face page</i></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">OTTER TRACKS LEAVING WATER, WALKING</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">FURROW MADE BY OTTER IN DEEP SNOW</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">TUNNEL MADE BY OTTER IN SNOW</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">OTTER TRACKS IN SNOW, JUMPING</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">THE HUNTSMAN BRINGING HIS OTTER ASHORE</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">K. AND D.O.H. RETURNING TO THE MAIN RIVER</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">A KILL WITH THE K. AND D.O.H.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">HI, WORRY, WORRY!</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">A FAMOUS OTTERHOUND, MR W. THOMPSON'S "SNOWDROP"</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">SOME OF MR W. THOMPSON'S ROUGH OTTERHOUNDS</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">K. AND D.O.H. MOVING OFF TO DRAW</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl">GOING TO THE MEET BY FERRY ON LAKE WINDERMERE</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">« 12 »</a><br /><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">« 13 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2 pmt2"><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</a></p> - - -<p class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Beck House, <br /> -Giggleswick</span>, <br /> -<i>Feb. 12th, 1922</i>.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">My Dear Clapham</span>,—I am much flattered at -your invitation to write an introduction to your -"Book of the Otter," and only wish I were a good -enough hand with the pen to do your most -interesting book the justice it deserves.</p> - -<p>If I were asked to find fault with your work I -should say its only failing was its brevity. And -I would ask for a few more hunts and to have -them rather more elaborated. And if you could -not only expound to whips, either amateur or -professional, how you do your own work as such -<i>but make them into whips as good as yourself -thereby</i> you would take an enormous amount of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">« 14 »</a></span> -worry and responsibility off many a huntsman's -shoulders.</p> - -<p>As you say in your letter to me, a book on -such an interesting subject is sure to create a -friendly criticism, more particularly on such -controversial subjects as early meets versus late -ones and pure-bred otterhounds versus draft -foxhounds.</p> - -<p>Admittedly you and I have always taken rather -opposite views on these two questions, so despite -the very fair pros and cons you give these -respective arguments in your book, may I put in -a further argument in each case on behalf of -hounds?</p> - -<p>Take early meets with a pack hunting three -and four days a week. It is only possible to have -early meets in the hottest part of the year—say -middle of June to end of August in our North -Country, and a rather longer period with South -and West Country packs. Say hounds meet at -five a.m. on four days in the week. Hounds may -have to take anything from one to two hours to -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">« 15 »</a></span> -get from kennels to the meet. The men are in -kennel at least an hour before the hunting pack -turns out, so we know that hounds get no rest -after that hour, which is probably shortly after -two a.m. Hounds would normally be back in -kennel after a day of this sort within an hour or -two of midday. For the rest of that day, apart -from the disturbance—to hounds—of ordinary -kennel routine, they are unable to get genuine -rest on a hot summer's afternoon. The result is -that after a fortnight, or even a week of such work—and -I have many instances in my old hunting -diaries of both—you get a jaded pack, a tired -staff, and a weary Master. And I have been -unfortunate enough myself to have never seen -even a hunt before eight a.m.</p> - -<p>If anyone will guarantee to put hounds on to -the line of a travelling dog otter on a given day I -would be there with hounds every time. But -otherwise, no thank you.</p> - -<p>As to otterhounds versus foxhounds, I am -convinced that finance, or rather the lack of it, is -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">« 16 »</a></span> -the only reason why draft foxhounds are preferred -to otterhounds. Otter-hunting is a poor man's -sport, and few people realise what it costs to run -a pack and country. If you get a Master to take -a country he has very often spent enough out of -his own pocket when he has paid the difference -between the subscription list and the hunting -expenses. And breeding hounds on a big scale -adds enormously to expenses. The result is that -in nine cases out of ten the pack is made up of -draft dog foxhounds, and a very few rough-coated -otterhounds. An attempt may be made to breed -a litter or two a year from the rough otterhound -bitches. Five or six puppies may be got out to -walk, and three or four left in kennel. As many -of these as survive—possibly two and a half or -three couple—are brought on the following season, -and unless they are hopeless physical wrecks -they are put into the pack to keep up the theory -that they are a pack of <i>otterhounds</i>. And good -or bad workers they are often kept on for this -same purpose only. Under these circumstances, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">« 17 »</a></span> -and they are far from uncommon, no wonder the -average member of an otter-hunting field prefers -the foxhound. Any M.O.H. can get draft foxhounds, -and frequently get them as a gift—hounds -that have been the best of fox-hunters and fox-catchers, -but have got too slow or for any of a -dozen other reasons are unable to run up to the -pace of a modern foxhound pack. These draft -hounds know all about hunting, and only want -entering to their new quarry to make most -excellent otter-hunting hounds at a minimum of -expense and trouble.</p> - -<p>But if an M.O.H. breeds otterhounds on the -same lines that foxhounds are bred, breeds by -selection, breeds each year enough puppies to get -a big enough young entry the following year—big -enough not only to be able to put down -immediately any physical crock that may come -in, but big enough to allow for drafting a certain -number—during and at the end of their first -season you can have, in my humble opinion, a -pack of pure-bred otterhounds, not only not -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">« 18 »</a></span> -inferior to, but superior to any pack of draft -foxhounds. I may appear too enthusiastic on this -point—I am certainly rather disappointed. I -bought my first otterhounds in 1903. I started -breeding in 1905. In July, 1914, having for two -or three years prior to that date put over fifty -puppies out to walk each year, I had just over forty -couple of pure-breed otterhounds in kennel. And -I was hoping to prove that before many more years -passed my confidence in the otterhound was not -misplaced. But in 1919 I was reduced to under -ten couple, and circumstances have since prevented -me continuing my experiment to anything -like the same extent. And I must say that I have -never found the otterhound quarrelsome either in -kennel or out.</p> - -<p>I hope you will forgive my keen advocacy on -behalf of the pure-bred otterhound. I am sure -we should both dislike to see him entirely -eliminated from the hunting-field, and only to be -found as a weird and useless animal on the show -bench.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">« 19 »</a></span></p> - -<p>May your book have the great success that it -deserves. That it will give great pleasure to all -who know anything about the otter and the -hunting of it, I am sure. That it will be the -means of attracting many new converts I devoutly -hope. And if I may add a wish with a yet more -personal note, may I meet yourself and all my -other good otter-hunting friends at many another -good hunt, whether the meet be late or early, the -hounds otterhounds or foxhounds.</p> - -<p class="tdr">Yours very sincerely, <br /> -<span class="smcap">W. Thompson</span>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">« 20 »</a><br /> -<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">« 21 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2 pmt2"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> - -<span class="smaller">THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE OTTER</span></p> - - -<p>The common otter of the British Islands, known -in scientific classification as <i>Lutra vulgaris</i>, -belongs to the Mustelidę, or in other words the -weasel family. Included in the latter are the -martens and their allies, whose chief attributes -are activity, length of body and tail, shortness -of legs, widely separated toes, and small claws. -The otter is the possessor of similar attributes, -with additional developments to fit it for an -aquatic existence. If therefore we describe the -otter as an aquatic marten, living chiefly on a -fish diet, we shall probably not be deviating -very far from the truth. Swimming is an -inherited instinct handed down through the ages, -and though it has been lost by man, it has been -developed and taken advantage of by many -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">« 22 »</a></span> -creatures, in order to enable them to lead an -aquatic existence. The reason for this intensive -development of their swimming powers by -certain animals probably lies in the fact that -aquatic life opened a wider and safer field for -them, both in the matter of food supplies and -protection from their natural enemies.</p> - -<p>The otter family is widely distributed over -the globe, so before entering upon a detailed -description of our British otter, it may be of interest -to glance at other species inhabiting foreign -countries. The typical otters are marine as well -as aquatic in their habits, many of them visiting the -sea, where they live in the caves and other retreats -along the coast. There is one of the family, -however, i.e., the sea-otter, which is entirely -marine. The skin of this otter has always been -keenly sought for by fur-traders and trappers, and -it is owing to constant harassing by such people -that the sea-otter is now all but extinct. This -otter differs in many ways from its aquatic relations. -It possesses large flipper-like hind feet, a short tail, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">« 23 »</a></span> -and small, delicate forefeet. The hind paws -alone are used for swimming, the delicate and -sensitive forefeet being employed in locating the -otter's food, consisting of mussels, crabs, and other -shell-fish, which it hunts for amongst the rocks at -the bottom of the sea. This otter spends its entire -existence in salt water, and has been found as far -as twenty miles from land.</p> - -<p>The female usually has but a single young one, -born, so it is thought, on the large beds of seaweed -commonly known as kelp. Lying on her back in -the sea, the mother sleeps and suckles her baby -in that position.</p> - -<p>In Africa there is a species known as the spotted-necked -otter, which has shorter ears, longer toes, -and more hair about its nose than the common -otter. Africa also produces a large otter which -has more or less given up its aquatic habits. The -claws on this otter's forepaws have disappeared, -while those on the hind feet have practically done -so. In India there is a small otter whose claws -resemble those of the foregoing, and in both -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">« 24 »</a></span> -animals the sense of touch in the forepaws is -extremely delicate, which no doubt enables the -creatures to locate certain of their prey by feeling -for it. In the large African otter the webs between -the toes are greatly reduced, and the facial bristles -or "whiskers" are much softer than those -possessed by the common otter.</p> - -<p>South America can boast of a very large otter, -whose tail is wider and more flattened than is the -case with the otters above mentioned. It will thus -be seen that there are only slight differences -between individuals composing the typical otters.</p> - -<div class="fig_right" style="width: 130px;"> -<div class="fig_caption">No. 1.<br /> -<img src="images/fig_1.png" width="130" height="515" alt="" /> -<span class="smcap">Otter's Rudder.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>The common British otter (<i>Lutra vulgaris</i>) is -known by a variety of names in this country. The -Welsh call the animal dwrgi, while in Cornish it -is written durgi. In the Highlands, where Gaelic -is spoken, the name is dņbhran. The physical -formation of the otter is admirably adapted to fit -it for an aquatic existence. In order to offer the -least possible resistance to the water when the -animal is swimming below the surface, the otter's -head and muzzle are flattened, and the ears are -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">« 25 »</a></span> -very small. Both ears and nostrils can be closed -to exclude the water. The body -is long, low, and sinuous in -movement, set upon short legs -which are loosely articulated. -The feet are palmate, with five -toes armed with short, non-retractile -claws, and perfect interdigital -webs. The tail is more -than half the length of the head -and body, broad at the base, and -horizontally flattened. Beneath -the root of the tail will be found -a pair of small glands containing -a fetid liquid secretion. Being -an aquatic, sub-Arctic species, the -otter is furnished with a body -covering of two kinds. The thick, -close under-fur, which attains -special luxuriance of growth, is -provided for two purposes, i.e., for keeping -out the wet when the animal is in the water, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">« 26 »</a></span> -and for preventing loss of heat during cold -weather. Overlying this under-coat is a covering -of longer hairs, which are stiffer and more -shiny, greyish in colour at the base, and brown at -the tips. This dark colouring shows in most -pronounced fashion on the upper portions of the -body, and on the outer surfaces of the legs and -shoulders. The inner portions of the legs, belly, -chest, throat, and cheeks are brownish-grey. The -throat often shows a good deal of white or greyish-white -in irregular patches. This, however, varies -considerably in individual specimens, some showing -a good deal of it, others practically none at all. -Turning again to the head, we find the eyes small -and dark coloured, while the so-called "whiskers" -are long, stiff, and thick at the base. These long, -stiff hairs grow on the upper-lip, and there is a tuft -of them over each eye, and two tufts—one below -the other—on each cheek. In the case of the -domestic cat these "whiskers" are soft, and -possess a very delicate sense of touch, thus -enabling the animal to creep noiselessly through -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">« 27 »</a></span> -undergrowth in pursuit of prey. Should the cat's -"whiskers" touch the grass or other growth on -each side, puss is then instinctively aware that there -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">« 28 »</a></span> -is not sufficient room for her body to pass, and that -she will therefore make a rustling sound if she -persists in her advance, and so alarm her prey. -These soft hairs on the cat's face are quite adequate -for her purpose, because she hunts on land and -hates wet. Soaked with water the soft hairs would -droop and prove useless, and so it is for this reason -that the otter's "whiskers" have gradually -developed until now they are strong and stiff -in order to withstand the exigencies of frequent -underwater journeys. They are used, too, in a -rather different way, for although while on land -they may aid the otter to make a quiet approach -on prey, their chief purpose is for locating -food—in the shape of frogs, fish, etc.—either -beneath stones, or on the bottom of the riverbed. -The long hairs on the otter's upper-lip -are susceptible of considerable movement, for their -development has been followed by that of the -muscles beneath, which give the puffy appearance -to the otter's face. Provided with perfect interdigital -webs on all four feet, the otter when -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">« 29 »</a></span> -swimming slowly, paddles in exactly the same -manner as a dog. When the speed is increased, -however, the tail is brought into action, being -moved from side to side, while the body is thrown -into sinuous curves.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 463px;"> -<div class="fig_caption">No. 2.<br /> -<img src="images/fig_2.png" width="463" height="529" alt="" /> -OTTER'S HEAD, SHOWING WHITE MARKINGS ABOUT THE MOUTH -AND THROAT.</div> -</div> - -<p>The otter, like the seal, feeds upon fish, but -whereas the seal swallows its prey whole and -entire, the otter masticates its food. The teeth of -the otter are therefore adapted to crushing bones, -which, if not thoroughly broken up, would lodge -in the animal's throat. The two back teeth in the -otter's upper jaw are considerably enlarged, and -are provided with cutting edges and a flat crushing -surface. Provided with a short and powerful jaw, -armed with a formidable array of teeth, the otter is -capable of inflicting a very nasty bite, as many a -hound and terrier, as well as otter-hunter, has had -cause to remember. Luckily the otter is a clean-feeding -animal, and the after results of a bite are -usually not serious.</p> - -<p>In the matter of size and weight, otters vary -considerably, those found on or near the sea -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">« 30 »</a></span> -coast being usually heavier than otters frequenting -inland waters. No doubt the quantity and quality -of the food supply has a good deal to do with the -variation. Roughly speaking, the average weight -of a dog otter is from 20 lb. to 24 lb., and of a bitch, -16 lb. to 20 lb. As far as record weights are -concerned, Daniel mentions an otter taken in the -river Lea in October, 1794, which scaled "upwards -of 40 lb." Turning to a more reliable source of -information, however, we find in the <i>Field</i> of -July 5th, 1919, a list of the lengths and weights of -eleven large otters killed in Norfolk. I take the -liberty of quoting the particulars which are as -follows:</p> - -<p>Males, 48 inches, 37 lb.; 53½ inches, 30 lb.; -50½ inches, 28 lb.; 53 inches, 27 lb.; 50 inches, -27 lb.; 50 inches, 23 lb.; 48 inches, 23 lb.; 49 -inches, 18½ lb.</p> - -<p>Females, 46 inches, 16 lb.; 43 inches, 16 lb.; -44 inches, 14 lb.</p> - -<p>It will be seen from the above how extremely -weight varies in relation to measurement. Bitch -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">« 31 »</a></span> -otters occasionally weigh far heavier than any -of those mentioned in the foregoing list.</p> - -<p>In the <i>Field</i> of September 22nd, 1917, an old -record is given (March, 1813) of a large bitch otter -trapped near Leven's Hall, Westmorland, -measuring 54 inches, and weighing 27¾ lb. The -record otter killed by hounds, a dog otter of 34 -lb., was accounted for by the Essex O.H. on -July 10th, 1907, during Mr Rose's mastership of -that pack. This otter was found in the sea -marshes near Ipswich. Generally speaking, very -few otters of 30 lb. or over are accounted for by -hounds.</p> - -<p>It appears to be a matter of uncertainty as to -how long a bitch otter goes with young. We have -heard it said nine weeks, but have no reliable -evidence to go by. As to the number of cubs in -a litter, two appear to be more often laid down than -three, although five have been more than once -found in the same couch. Roughly speaking, -the average number appears to be from two to -three.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">« 32 »</a></span></p> - -<p>As to how many years an otter in a wild state -will live, it is practically impossible to say. We -have seen otters killed by hounds, whose general -appearance and state of their teeth pointed to the -fact that they had arrived at a ripe old age. Otter -cubs of similar age have been found in every month -of the year, thus exploding the old supposition -that otters bred only in spring. Young bitch -otters appear to pair as soon as they arrive at -maturity, thus cubs are produced as above stated.</p> - -<p>Otters of abnormal colour make their appearance -from time to time. In the Badminnten volume on -"Hunting," there is an account of a cream-coloured -otter killed on the West Dart, while in "A Fauna -of Argyll" by Harvie-Brown and Buckley, there -is mention of a pure white otter which was killed -in Jura.</p> - -<p>Although a clean-feeding animal, the otter is -a creature one hardly associates with human food. -For all that the heart and other portions of an -otter's anatomy have been served up at table on -several occasions ere now, presumably we suppose -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">« 33 »</a></span> -for experimental purposes. Which reminds us of -the yarn concerning the old trapper, who when -asked if he had ever eaten turkey-buzzard, replied -"Yes, siree, I <i>have</i> eaten turkey-buzzard, but -I don't <i>hanker</i> after it." On one occasion we -became possessed of a dead otter, whose carcass, -after skinning, we presented to two dogs. The -latter promptly turned up their noses at it, whereas -several cats to which it was afterwards given set -about devouring it quite keenly. In the case of -hounds, unless the carcass of their quarry is still -warm and they are excited by the free use of horn -and voice, they will show no great desire to do -more than tear the body of an otter.</p> - -<p>The otter's hide—covering a sinuous body, with -loosely articulated limbs—is tough, and offers more -resistance to hounds' teeth than the skin of a fox, -which soon disintegrates when worried by the -pack. As far as hounds are concerned, the scent -of an otter must at times be to them exceedingly -strong, yet to the human nose—even if the latter -is held close to the animal's body—there is only a -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">« 34 »</a></span> -faint and not unpleasant odour, very different to -the rank scent of a fox.</p> - -<p>As previously mentioned, there appears to be -considerable uncertainty as to how long the bitch -otter goes with young. In the "Master of -Game," the oldest and most important work on -the chase in the English language, written between -the years 1406 and 1413 by Edward III.'s grandson -Edward, second Duke of York, there is a short -chapter on "The Otter and His Nature," in which -it says that the otter bears her young as long as -the ferret does. This chapter is of great interest, -both as regards the knowledge of venery possessed -by mediaeval hunters, and the quaint wording of -the letterpress. For this reason we take the -liberty of quoting it in full. It says, "An otter is -a common beast enough and therefore I need not -tell of his making. She liveth with (on?) fish and -dwelleth by rivers and by ponds and stanks (pools). -And sometimes she feedeth on grass of the -meadows and hideth gladly under the roots of trees -near the rivers, and goeth to her feeding as doth -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">« 35 »</a></span> -other beasts to grass, but only in the new grass -time, and to fish as I have said. They swimmeth -in waters and rivers and sometimes diveth under -the water when they will, and therefore no fish can -escape them unless it be too great a one. They -doth great harm specially in ponds and stanks, -for a couple of otters without more shall well -destroy the fish of a great pond or great stank, and -therefore men hunt them. They go in their love -at the time that ferrets do, so they that hold (keep) -ferrets in their houses may well know the time -thereof. They bear their whelps as long as the -ferrets and sometimes more and sometimes less. -They whelp in holes under the trees near the -rivers. Men hunt at them with hounds by great -mastery, as I say hereafter.<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> And also men take -them at other times in rivers with small cords as -men do the fox with nets and with other gins. She -hath an evil biting and venomous and with her -strength defendeth herself mightily from the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">« 36 »</a></span> -hounds. And when she is taken with nets unless -men get to her at once she rendeth them with her -teeth and delivereth herself out of them. Longer -will I not make mention of her, nor of her nature, -for the hunting at her is the best that men may see -of her, save only that she has the foot of a goose, -for she hath a little skin from one claw to another, -and she hath no heel save that she hath a little -lump under the foot, and men speak of the steps -or the marches of the otter as men speak of the -trace of the hart, and his fumes (excrements) -tredeles or spraints. The otter dwelleth but little -in one place, for where she goeth the fish be sore -afraid. Sometimes she will swim upwards and -downwards seeking the fish a mile or two unless it -be in a stank.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The author of "Master of Game" does not say anything -more about the otter.</p></div> - -<p>"Of the remnant of his nature I refer to -Milbourne<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> the king's otter-hunter."</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The Milbourne referred to by the Duke of York can -scarcely be any other than the William Melbourne we find -mentioned in Henry IV's reign as "Valet of our Otterhounds" -(note in appendix to "Master of Game").</p></div> - -<p>If otters "bear their whelps as long as the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">« 37 »</a></span> -ferrets," the period of gestation is six weeks or -forty-five days. Bitch ferrets come in heat in -April or May, and unless mated some of them -apparently remain more or less in that condition -during the summer months.</p> - -<p>The excrement of the otter, known in hunting -parlance as "spraints," "wedging," or "coke," is -usually of a blackish colour, and contains the bones -and scales of fish. Sometimes it shows the -remains of fur or feather, which is proof positive -that the otter does not live entirely upon a fish diet.</p> - -<p>Where an otter has been feeding on frogs, the -coke is usually a yellowish colour. In sand or soft -earth an otter will scrape the latter into a small -mound, like a cat, and for the same purpose.</p> - -<p>Coke is generally found on stones in midstream, -or at points where the otter enters or leaves the -water. A small grassy promontory is a favourite -place, and at such spots the grass often grows -particularly green. If the grass is long, the coke -will be found hidden amongst it. It is popularly -supposed that the direction in which an otter is -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">« 38 »</a></span> -travelling—up or down stream—can be verified -by the position in which the coke is left on the -stones. In our experience there is little reliability -about this theory. On a rock in midstream the -position of the coke is quite as likely to be in the -centre as at the sides, particularly if there is a tuft -of grass or other growth on the stone.</p> - -<p>An otter is quite likely to turn round, just as -a cat or dog does, prior to depositing the coke, -therefore the position of the latter can hardly be a -reliable guide as to the direction taken by the -animal when it eventually moves off.</p> - -<p>Owing to being the possessor of a webbed foot, -with five toes and short claws, the otter leaves a -track—in hunting parlance "spur," "seal," or -"mark,"—entirely different from that of any other -animal to be met with in this country. Amongst -the general literature relating to the otter, we have -found small reference to the animal's footprints, -while in some cases the information on the subject -was incorrect. For instance in one article we -read, it states "No other creature, saving a cat, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">« 39 »</a></span> -leaves such a print on Nature's page as does an -otter. Four round small toes and, if the soil be -favourable, a plain triangle just behind where the -webbing of the foot has rested."</p> - -<table summary="feet"> -<tr> - <td style="width: 180px;"><p class="fig_caption">No. 3.<br /> - <img src="images/fig_3.png" width="173" height="250" alt="" /><br /> - LEFT FOREFOOT OF OTTER, OPEN, SHOWING INTERDIGITAL WEBS.</p></td> - <td style="width: 180px;"><p class="fig_caption">No. 4.<br /> - <img src="images/fig_4.png" width="178" height="363" alt="" /><br /> - LEFT FOREFOOT OF OTTER, CLOSED.</p></td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p>Now an otter—like the badger, stoat, weasel, -and hedgehog—has five toes on each foot, and the -marks of the claws or nails are always visible in -the footprints. A cat has four toes, armed with -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">« 40 »</a></span> -retractile claws, the marks of which are not shown -on the ground, except when the animal is about -to make a spring. Although a cat track may -approximate in size to that of an otter cub, the -latter always shows claw-marks, and partial if not -entire imprints of five toes. On hard ground, -claw-marks will show when the impression of the -rest of the foot is practically invisible, so anyone -with a knowledge of woodcraft can hardly mistake -the track of a cat for that of an otter cub. In the -same way with the footprints of hounds, terriers, -or other dogs, their tracks all show the imprints of -four toes, plus the marks of the claws. A terrier's -track is far more like that of a fox than an otter, -while hounds leave large footprints, easy to -distinguish.</p> - -<table summary="photos"> -<tr> - <td class="vtop"> -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 327px;"> -<img src="images/image2.png" width="327" height="475" alt="" /> - -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Otter Tracks Leaving Water, Walking.</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Photo by R. Clapham</i>).</div> -</div> -</div> - </td><td class="vtop"> -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 326px;"> -<img src="images/image3.png" width="326" height="478" alt="" /> - -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Furrow made by Otter in Deep Snow.</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Photo by R. Clapham</i>).</div> -<div class="tdr"><i>To face p. 40.</i></div> -</div> -</div> -</td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">« 41 »</a></span></p> - -<p>We have also seen it stated that the track of an -otter is "recognisable by the mark of its five toes, -and the absence of a heel." Under certain -conditions this is true enough, but on favourable -ground the mark of the heel is plainly visible. -In like manner an impression of the webbing is -sometimes left. In snow of fair depth, the -individual tracks of an otter are more or less -obliterated by the drag of the animal's body, which -leaves a furrow as if a miniature snow-plough had -been at work. Also in snow the drag of the otter's -tail—in hunting parlance "rudder" or "pole"—is -generally to be seen.</p> - -<p>The otter has three gaits: walking, jumping, -and galloping. The walk shows a line—usually -rather twisting—of footprints one behind the other. -When jumping the tracks appear in pairs, with an -interval between each pair. At this gait the -imprints of the hind feet cover the tracks made by -the forefeet. At the gallop, which is really jumping -at top speed, the hind feet are thrown ahead -of the forefeet.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">« 42 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2 pmt2"><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> - -<span class="smaller">THE OTTER'S HAUNTS AND HABITS</span></p> - - -<p>As mentioned in the previous chapter, otter cubs -may be born in any month of the year. Prior to -laying down her young, the bitch otter selects a -couch in the vicinity of good feeding ground. -Her choice of a retreat will vary with the locality -in which she happens to be at the time. In the -low country her cubs may be laid down in a dry -drain in the meadows, where frogs are plentiful, -and the ditches contain a supply of eels, or amongst -the brushwood in some large covert, where the -ground is swampy, and through which one or two -small runners meander on their way to join the -parent stream. In the north, where the rivers are -swift and rocky, the cubs may first see the light of -day in some cairn or pile of boulders, situated high -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">« 43 »</a></span> -up near the source of the stream, or in some rocky -earth adjacent to a mountain tarn. On the grouse -moor they may be found in some sod drain or other -hiding-place amongst the peat and heather, near -a pool or pools containing fish, and frequented by -wildfowl as well as frogs and such small deer.</p> - -<p>Quite small cubs are often found in holts in the -bank of a main river, but it is pretty safe to say -that the majority of bitch otters move up-stream, -either to the head-waters, or up some side-runner -prior to laying down their cubs. The latter have -on various occasions been discovered actually -beneath, or in close proximity to human habitations.</p> - -<p>In the <i>Field</i> of October 29th, 1921, there is an -interesting description of such an occurrence, which -we take the liberty of quoting. It says: "An odd -experience is recorded to have happened in the -year 1790 to Mr William Bethel, the then owner -of Watton, and a guest. He and a clergyman -were sitting quietly at dinner, when they were -surprised by an extraordinary noise beneath the -dining-table for which they could not account, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">« 44 »</a></span> -at length they were so much annoyed by it that -they sent for a workman to take up the floor, when -to their great astonishment they found that an otter -which had inhabited the moat had established her -nest beneath the boards of the floor, and had there -deposited her litter of young ones, by whose -uncouth cries it was that the dinner-party had been -disturbed."</p> - -<p>In <i>The Gamekeeper</i> for May, 1914, there is -another interesting account of a somewhat similar -nature. It says: "On March 13th last, Mr -Colwill, a tenant on the Trebartha Estate, Cornwall, -lost a lamb, and there being a mouth of a -large drain in the field, thought perhaps there -might be a chance of the lamb having gone up the -drain. Getting a long stick he put it up the drain, -and feeling something move he thought it must be -the lamb, but on turning round, saw the lamb -coming up the field towards him. The same -evening he put some lambs in the shippen in front -of some cows, putting them on some hay. Before -going to bed he went to see that the lambs were -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">« 45 »</a></span> -all right. He was just hanging up his lamp, when -something—he could not see what—rushed out -past him. When he went to look at his lamb, he -found a young otter lying with the lamb."</p> - -<p>The account goes on to say that on the particular -night in question, the local rivers were in flood. -The above seems to point to the fact that the bitch -otter had been flooded out of the drain, and had -carried her cub to the shelter of the shippen. A -photograph of the lamb and the otter cub was -reproduced in conjunction with the above letterpress.</p> - -<p>Otter cubs, like young foxes, are born blind. -Fox cubs remain so for a period of about three -weeks, and it is probable that a similar length of -time, or perhaps rather more, elapses ere young -otters can see. In the <i>Field</i> of November 26th, -1921, there is an account of an otter cub whose -mother was inadvertently killed by hounds. This -cub was rescued and brought up by hand. When -taken from the holt its age was estimated at -fourteen days. Sixteen days later the cub opened -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">« 46 »</a></span> -its eyes, thus a period of thirty days elapsed from -the time of its birth until it could see. At the end -of the thirty days the cub weighed 14 ounces. It -was at first fed on milk and water, but became very -thin on this diet, so a change was made to -"Mellins" as mixed for a new-born child. On -this the cub thrived, its weight on October 11th -being just under 2 lb. It was taken from the holt -on August 20th. Had this cub been fed in the -ordinary way by its mother it would possibly have -opened its eyes at a rather earlier date, as it would -have escaped the set-back caused by an unsuitable -diet. The eyes of the adult otter are very dark -coloured, but those of a cub are at first much -lighter, not unlike the eyes of a young fox cub.</p> - -<p>When the cubs are able to travel, the bitch otter -leads them down from the head-waters to the larger -streams. The cubs remain with their mother for -some considerable time, as witness the constant -occurrence of cubs of from 10 lb. to 12 lb. being -put down in company with the bitch. They -consort with their mother until she goes off to rear -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">« 47 »</a></span> -another family, when they are then left to fend for -themselves. From this it is apparent that the otter -has but one litter per year.</p> - -<p>There is a great deal yet to be learnt about the -otter, for, being more or less a creature of the night, -and elusive in its movements, it is extremely -difficult to study systematically. Otter cubs, -although somewhat delicate, are not difficult to -hand-rear, and make very interesting and tractable -pets. If healthy to start with, cows' milk diluted -with water is at first a satisfactory diet. Both -cubs and adult otters are of course easy enough to -study in captivity, but like many other creatures -confined under similar conditions, they soon -exhibit certain abnormal tastes and habits, and -therefore afford little or no real clue to their -behaviour in their natural habitat. At the -Zoological Gardens in London, the otters will eat -almost anything thrown to them by visitors.</p> - -<p>The bitch otter shows great affection for her -young, and will hang about in their vicinity in the -face of hounds or human intruders. If a bitch -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">« 48 »</a></span> -with cubs is killed, the cubs, if well grown, will -search the vicinity for their parent, the same -applying to one of a pair which has been caught -in a trap, its mate remaining near it all night in an -attempt to get it away. On these occasions the -otters make a considerable noise, blowing and -snorting in their agitation. On one occasion some -years ago, a brother of ours found three small otter -cubs on a Yorkshire beck, which he eventually -captured. The bitch otter remained close at hand, -making a great fuss, regardless of any possible -danger to herself. The cubs were carried home, -a distance of a mile or more, but were returned -within a short time to the pool where they -were found. The bitch otter again made her -appearance, and eventually went off with her -restored family.</p> - -<p>Otters, being great nomads, wander long -distances up and down our rivers, frequently -crossing high watersheds, and travelling far across -country. Having no fixed abode like the fox, the -otter inhabits temporary retreats or holts during -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">« 49 »</a></span> -the course of his journeyings. Most of these holts -have been used by generations of otters, and many -a drain or other shelter long forgotten by the -people of the neighbourhood is still regularly -inhabited by <i>Lutra</i> and his kind. A holt may -consist of a tree-root on the river-bank, a dry drain, -or a wet one containing a dry lying place, a stick-heap -near the stream, or situated in a plantation at -some distance from the water. On the rocky -rivers of the North, many of the holts consist of -piled-up boulders on the hill-side, most of which -are at some distance from the nearest beck or -tarn. These rock-holts, many of which lie at a -high altitude, are occupied by otters when crossing -from stream to stream over a watershed. In -summer, otters frequently "lie rough," or in other -words spend the day above ground. Near a lake -or tarn an otter will often curl up in the rushes or -long grass at the water's edge. If disturbed he -will then slide quietly into the pool, and unless -hunted by hounds, will not show himself again. -Sometimes he will lie on a bank or in a hedge close -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">« 50 »</a></span> -to the mouth of a drain, the latter serving him as -a safe retreat when danger threatens. In fact, -during the warm weather, otters are found lying -rough in all sorts of unexpected places, often to -the great surprise of those who fondly imagine -that the animals never leave the vicinity of water.</p> - -<p>Certain tree-roots and also rock-holts have their -entrances under water. In some of them there -cannot be any great amount of ventilation. An -otter cannot live without air, yet presumably it can -exist with less than most creatures. Otter cubs are -sometimes laid down in holts of the above nature, -where there is no ventilation shaft, and we have -heard the theory expressed that under such -conditions practically all the fresh air that the cubs -get is carried in to them in their mother's coat. -In our experience, however, even though a holt -has an underwater entrance, there are usually -plenty of air passages coming down from above, -at any rate, sufficient to supply a more than -adequate amount of fresh air for breathing -purposes. The advantage of an underwater -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">« 51 »</a></span> -entrance to an otter lies in the fact that he can -get in and out without showing himself, and once -inside he may be "out of mark," or in other words, -his scent is not carried to the outer air, so that if -hounds come along they cannot wind him in his -retreat.</p> - -<p>After his night's peregrinations, an otter will -return to his holt, but prior to settling down in his -chosen retreat, he often visits one or two other -tree-roots on the river-bank. Hounds sometimes -mark at these places, only to find that their otter -has gone on.</p> - -<p>Along the sea coast, otters inhabit the water-worn -caves and other retreats about the cliffs. -Wherever there is an open boathouse on lake or -river, otters are pretty sure to resort to it. We -have examined many such places, and almost -invariably found otter coke lying about on the -planking, and sometimes actually in a boat or -boats. In bad weather a boathouse affords a dry -lying spot, and no doubt this is why otters visit it.</p> - -<p>In order to thoroughly realise the wanderings -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">« 52 »</a></span> -and often long cross-country journeys undertaken -by otters, one must track them in the snow. On -one occasion such a trail led us for a good ten -miles overland, the otter having left a stream, -and made his way uphill via a small runner. The -latter petered out in the open ground, but the trail -led on in the direction of a frozen reservoir. -Round this the otter had gone, then he followed -the stream from the outlet for some distance, after -which he turned straight across country. Three -or four big stone walls had then intervened, but -the otter—which had probably been over the same -route before—made straight to certain smoots, and -passed through with no unnecessary searching for -a way out. He then visited a small lake, also -frozen, and again took to the outlet stream, down -which he went until he arrived at the main river. -It must have been a pretty hard trip for so short-legged -an animal, for the otter left a furrow in -the snow which was quite deep. From the point -where he left the stream where we picked up his -tracks, to the spot where the trail entered the main -river in the next dale across the watershed, the -otter had not stopped once, but had kept toddling -on. In the Lake District, otters regularly travel -the passes over the hills, visiting the mountain -tarns, and going from one dale to another.</p> - -<table summary="photos"> -<tr> - <td class="vtop"> -<div class="fig_left" style="width: 330px;"> -<img src="images/image4.png" width="330" height="481" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Tunnel Made by Otter in Snow.</span><br /> - -<div class="tdl">(<i>Photo by R. Clapham</i>).</div> -</div> -</div> - </td><td class="vtop"> -<div class="fig_right" style="width: 326px;"> -<img src="images/image5.png" width="326" height="477" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Otter Tracks in Snow, Jumping.</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Photo by R. Clapham</i>).</div> -<div class="tdr"><i>To face p. 53.</i></div> -</div> -</div> -</td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">« 53 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Otters are playful beasts, a favourite game of -theirs being sliding. They choose a steep clay -bank, or a smooth snow slope, and toboggan down -it on their stomachs with evident enjoyment. -Although one seldom sees these slides in this -country, they are very common in Canada where -we have often come across them. During the cold -weather of a Canadian winter, otters spend a good -deal of their time beneath the ice, being able to -breathe at the air-spaces round the shore. These -air-spaces are left when the water lowers after the -ice is formed.</p> - -<p>Concerning the otter's feeding habits, there -appears to be a good deal of misconception. -Some people imagine that the otter exists entirely -on fish, and for this reason should be done to death -as a river-poacher at every opportunity. We -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">« 54 »</a></span> -have in the previous chapter compared the teeth -of the otter and the seal, the latter animal swallowing -its food whole, while the former masticates its -food. Seals live upon fish, but it must be -remembered that the otter belongs to the marten -family, and, though well adapted to lead an aquatic -existence, it still retains some of the marten's -hunting instincts, and its teeth are suited to seizing -and holding both furred and feathered prey. The -pine marten, stoat, and weasel will all eat trout -greedily when they can get it, so it is only natural -that the otter, their relation, well equipped for -swimming and water work, should show the same -taste. As a matter of fact he <i>does</i> exhibit the same -taste as his smaller relatives, and to a much greater -degree, but he is also glad to vary his diet and add -both flesh and fowl to the menu.</p> - -<p>The uninitiated, whose knowledge of otters has -been gained by visits to the Zoological Gardens, -while realising the swimming ability of the animals, -look upon them as clumsy beasts on land, and ill-adapted -to lead an active existence on terra firma. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">« 55 »</a></span> -In an article comparing the badger and the otter, -it says, "The otter, on the other hand, though an -expert swimmer, is on land nearly as clumsy as his -cousin the badger." The author of the said article -can have done little or no otter-hunting, for if he -had, he would never have made such a foolish -statement. Despite his webbed feet, the otter -is built like the weasels, and exhibits a great deal -of their activity and quickness on land. For this -reason he is well able to cope with furred and -feathered quarry.</p> - -<p>Beginning the otter's menu with fish, we find he -eats salmon, sea trout, trout, and coarse fish. On -the west of Scotland and in the Hebrides, otters -live a good deal on the coast, but in the autumn -they follow the salmon up the streams. Where -salmon are plentiful and easily secured, otters kill -a fish, take it ashore, and eat a portion of the -shoulder only. In the old days in the Highlands, -when otters were more numerous than they are at -present, the crofters used regularly to visit the -otters' landing places, in order to gather the salmon -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">« 56 »</a></span> -left there. The marks on such fish were known -as the "otter's bite." In that delightful book, -"Wild Sports of the Highlands" by Charles St -John, the author refers to the above practice as -follows: "I was rather amused at an old woman -living at Sluie, on the Findhorn, who, complaining -of the hardness of the present times, when 'a -puir body couldna' get a drop smuggled whisky, -or shot a rae without his lordship's sportsman -finding it out,' added to her list of grievances that -even the otters were nearly all gone, 'puir beasties.' -'Well, but what good could the otters do you?' I -asked her. 'Good, your honour? Why scarcely -a morn came but they left a bonny grilse on the -scarp down yonder, and the <i>vennison</i> was none the -waur of the bit, the puir beasts eat themselves.' -The people here call every eatable animal, fish, -flesh, or fowl, venison, or as they pronounce it -'vennison.' For instance they tell you that the -snipes are 'good vennison,' or that the trout are -not good 'vennison' in the winter."</p> - -<p>Although an otter is a capable swimmer, he cannot -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">« 57 »</a></span> -travel half as fast as a salmon under water. -In low water a single otter can tire out or corner a -salmon in a pool, but evidence leads us to believe -that otters often work together, one driving the -salmon about, while the other keeps watch on the -shallows. On all rivers there are places where fish -can be more or less cornered when the water is at -normal level, and of course when it is very low in -time of drought, salmon and other fish are practically -pool-bound, and thus fall victims to otters -and other predaceous creatures. It is pretty safe -to say that an otter—like a pike, or a cannibal -trout—will go for any fish which appears to be -weak or in difficulty. A spinning lure—such as -a spoon that wobbles instead of turning truly—is -often far more attractive than one that spins "like -a streak of silver."</p> - -<p>In the <i>Field</i> of June 5th, 1920, there is an -account of an otter attacking a hooked salmon. -The writer of the account says, "While I was playing -a salmon on the Teify on Friday, May 21st, -an otter made two attempts to get at him, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">« 58 »</a></span> -very nearly succeeded once. This seems so -unusual to me that it would be of great interest -if others have had a similar experience. This -incident took place about eight in the evening, and -in a pool where there was only an opening of a -few feet where one could gaff the fish owing to -trees. The trees undoubtedly accounted for the -otter failing to see me, but as soon as he raised his -head above water in midstream and saw that there -were others as well as himself after that fish he soon -cleared off, and the fish was successfully landed. -The wild rushes made by the salmon after the otter's -first attempt were extraordinary, as the fish was -about done and fit for gaffing. To me this was a -clear proof of the instinctive fear and wonderful -vitality in a fish when his natural enemy appeared."</p> - -<p>Other instances of a similar nature have been -recorded from time to time, in some of which the -otter has succeeded in taking the hooked fish. -There is no doubt that an otter or otters frighten -fish, particularly salmon, when chasing them about -a pool. The instinct of all wild animals is to -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">« 59 »</a></span> -attack a weakly or wounded creature, even if -belonging to their own kind, and the otter which -goes for a hooked salmon does so because he knows -he stands a better chance of catching it than other -fish in the same pool which are free and -untrammelled.</p> - -<p>The otter must, therefore, do considerable good -by ridding the streams of weak and sickly fish. -An otter deals with large sea trout as it does with -salmon, but in the case of trout it frequently eats -them entire, leaving nothing to waste. When -devouring fish an otter eats like a cat, with half-closed -eyes. In the case of coarse fish, the otter -often discards the head and tail, and in the same -way with an eel, the head may be left. Those -who decry the otter as a fish-poacher should -remember that the animal does not confine his -attentions solely to one pool or to one species of -diet during his nightly wanderings. He may fish -and otherwise feed up-stream for some miles, -taking a trout here, an eel there, and perhaps a -young rabbit somewhere else.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">« 60 »</a></span></p> - -<p>We have already seen that the otter must do -good by killing sickly or wounded salmon, and in -the same way with trout, he captures many an old -cannibal fish which is far better out of the water. -These old trout not only prey on their own smaller -relations, but are great devourers of fish spawn, and -the same applies, only in a much greater degree, -to eels, which are the worst vermin in or about a -river or lake. Many coarse fish, too, are inimical -to spawn and young fry, therefore the otter does -far more good than harm by feeding on them. -Eels and frogs, the latter being skinned by an -otter, are the first quarry that the bitch otter -teaches her cubs to hunt. These are sought for -on land and in the wet ditches and shallow runners. -Later, the cubs are initiated in the art of fishing.</p> - -<p>When first introduced to water, the cubs show -considerable reluctance to swim. This can hardly -be because they are unable to do so, but rather -owing to a youthful aversion—as in the case of a -puppy—to entering a strange element for the first -time. The bitch therefore takes them to a stone -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">« 61 »</a></span> -in midstream, and either pushes them in, or leaves -them there until they are at last tempted to enter -the water and follow her. On the sea coast otters -spend a good deal of time searching for flounders in -the shallow pools. They also eat crabs, lobsters, -sea anemones, and various crustaceans. Otters -sometimes visit the lobster fishers' creels, and there -are instances on record of partially grown otters -having been found drowned in the creels. On -inland lakes and streams otters feed on fresh-water -mussels and cray-fish.</p> - -<p>As previously mentioned, it is no uncommon -thing to find the remains of fur and feather in -otter coke. Otters capture waterhens and dabchicks, -although we are of the opinion that they -prefer other food if they can get it. At any rate -we are familiar with a certain reed-fringed pond -on the hills, where a bitch otter and two cubs -of about 12 lb. weight resided for some months. -This pond was also occupied by quite a number -of waterhens, yet there were no apparent remains -of these birds to be found in the vicinity, which -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">« 62 »</a></span> -pointed to the fact that the otters left them pretty -much alone.</p> - -<p>A rather curious thing happened when we visited -the pond with hounds. At first the waterhens were -much in evidence, but after hounds had been at -work for an hour or two, we began to find dead -waterhens lying about. These were not killed by -hounds, but were drowned, and had practically—as -far as we could see—committed suicide. To -escape danger a waterhen will keep diving, and -the birds under discussion had evidently—owing -to the continual presence of hounds—done so until -they were tired out, and subsequently perished -under water. What made their behaviour stranger -still was the fact that there was a small covert -adjoining the pond, in which the birds could have -found sanctuary on terra firma until all danger was -past.</p> - -<p>Both dabchicks and waterhens devour fish -spawn, so otters do good by thinning out the ranks -of these birds. At times otters will take game-birds, -and there are authentic records of grouse, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">« 63 »</a></span> -pheasants, and duck having been killed by them. -One or two instances of this will suffice. In "The -Natural History of Sport in Scotland," by Tom -Speedy, the latter says: "That he can scent and -pounce upon his prey like a fox was demonstrated -by following his tracks among snow up Corrie -Macshee Burn at Dalnaspidal. The trail left the -water-side and showed where the animal had made -a bound and caught a grouse in its roosting-place -among the snow. Returning to the stream, he had -crossed on to a boulder in the centre of the burn, -where he devoured part of his prey." The same -author mentions a case of an otter on the Biel -estate in East Lothian, which dragged a foster-mother -hen out of a coop and partly devoured it, -as well as a number of young pheasants big enough -to sit out amongst the grass. Traps were set, -baited with the dead bodies of the birds, and a large -otter was secured; the massacre then ceased.</p> - -<p>In <i>The Gamekeeper</i> for August, 1913, there is -a note concerning the deaths of fifteen sitting -pheasants in a covert beside a river. Each bird -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">« 64 »</a></span> -had a hole gnawed down through the back, the -carcasses being left lying near the nests, not an -egg having been touched. A duck caught on her -nest is treated in the same way by an otter. In -<i>The Gamekeeper</i> for June, 1919, there is a note -concerning an otter which was caught in a tunnel-trap -baited with rabbit paunch. The trap was set -in the middle of a one hundred acre wood. The -otter was a cub, weighing 9½ lb.</p> - -<p>Waterhens and dabchicks, particularly the latter, -when taken by otters, are pulled under the water, -though they may be captured amongst the reeds -and other undergrowth as well. Ducklings sometimes -fall victims to the otter, though as a rule big -pike do the greatest harm in this direction. Pike -have been known to take pheasants as well as duck -which had fallen into a lake during the course of a -shoot. From available evidence, otters on a -stream containing trout and coarse fish seem to -prefer the latter. Possibly they are easier to -capture than trout. On hill-streams, where the fish -are small but very numerous owing to shortage of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">« 65 »</a></span> -food, otters must do a great deal of good by reducing -the stock.</p> - -<p>As far as furred prey is concerned, otters will -kill and eat rats, water-voles, and young rabbits. -We have on several occasions seen where a small -bunny had been caught by an otter. On marshes -where duck shooting is carried on, otters find and -feed on wounded duck, exactly as do foxes. Here -again they do good by acting as scavengers, as -well as by putting winged birds out of their misery. -Rabbits appear to be the largest four-footed -creatures preyed upon by otters, but we have heard -it suggested by an old Lakeland dalesman that they -will on occasion take lambs. Although we bring -forward this suggestion with great diffidence, it is -quite possible that there is some truth in it. Our -informant lived by the shore of a lake in an out-of-the-way -part of the country, where at one time -pine-martens were very plentiful. It is a well-known -fact that martens will kill lambs, and an -otter, which is a much more powerful animal, could -easily do the same if so inclined. Anyway, the old -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">« 66 »</a></span> -dalesman more than once found the carcass of a -lamb left close to the edge of the water on the -lake shore, with the tracks of otters round about -it. Neither a hill-fox nor marten would be likely -to drag or carry the carcass to water, and the whole -thing certainly pointed to the work of otters.</p> - -<p>An otter is a predaceous animal of the weasel -family, strong, and active in its habits, and would -experience no difficulty in tackling a lamb. It is -never safe to be dogmatic in one's statements concerning -the habits of wild creatures, because -generally speaking, the only regular thing about -them is their variability. Cases have occurred -where otters were responsible for killing ducks, -grouse, pheasants, and rabbits, and though such -behaviour is only occasional on the part of the -average otter, it shows what he will do when so -inclined.</p> - -<p>In winter otters are sometimes hard put to it to -find food, and they have been known to take -poultry at such times. In the same way regarding -the dalesman's statement about lambs, an otter -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">« 67 »</a></span> -<i>may</i> occasionally kill one, although most people -would laugh at such an idea. We know that hill-foxes -take lambs, having scores of times found -carcasses in and about the earths, yet one meets -hunting people who resolutely refuse to believe -that Reynard ever falls so far from grace as to -feed on lamb. A fox will eat trout when he can -get it, and so will many dogs. We have one now -which eats small trout as greedily as a cat, and no -doubt foxes secure many fish when the hill-streams -are dead low in summer. It is no more strange -for a fox or a dog to eat fish than for an otter to -take an occasional lamb. All three are carnivorous—the -otter being least so—and when all is said -and done, wild animals show very unusual traits at -times.</p> - -<p>Summing up the otter's feeding habits, we find -he kills fish, and in the case of salmon he is -certainly wasteful. To set against this he takes -many a sickly fish, as well as cannibal trout, all -of which are better out of the way. He kills -waterhens and dabchicks, both devourers of fish -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">« 68 »</a></span> -spawn, and he slays quantities of eels, which are -the worst vermin to be found in lake or stream. -Game is only an occasional item on his menu, and -nobody grudges him a few young rabbits.</p> - -<p>Otters, therefore, if kept within reasonable limits, -do their share of good, and, like the fox, provide the -very best of sport when hunted. When Reynard is -rolled over by hounds it is the debt he pays for -the privileged existence of himself and his kind, -and the same thing applies to the otter. Given a -good pack of hounds, hunting their district -properly, otters will be kept sufficiently in check, -and good sport will be enjoyed by riparian owners -and others.</p> - -<p>The only occasion on which an otter can do -really extensive damage is when he gets access to -a trout hatchery. Once he finds his way to the -breeding ponds he will kill fish right and left. If, -however, such places are properly fenced off—as -they should be—they will never suffer from the -attentions of otters. Swans and other wildfowl, -herons, dabchicks, waterhens, kingfishers, frogs, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">« 69 »</a></span> -cannibal trout, and eels do far more damage to fish -and fish spawn than otters, and with the exception -of certain wildfowl, provide no sport in return. -The otter, like the fly-fisherman, is a sportsman, -and for this reason the one should deal leniently -with the other.</p> - -<p>Otters do most of their feeding and travelling -at night, but it is not an uncommon occurrence -to find them abroad in daytime. In Canada we -have on several occasions seen them on the ice -during the day, and once while watching a deer -runway near a river, a big otter floated downstream -within twenty yards of us. Having fed -up-stream during the night, an otter may take to -some holt at the end of his journey, or he may -float down with the current—if the water is fairly -deep—and return to the holt from which he started. -Although an otter can make wonderful headway -against a strong current, he generally avoids rapids -and rough water when travelling up-stream. On -coming to such a place he lands, makes a detour, -and enters the water again higher up. His -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">« 70 »</a></span> -feeding expeditions are not necessarily restricted -to the main river, for he often explores side-streams, -ditches, and other places, which lie at -a considerable distance from deep water. He -usually leaves his holt—or couch if he is lying -rough—about dusk, and returns to it before -daybreak. For the most part otters are silent -creatures, but they whistle when calling to each -other, and will snort and blow when playing -together. In Canada their playgrounds are the -"slides," and there two otters will gambol like -puppies between the intervals of tobogganing down -the bank.</p> - -<p>Although an otter does not dig to any extent, -he will, as already mentioned, scratch up sand or -soft earth for a certain purpose, and his feet and -claws aid him in securing crustaceans and other -food. Although the otter is unable to climb -like the marten, he can on occasion jump and -scramble over high places in a wonderful manner. -In the North, otters regularly travel deep ghylls -and watercourses where they are obliged to climb -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">« 71 »</a></span> -to some extent, and when hard pressed by hounds -it takes a very rough place indeed to stop an otter. -In big coverts an otter will stand up before hounds -like a fox, and will travel at a surprising pace.</p> - -<p>On rough, rocky rivers, an otter's claws, -particularly those on the hind feet, are often very -much worn down. This may be accounted for by -the state of the going. A mounted specimen now -in our possession has the claws of the hind feet -practically worn off, whereas the nails on the -forefeet are nearly perfect.</p> - -<p>There are probably few waters in Great Britain -which are not at some time or other haunted by -otters. Even in the vicinity of towns the marks -of otters may be found beside canals and streams, -the surroundings of which would appear to be -anything but attractive to <i>Lutra</i>. Being chiefly a -creature of the night, nomadic and elusive in its -habits, the otter often spends a peaceful existence -in the vicinity of human habitations, the occupants -of which never dream that the "sly, goose-footed -prowler" is a frequent visitor to their water. The -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">« 72 »</a></span> -majority of people have never seen an otter, except -under a glass case in some museum, or within the -confines of the Zoological Gardens. The angler, -fishing at dusk, may sometimes be favoured by a -glimpse of an otter, bent on the same errand as -himself, but as a rule few otters are seen except -when put down by hounds.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">« 73 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2 pmt2"><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> - -<span class="smaller">OTTER-HUNTING, PAST AND PRESENT</span></p> - - -<p>It was not until a comparatively recent date, that -the otter became an accredited beast of chase. He -was hunted, after a fashion, from the very earliest -times, but the value of his skin—like that of the -fox—had more to do with his capture than the sport -he afforded.</p> - -<p>King John of England appears to be the first -Master of Otterhounds of whom there is any -record, and Twici seems to have been the first -huntsman. In "The Master of Game," written -between the years 1406 and 1413, there is a -chapter on "The Otter and his Nature," illustrated -by a reproduction of an old illumination entitled -"Otter Hunting." This picture represents a -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">« 74 »</a></span> -hound—apparently smooth-coated—swimming an -otter in a river. On the farther bank are two -hounds, and two men. One of the latter is -transfixing the otter as it swims with a long-handled, -three-pronged spear. The other man is -apparently about to throw a similar kind of spear -at the otter, while holding in his left hand a second -spear with the ordinary type of single-bladed head. -On the near bank are two more men, and two -hounds. One of the latter appears to be rough-coated, -or at any rate broken-haired, the other -being a large, white, smooth-coated animal. This -hound is evidently a limer, as it is held in leash by -one of the men. The other man, armed with a -single-bladed spear, is stabbing the otter in the -hindquarters.</p> - -<p>It is apparent that in those early days the chief -use of the hounds was in finding the otter, and -once the latter was put down, the spears were -brought into play. In the chapter on the otter, it -says: "Men hunt at them with hounds by great -mastery," and "men take them at other times in -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">« 75 »</a></span> -rivers with small cords as men do the fox with nets -and with other gins."</p> - -<p>Thus we see plainly that the otter was little -thought of in those days, except for the value -afforded by his skin. In early times a lime-hound, -i.e., a hound held in leash, was used for harbouring -deer and other game. Such a hound was keen -and staunch, not too fast, and was taught to run -mute, in order not to disturb the game whose exact -whereabouts his master wished to discover. The -rope by which the hound was led was known as -a liam, being made of leather or silk. Both collar -and lead were often gaily coloured, and adorned -with silver.</p> - -<p>The method of conducting the chase when -hunting at an otter "with hounds by great -mastery" was no doubt similar in some respects -to that practised at present. Instead, however, -of hunting the drag with the pack, lime-hounds -were used to locate the quarry, the latter being -then bolted by terriers. In the prologue to "The -Master of Game," it says with regard to dogs: -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">« 76 »</a></span> -"And first I will begin with raches (running -hounds) and their nature, and then greyhounds and -their nature, and then alaunts and their nature, -and then spaniels and their nature, and then -mastiffs that men call curs and their nature, and -then of small curs that come to be terriers and -their nature." What these terriers were like -compared to the present-day breeds, it is difficult -to say, but no doubt they were hard-bitten animals, -well able to bolt otters or foxes.</p> - -<p>Having bolted the otter, probably several -hounds were then uncoupled, which kept the -quarry on the move, so that the men got plenty -of chances to use their spears. The otter was -allowed no law as is now the custom, but was -transfixed at the first opportunity. The spears -were evidently thrown at the otter, as well as used -to transfix him on the shallows.</p> - -<p>At a later date, in Somervile's days (1735) the -spear was in general use, and it is mentioned as late -as 1878 in the "Manual of British Rural Sports" -by Stonehenge. Turning to the "Otter Hunting -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">« 77 »</a></span> -Diary" of the late Mr James Lomax, of Clayton -Hall, which dates from 1829 to 1871, we find no -mention of the spear. In "Field and Fern" -(South), by H. H. Dixon, published in 1865, there -is an account of Dr Grant, of Hawick, and his otterhounds, -without, however, any reference to spears. -Although the employment of the spear, or "otter-grains" -as it was sometimes called, was no doubt -almost universally discontinued fairly early in the -last century, it was probably used till a later date -by individuals who kept a hound or two, and -pursued otter, fox, and foumart after the manner -of the Scotch "tod-hunter" with his scratch pack. -Nets were sometimes used in conjunction with -spears to keep an otter from reaching tidal waters.</p> - -<p>To-day, however, all such abominations have -been done away with, and now it is left for hounds -to hunt and kill their otter, if they can, unaided. -Until a few years ago, it was customary to meet -quite early in the morning, often soon after daybreak. -Nowadays, however, people are less -energetic, and it is nothing unusual to read of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">« 78 »</a></span> -fixtures as late as ten a.m. Although from a -social or "love and lunch" point of view, late -meets are no doubt convenient, the same can -hardly be said as regards hunting. Some Masters -of Otterhounds are averse to early meets because -they say that the drag is then often so strong that -hounds are very apt to pass over their otter. By -getting to the water later the drag has lost some of -its strength, and hounds are then brought to their -noses, and travel slower, thus being less inclined -to pass their otter in its holt. Really the time of -meeting should depend upon the character of the -water you intend to hunt. On a river flowing -through marsh or water meadows, where the long -grass and rushes are always more or less damp and -the ground beneath them shaded from the sun, -scent will lie for hours, and there is no necessity -to make a very early start. In the North, however, -where the streams are swift and rocky, and have -their sources far up the hill-sides, there is often -little shade, except beside some covert, or in some -ghyll or ravine to which the sun's rays seldom -penetrate. Meeting at ten o'clock on such water, -there is little chance of a good drag, and it may -mean hard work for both men and hounds before -they find, and eventually put their otter down.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 332px;"> -<img src="images/image6.png" width="332" height="478" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">The Huntsman Bringing his Otter Ashore.</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Photo by N. Clapham</i>).</div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 482px;"> -<img src="images/image7.png" width="482" height="283" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">K. & D.O.H. Returning to the Main River.</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Copyright by R. F. Lees, Blackpool</i>).</div> -<div class="tdr"><i>To face p. 79.</i></div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">« 79 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Many an instance comes to mind, when if -hounds had been put to water three or four hours -earlier, they would have had a hot cross-country -drag, and probably a fine swimming hunt at the -end of it. We have known hounds meet at nine -o'clock at the foot of a Lakeland beck, and travel -several miles up-stream without a whimper. On -nearing the source, they spoke to a drag in the -depths of a shady ghyll, and carried it at a fast -pace out on to the open fell. There the sun was -beating down with tremendous power, and under -its influence the drag died out. Hounds were on -the line of a travelling otter, and had they hit off -the drag in the ghyll at five or six o'clock instead -of nine, they could easily have carried it over the -watershed, and down a runner which enters a tarn -in the next valley. A good hunt was thus spoilt, -simply because of a late start.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">« 80 »</a></span></p> - -<p>An advantage of meeting early lies in the fact -that you perhaps find and kill your otter before -the real heat of the day begins, thus making things -easier for both hounds and field. It is impossible -to lay down any hard and fast rule as regards the -time of meeting, for as already mentioned, this -will be influenced by the character of the water you -are going to hunt, and, if you are dependent on -subscriptions, the keenness or otherwise of your -subscribers.</p> - -<p>In the case of making a start with a newly -organised pack, containing a good proportion of -unentered hounds, it is advisable to get out early -in the morning until such time as your hounds -begin to understand their job and take an interest -in the business. Scent lies stronger both on land -and water during the early hours, and if your few -entered hounds find and mark their otter, the -unentered ones have a better chance when their -quarry is eventually put down.</p> - -<p>To a lover of hound work, the drag left by an -otter during his nightly wanderings, provides as -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">« 81 »</a></span> -much of interest when hounds can own it, as the -actual hunting after the otter is afloat. With -entered hounds which try the banks carefully it is -possible to find an otter without touching a drag -at all. This frequently happens after a late meet, -when the huntsman is a real trier, and can depend -on his hounds. Still, we imagine that the majority -of keen otter-hunters enjoy watching the pack at -work on a drag, and the music seems a fitting -prelude to the chorus that arises when finally -hounds mark and acknowledge in no uncertain -tones that their quarry is "at home."</p> - -<p>Under favourable conditions the scent of an -otter will lie for a very long time. In the shade, -amidst tall herbage, or among the water lilies, -hounds can speak to it hours after their otter has -gone, and it is sometimes difficult to know whether -they are the right way or running heel. Then is -the time to look for the seal of your otter in the -sand, mud, or other soft places, and note whether -the footprints point up-stream or down. Half the -pleasure of otter-hunting is to see hounds draw, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">« 82 »</a></span> -that is if they draw well, trying every root as they -go, or swimming out to some stone in midstream -on which perhaps there is a piece of wedging. -Here a hound will try a patch of water lilies, there -another will investigate a stick-heap, until at last -there is a welcome note from Thunder, Sailor, or -some other member of the pack, which denotes -that a drag has at last been found. Gradually -they work it out, fast or slow according to its -strength, until at last they mark at a tree-root on -the bank. If you know your hounds you can tell -pretty well whether your otter is there, or has -merely run through the place and gone on. One -or two of your most trusted favourites perhaps -show an inclination to push forward up-stream, so -you go ahead, taking plenty of time at all the likely -holts. Suddenly old Warrior's head goes up, he -winds the air for a second or two, then goes straight -across the river, and his well-known voice rings out -as he proclaims that his otter is this time in the -holt in front of him. The others surge over, -splashing the water as they go, and a wild chorus -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">« 83 »</a></span> -awakens the echoes as hounds mark solidly, some -of them tearing at the bank in their eagerness to -have their quarry "out of that." There is no -doubt he is at home, but if there was, you need -only watch old Boatman swimming round and -round beneath the holt in an endeavour to take the -scent or "wash," to convince you that hounds are -right.</p> - -<p>The great advantage of meeting early lies in the -fact that if there is an otter or otters working -the water that you propose to hunt, you are -practically sure of finding a drag, which at that -time of day will lie strongly. As already -mentioned, otters lie rough, as well as in holts, and -may be found almost anywhere, often far from the -main river. Here is where you benefit by a warm -trail, for there will be no doubt as to the point at -which your quarry left the main river, and took to -a side-runner, or out across country to some pond -or other favourite feeding ground. Supposing, -however, that your otter has left a drag on the -banks of the main river, which leads hounds -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">« 84 »</a></span> -steadily up-stream. If the drag is hot, the pack -will run it at speed, until they finally mark their -otter in his holt, or the trail suddenly comes to an -end, and hounds are at a loss. In this case your -otter may have gone on some distance in the water, -the latter having carried all scent away, and then -landed at some holt farther up. He may, too, -have crossed the stream—perhaps in deep water—and -retired to a holt on the opposite bank. Again, -he may have dropped down with the current to his -original starting point, leaving no trace behind -him. If the river is narrow, he may, of course, -have crossed and re-crossed it in his journey -up-stream, the same applying in a lesser degree, -to a wide river. If possible, it is wise therefore to -have a number of hounds on each bank, instead -of, as some huntsmen do, crossing with the pack at -shallows or other spots where the stream can be -forded.</p> - -<p>By keeping hounds on the one bank and crossing -here and there, much water and many a likely holt -is passed over. Harking back, however, to where -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">« 85 »</a></span> -hounds checked. The otter may still be in front, -therefore it pays to make good the water for some -little distance up-stream. If, within a reasonable -distance, hounds hit off his landing place and mark -him at a holt, well and good, but if there is only -a "touch" here and there on which hounds feather, -denoting a stale line perhaps a day or two old, it -is then advisable to try back. If hounds have -carried the drag at speed, they may, in their -eagerness, have overrun their otter, and left him -not so very far behind. When casting back therefore, -go slowly, and keep some hounds if possible -on both banks. Sooner or later, with anything -like luck, hounds should locate their otter on one -bank or the other. Just as an early start affords -a hot drag, so does it help hounds to more easily -wind their otter in his holt, should he have crossed -and left no trace behind him in the stream. Some -hounds exhibit great aptitude for winding an otter -in this manner, therefore when you see a member -of the pack throw up his head and begin testing -the air, you can be fairly sure that your otter is not -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">« 86 »</a></span> -far off. If, instead of meeting early you had -arrived at the water late, on the foregoing occasion, -you would probably have hit off a weak or catchy -drag, and have had to go slow, trying both banks -carefully en route. If this happens on a stream -which the Master knows well, and has often hunted -before, he may simply cross and re-cross the water -to the various holts from which he has put down -otters on previous occasions. Should hounds -refuse to mark at any of these holts, and the limit -of the day's draw is reached, the result is a blank.</p> - -<p>The same thing may happen on a river which -has not been hunted for a long time. The meet -is late, hounds are left to pick up a drag if they -can, the field following at their leisure, and once -more it is a case of "nothing doing" at the -conclusion of the draw. It is when an otter has -left the main river via a side-stream, or travelled -a long way overland to some pond, or other -retreat, that the advantage of meeting early is so -conspicuous.</p> - -<p>Late in the day the drag is very weak and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">« 87 »</a></span> -catchy in the open, where the sun has dried up all -moisture, and even if hounds <i>do</i> show an inclination -to turn up a runner or deviate at some point, they -may not be able to carry the line far, even if -encouraged to do so. If an early start is made, -however, the drag is warm, and hounds can hit -off the place with certainty where their otter has -left the river, and what is more, they can run the -line at speed, thus drawing up to their quarry's -holt, or the spot where he is lying rough, without -loss of time. The chief object of keeping a pack of -otterhounds is to find, hunt, and if possible kill -your otter in a sportsmanlike manner.</p> - -<p>Before you can hunt him you must find him, and -on nine days out of ten, this is the hardest part of -the business. An otter may be anywhere, and of -course it may so happen that the water within your -day's draw is not being worked by otters. In this -case you cannot find what is not there. A blank -day then is not only excusable, but inevitable. On -the other hand, if your pack is made up of entered -hounds, and you know their individual idiosyncrasies, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">« 88 »</a></span> -and have in addition a fair knowledge of -the habits of your quarry, there should be little -excuse for a blank day, provided you start early -enough in the morning to afford your hounds the -chance of picking up and sticking to a decent -drag. The <i>surest</i> way of finding an otter is to drag -up to him, any other method, at any rate on rivers, -holds an enormous element of chance. On a lake -or a tarn, which you yourself <i>know</i> is inhabited by -otters, it is a different matter, for you can then -throw off in the reed-beds or other undergrowth -bordering the water, with a good hope of putting -your otter down before hounds have been long -at work.</p> - -<p>No fixed rules are applicable to otter-hunting, or -any other kind of hunting for that matter, but it -is safe to say that the Master who is a trier, and -keeps on trying, will be the one to bring to hand -most otters. Being himself of the "never say die" -order, he will inculcate the same spirit in his -hounds, for a slack huntsman makes a slack pack, -and vice versa.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">« 89 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The late Rev. Jack Russell, of Devonshire fame, -walked some hundreds of miles before he found -his first otter. This was owing to the fact that his -hounds at the beginning were unentered to otter. -When he finally got hold of an entered hound, -matters took a different turn, and he showed capital -sport, but his ill-success at first was certainly not -for want of trying.</p> - -<p>When hunting a river, particularly in a hilly -district, a sudden flood may put a stop to sport. -When the weather is unsettled it is wise, therefore, -to allow for such a contingency, and be prepared -to arrange matters so that a smaller stream or lake -can be substituted.</p> - -<p>A frequent reason for blank days lies in having -too wide a district to hunt. This means that -certain streams are visited but once a season, and -a single day on each is not sufficient to insure sport. -A certain river is perhaps visited to-day, and -hounds hit off a drag and carry it up-stream a long -way, until the hour is late, and their otter still -unfound. The next fixture is probably in another -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">« 90 »</a></span> -county, whereas if hounds were put to water on the -following morning at the place where they left off, -a hunt would be practically a certainty. Again, -if a brace of otters are put down, and one of them -is hunted and eventually killed, a visit to the same -water on the following day would result in the -survivor providing some pretty work for hounds. -There is hardly an Otter Hunt in the kingdom but -what attempts to cover more water in a season -than it can properly manage. The chances of -continuous good sport are on this account -exceedingly doubtful, for unless rivers are -frequently visited, and a fair percentage of otters -are killed, riparian owners, keepers, and others will -refuse to protect otters, and instead, go in for the -killing business themselves. Hunting is in this -country dependent upon the goodwill of landowners -and tenants, who are as a rule only too -pleased to welcome hounds. If, however, the -Hunt does not properly reduce the stock of foxes -or otters, other methods are then resorted to. The -more otters or foxes you kill in your district, the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">« 91 »</a></span> -more you will have, for directly people realise that -you and your hounds mean business and are "out -for blood," they will leave it to you to do the killing, -and confine their attentions to preserving your -quarry. A small district, regularly hunted, will -provide much better sport than a large one casually -attended to. The fixture card of the average Otter -Hunt should show "Where leave off" much -oftener than it does at present. In a small district -a Hunt is much less dependent on trains for moving -hounds from place to place, and there is far -more opportunity to "lie out" overnight at some -farm or other homestead, and thus continue -hunting at the same place on the following day.</p> - -<p>Harking back to the river, a great many people -imagine that when hounds hit off a line away from -the water, and go full cry through a wood, across -open country, or up some tiny streamlet, that they -are running riot. That hounds occasionally run -riot, more especially the young entry, we do not -for a moment deny, but when a pack of entered -hounds performs in the above manner, they are -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">« 92 »</a></span> -not rioting, but running the line of a travelling -otter. The huntsman then, instead of blowing -his horn while the whippers-in rate and attempt to -stop hounds, should put his best leg foremost and -try to keep in touch, so that if hounds check, after -covering perhaps a mile or two, he will be there -or thereabouts and have a good idea what to do.</p> - -<p>We have vivid recollections of a day on which -hounds hit off the line of an otter that had stolen -away from a rock-holt without being seen or tallied. -She, for it was a young bitch otter, left the main -stream with a good start, and turned up a runner -which lay in a deep, narrow valley. At the head -of this valley the otter turned left-handed and -crossed over more than a mile of open country -comprising the watershed. Descending the other -side, she entered a stream via a hanging covert on -the near bank. When hounds hit off her line, -they raced up the valley with evidently a screaming -scent. At the top they hovered for an instant, -then swept on left-handed over the hill. The -huntsman, who was convinced that they were running -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">« 93 »</a></span> -riot, attempted to stop them, and succeeded -in getting hold of some of them, but the others -went on, and we could hear them speaking merrily -in the direction of the stream in the valley below. -We passed the huntsman, blowing his horn, with -a couple or two of hounds round him, and on asking -him what was the matter, he said hounds were -rioting. Seeing we did not believe him, he -reluctantly followed on, and to cut a long story -short, hounds eventually killed their otter handsomely, -after dusting her up and down the stream -for some three-quarters of an hour. We can see -the expression on that huntsman's face yet, when -hounds collared their otter, and he was obliged to -acknowledge he had been in the wrong, while his -hounds had been right.</p> - -<p>Now the first lesson a huntsman, professional -or amateur, has to learn is to <i>trust his hounds</i>. If -he can't do this, he had better leave hunting alone, -and look for another job. Once your hounds -are properly entered, and you know their -individual traits and idiosyncrasies, always trust -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">« 94 »</a></span> -to what <i>they</i> say about it, and pay no attention to -the utterances of a sceptical field, many of whom -know little or nothing about the science of hunting. -The line hounds are running may perhaps seem -a very unusual one, even to you, but if Rouser, -Thunder, Marksman, and a few more of your -trusted favourites are voicing the fact that an otter -is in front of them, then you can bet your life it -is so, and your job is to keep in touch with them -if possible. Always remember that an otter may -be found anywhere, and may do anything once he -is afoot or afloat. The only certain thing about -him is his variability. You will learn something -new about him every day you go out with hounds, -and if you store up the information thus obtained, -it will come in mighty useful on many a future -occasion.</p> - -<p>The Master who hunts his own hounds -should study the habits of otters in winter as well -as in summer. After a prolonged snow-fall a visit -to one or other of his rivers, lakes, etc., will afford a -variety of useful information regarding the whereabouts -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">« 95 »</a></span> -and the doings of otters. Their tracks will -be plain enough in the snow, and by following -these footprints a knowledge of the various routes -traversed by otters will be gained, and many a long -forgotten drain or other hiding-place discovered. -The lessons thus learnt will come in mighty useful -when the hunting season again begins. When -thus scouting his country, he should not forget to -drop in at the mill, or the various farmsteads near -the river. The miller can be a good friend, or, -if he likes, a bad enemy, and the same applies to -farm-hands, and other people who work on the -land. A chat with the farmer and his wife goes -a long way towards smoothing the ground for -hunting, and a friendly word and a pipe of baccy -with the river-watchers and labourers ensures -amicable relations, and paves the way towards -encouraging an interest in hounds and hunting.</p> - -<p>It is the Master who is thus on the job in winter -as well as summer who gets plenty of good walks -for his puppies, and is free to hunt when and where -he likes during the season. On his journeys he -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">« 96 »</a></span> -will hear much about otters and their doings, a -great deal of which information, however, he will -take with the proverbial pinch of salt. Half the -people you meet, even those who live near rivers, -have never seen an otter, although there are, of -course, certain individuals whose information is to -be depended on. These are few and far between, -however, and the wise Master will trust to his own -powers of observation, rather than to reports of -hypothetical otters, which in the end turn out to -have been black cats, or some other animals seen -near the water at dusk.</p> - -<p>Harking back to our hunting, however, hounds -have marked their otter in his holt in a root or some -other retreat, and the next job is to evict him. -Hounds are called off and taken back out of sight -in a nearby field, and the terriers come on the -scene. Vic or Vengeance is sent in, and very -soon there are sounds underground betokening -"something doing." The barking ceases for a -moment, and then a dark brown object glides out -through the tangled roots, there is a slight splash, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">« 97 »</a></span> -and a long chain of bubbles as the otter takes to -the river. A shrill tally-ho! brings hounds pell-mell -to the scene of action, and the hunt is on. -It all sounds very easy, and sometimes is so, but -on other occasions the otter refuses to bolt, or the -terriers cannot bring sufficient pressure to bear, so -there is nothing for it but send to the nearest farmhouse -for tools. Spades, pick, and crowbar are -soon on the spot, and there may then ensue some -strenuous digging, before the terriers are located, -and finally the otter. Occasionally, when the -terriers are sent in, a rabbit or rabbits may bolt, or -even as has happened before now, a fox. Then -is the time you are likely to hear subdued remarks -from sceptical members of your field. Take no -notice of that. Your hounds say their otter is -there, believe them, no matter how many rabbits -appear. Otters lie very close at times, often till -you dig right up to them, and on such an occasion -you will have the laugh on the "doubting -Thomases," when you pull little terrier Vengeance -out by the stern, and your otter takes to the river. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">« 98 »</a></span> -If a terrier can get behind his otter, he will generally -persuade the quarry to bolt, but if the otter -backs up into a cul-de-sac, the dog is obliged to -face him in front, and if the terrier is a real -"sticker" he will hold his otter there until the -diggers work down to the spot.</p> - -<p>Otters will lie up in rabbit burrows, drains, tree-roots, -and sometimes in fox or badger earths. -Rock-holts are also favourite places on the north -country rivers. Where there are several side-drains -branching off a main drain, it is often difficult for the -terriers to locate their otter. Some rock-holts, too, -are practically impregnable, and the same applies to -many a big head of earths in covert. Occasionally -an otter may be persuaded to bolt when other -means have failed, by getting a number of people -to jump on top of the holt, the party doing so in -unison. When digging or terrier operations are -going on, someone should be stationed where they -can keep watch for the otter bolting. If the -quarry can slip out under water, he may get away -undetected, unless a bright look out is kept. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">« 99 »</a></span> -During the time that digging is going on, the field -should be made to stand well back from the scene -of operations. When they crowd round the place, -as the average field so often does, they are a -nuisance to the diggers, and talk so much that it is -often impossible to hear the terriers underground. -Again, should an otter bolt from a drain, and have -some distance to go before reaching the water, the -field are nearly sure to start halloing, with the -result that hounds break away and arrive on the -scene ere the otter has had fair law.</p> - -<p>Once the otter is afloat, the next thing is to -keep him going until hounds tire him out, and -at last gain their reward. The field should now -spread out at intervals, along the bank, and <i>stand -still</i>. By doing so each individual can watch the -water in front of him, and tally when he is certain -he sees the otter. When the field persists in -rushing up and down the banks they are a nuisance -to both hounds and huntsman. Standing still, -and keeping a bright look out, they can be of the -greatest service, and at the same time they see -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">« 100 »</a></span> -more sport than when constantly shifting their -positions. After he has been hunted for some -time, the otter will begin to show himself, and it is -then perfectly legitimate for the watcher to tally-ho -if he sees the otter. Unless, however, he is sure -that it is the otter, he had best keep silent. A -salmon in rapid water, or a moorhen crossing a -pool, has often deceived a watcher on the bank, -therefore make sure before tallying. Also, never -tally because someone else says he has seen the -otter, see it yourself first. It may be necessary -to send some of the field to form a "stickle" across -the shallows, above or below the scene of action. -These people must keep a sharp look out, watching -the water carefully. If they do their work -properly, the otter should not get past them -without being seen. If the hunt gradually works -up-stream, the people on the lower stickle should -not be forgotten. Some signal, say a few notes -on the whistle, should be given in order to let them -know that they are at liberty to leave their posts.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">« 101 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 632px;"> -<div class="fig_caption">No. 5.<br /> -<img src="images/fig_5.png" width="632" height="332" alt="" /> -TALLY-HO!</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">« 102 »</a></span></p> - -<p>In rapid, or deep water, an otter will often pass -an experienced hunter without being tallied, -particularly if it is moving close to the farther -bank. The angle at which the light falls on the -water often makes it extremely difficult to detect -an otter as it passes. After being hunted for some -length of time, the otter shows himself more and -more frequently. He may vary the water work -by making an excursion overland, or running the -length of a nearby wood. Perhaps he takes -refuge in a holt, and is then bolted by the terriers. -Anyway, if things go right, the time comes when -he can do no more, and he dies fighting on the -shallows, leaving his mark on nearly every hound. -The huntsman at last gets the pack to leave him, -not using a whip, but pushing hounds off with -knees, hands, and pole, after which he slips the -carcass under water for a minute or two until he -recovers his wind, and then carries it ashore. -There it is weighed, mask, pole, and pads are -severed, the carcass is slit up, and tossed to the -eagerly expectant pack. "Hi, worry, worry, -worry," "Who-whoop! tear him and eat him." -After blowing the "rattle," and cheering hounds -to keep up the excitement, the various trophies are -distributed, and one's thoughts then turn in the -direction of certain bottles which are snugly -reposing in a friend's car on the nearest highway.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 481px;"> -<img src="images/image8.png" width="481" height="293" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">A Kill with the K. & D.O.H.</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Copyright by Mrs. R. F. Lees, Blackpool</i>).</div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 479px;"> -<img src="images/image9.png" width="479" height="295" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Hi, Worry, Worry!</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Copyright by R. F. Lees, Blackpool</i>).</div> -<div class="tdr"><i>To face p. 102.</i></div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">« 103 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Early, or late in the season, when the weather -is boisterous and the water cold, it pays to hold up -a few couples of hounds, reserving them until the -working pack has had about enough of it. Then -at the right moment, throw in your reserves and -make a quick finish. This plan is especially -applicable to lake hunting, when hounds are -continually swimming in deep water.</p> - -<p>When hounds are on a drag, or have put down -their otter, the huntsman should encourage them, -cheering them on to any particular hound which -has made a hit, and the same when they mark -solidly at a root. There is no need to be noisy, -but hounds work all the better for encouragement, -and a bit of excitement at a holt teaches young -hounds to mark their otter. To make a success -of otter-hunting, or any other kind of hunting for -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">« 104 »</a></span> -that matter, a man must use his brains, and to -some extent call on his powers of imagination.</p> - -<p>A chapter on hunting is hardly complete without -some mention of that elusive mystery called scent, -so a few words will be devoted to it here. You -get good and bad scenting days in otter-hunting -just as you do when hunting fox or hare, but the -chase of the otter has the advantage of being -conducted both on land and water, and if scent is -bad on the latter, it may be quite the reverse if -your otter takes to terra firma. Sometimes it is -good on both, though it may happen that an otter -which has been hustled about the woods or across -country apparently gives off little scent when he -returns to the water. A bitch otter in cub, or one -with a young family, appears to often give off little -or no scent, and where hunting takes place -on a river polluted by oil, or other foreign -matter, scent is generally conspicuous by -its absence. Scent varies too at different times -of day. In the early morning, before the sun has -dispelled the dew, it is generally good, but dies -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">« 105 »</a></span> -away as the atmosphere becomes warmer. When -the sun begins to sink and the air becomes damp -again, scent is likely to freshen; while a shower -of rain may affect it in the same way. The -vagaries of scent are impossible to foretell with -anything like certainty, and perhaps it is as well so, -otherwise sport would become too cut and dried, -and would lose much of its interest on that account.</p> - -<p>Occasionally an otter takes refuge behind -weiring or in some other retreat, that necessitates -pulling down a certain amount of the obstruction -before he can be evicted. In this case, permission -from the owner or tenant of the place should be -obtained before beginning operations. In the -same way, should the owner or tenant object to -the presence of hounds on his land, always be civil, -no matter what he says, and take hounds away without -any argument. The life of the sport depends -upon the existence of amicable relations between -the Hunt and the owners of the land which they -cross. Although terriers can as a rule bolt an -otter if they can get to him, ferrets have been used -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">« 106 »</a></span> -for the same purpose before to-day. Both otters -and foxes have on occasion been bolted from rabbit -burrows during ferreting operations. In some -countries artificial drains or holts have been -constructed for the use of otters, but there is usually -a good deal of uncertainty as to whether the otters -will take to such abodes. Where old drains run -a long way into the land, with possibly a number -of branch drains, it is often wise to place iron -gratings at some distance from the mouth, in order -to facilitate matters when it comes to bolting an -otter. As the great charm about otter-hunting is -its freedom from artificiality, <i>made</i> holts or drains -need hardly be encouraged, except perhaps in -extreme cases where there is no suitable lying-up -place for otters over a long stretch of water.</p> - -<p>When hunting hounds, the Master will be -assisted in the field by two whippers-in, which may -consist of the paid kennelman, and an amateur. -Their job is to keep hounds in check when -necessary, prevent rioting, if any, and keep in -touch with the pack should hounds go off across -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">« 107 »</a></span> -country with a screaming scent. Taking it for -granted that the paid hand knows his job, the -amateur should be equally proficient. He must -keep a keen look out as he goes for signs of otters, -as well as hidden drains, etc., and he must know the -names of all the hounds and their individual -idiosyncrasies, so as to tell instantly if they are -inclined to riot, or they show an inclination to mark -at roots, or take a line away from the river. -Speaking broadly, the whippers-in prevent hounds -going too fast and outpacing the Master and the -field, but it should be remembered that hounds can -be kept <i>too much</i> in check, and by so doing they -are balked in their desire to hunt, as well as drive -on when scenting conditions are good. In fox or -hare hunting, the huntsman's place is with his -hounds, whether they are drawing or running, and -there appears to be no good reason why an otter-huntsman -should not "get a move on" when his -hounds push ahead on a hot drag, or drive along -across country. It is quite as necessary to run, and -often run hard, with otterhounds, as to ride hard -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">« 108 »</a></span> -with foxhounds, and the huntsman who takes his -own time whilst his whipper-in is bursting himself -across country is surely lacking in keenness.</p> - -<p>Although otter-hunting does not call for as much -quickness on the part of the huntsman as fox-hunting, -we still must confess we like to see a -huntsman of otterhounds show some agility when -his hounds run fast. This particularly applies to -hunting in the north, where otters so often cross -steep watersheds. A great deal of valuable time -is frequently lost, simply because the huntsman -prefers to take his own time, instead of attempting -to keep in close touch with hounds, and thus be -on the spot should they momentarily require his -assistance. As far as the field are concerned, it is -their own fault if they are left behind when hounds -run. When travelling with hounds on the highway, -however, the huntsman and whippers-in should go -at a reasonable pace, so as to give the field a chance—particularly -the ladies—to be there when hounds -are put to water. Racing ahead with hounds on -the roads gets the pack into the habit of pushing -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">« 109 »</a></span> -on when there is really no need for it, so a -reasonable walking pace should be aimed at.</p> - -<p>When hounds have put their otter down, or "hit -him abroad," to use an old expression, and are -swimming him, the huntsman should keep on the -shallow side of the river, more particularly if the -farther bank is thickly overgrown with willows or -other cover. From the shallow side he has a clear -view of what his hounds are doing, and if it is -necessary to pole the farther bank if an otter -persists in hanging there, he should ask one of -his whippers-in, or some experienced member of -the field to do it for him.</p> - -<p>With regard to clothing and etceteras for -otter-hunting, little need be said here. Hunt -uniforms are usually made of woollen serge -material, which dries quickly, and withstands a lot -of rough usage. Shorts are sometimes worn, but -in our experience loose knickerbockers are much -preferable, particularly for hunt officials who may -have to force their way through briers or other -undergrowth in the execution of their duty. Bare -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">« 110 »</a></span> -knees and thorns do not associate well together, -while breeches of the semi-riding type are too -tight-fitting, and retain water. Boots or shoes -should be well nailed to prevent slipping, -preferably with soft, wrought-iron hobs, which get -a better grip on rocks than steel nails. An iron-shod -pole of ash or hazel—the latter is light yet -strong—is necessary for crossing deep or swift -water, and in some districts as an aid to jumping -wide ditches and open drains. A pole shod with -a double-pronged spike is less liable to slip than -one armed with a single spike. Likewise a pole -cut from the growing tree or sapling looks more -workmanlike than a "made" one, ornamented with -a fancy metal head or other embellishment. With -regard to the whip, for use by Hunt officials, one -with a short lash is to be preferred, for it can be -far more easily cracked when the user is standing -in water than a long-lashed affair.</p> - -<p>The huntsman who cannot blow an ordinary -horn without unnecessary discords will be well -advised to secure a reed-horn. Every call can be -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">« 111 »</a></span> -sounded on this, with the exception of that "to -call hounds away," and for this quite a good -substitute can be blown. When using the horn, -he should employ distinct calls, then both hounds -and field know what he means. Some huntsmen -blow the same note all day long, and hounds take -no heed of it, while the monotonous sound gets on -the nerves of the field.</p> - -<p>Nowadays the otter-hunting season extends from -April to September, but in the fourteenth century -it lasted from February to June.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">« 112 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2 pmt2"><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> - -<span class="smaller">HOUNDS AND TERRIERS</span></p> - - -<p>The average otterhound pack to-day is usually -composed of foxhounds, cross-bred hounds, and a -few couples of pure, rough-coated otterhounds. -In the old days the latter predominated in most -packs, and it is only of late years that the foxhound -has come to the fore in the pursuit of <i>Lutra</i>.</p> - -<p>The origin of the rough-coated hound is more -or less shrouded in mystery, but it is pretty safe to -say that he is closely related to the bloodhound. -If true to type he possesses many of the bloodhound's -characteristics, including the long pendulous -ears, the deep-set eye showing the haw, and -the black and tan colour which so often predominates. -The rough coat was gained by a cross of -some sort, but it is impossible to say with certainty -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">« 113 »</a></span> -what this cross was. The wire-haired Welsh -harrier may have had something to do with it, and -again it is quite likely that the old hard-coated -Lancashire harrier may have been used for the -same purpose. It is possible, too, that the old -southern hound was crossed with the bloodhound, -while there are those who believe that the French -griffon had a share in the business. Thus we see -that the rough outer coat may have come from a -variety of sources, but the thick, woolly under-coat -is no doubt a provision of nature to protect the -hound from the effects of frequent and long-continued -immersion in the water. This under -coat is worn by the Chesapeake Bay dog, a breed -of retriever much used by wildfowl shooters in -America.</p> - -<p>In the fourteenth century raches or running -hounds—known later simply as hounds—were of -various kinds. In the "Master of Game" it says: -"There be also many kinds of running hounds, -some small and some big, and the small be called -kenets, and these hounds run well to all manner -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">« 114 »</a></span> -of game, and they (that) serve for all game men -call them harriers. And every hound that hath -that courage will come to be a harrier by nature -with little making."</p> - -<p>Harrier was in those days spelt heyrer, and it -was not until after the sixteenth century that the -modern spelling came into vogue. It was probably -derived from the Anglo-Saxon <i>herian</i>, to -harry or disturb. In the "Boke of St Albans" -it says that the hart, the buck, and the boar should -be started by a limer, and that all "other bestes -that huntyd shall be sought for and found by -Ratches so free." Thus it appears that all beasts -that were enchased were moved by a lime-hound, -while those that were hunted up were found by -raches. The otter-hunting illustration in the -"Master of Game" shows five hounds, one of -which is on leash, and appears to be a limer. The -otter was certainly not enchased in those days, -being looked upon as vermin, yet as the picture -shows a limer at work, it is possible that lime-hounds -were sometimes used for other game than -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">« 115 »</a></span> -the recognised beasts of chase. The hound shown -swimming the otter is bloodhound-like, while two -smaller hounds appear to have broken coats. In -the fourteenth century the otter and various other -creatures, such as the rabbit, fox, wild cat, etc., -were hunted by <i>biss hunters</i> (fur hunters) for -their skins, and no doubt the smaller breed of -hounds then known as heyrers were employed in -their capture.</p> - -<p>Coming down to modern times, there are, as far -as we are aware, but two existing otterhound packs -entirely composed of pure, rough-coated otterhounds. -All other establishments employ mixed -packs. Cross-bred hounds are usually the result -of a union between a pure otterhound bitch and a -foxhound. The majority of foxhounds which find -their way to the otterhound kennels have been -drafted for over-height, age, or faults. They are -often presented to the M.O.H., or he buys them at -a low figure. Having purchased or otherwise got -together sufficient hounds to make a start, you can -gradually weed them out, retaining the best -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">« 116 »</a></span> -workers for future breeding operations. It is -perhaps unnecessary to state that you must have -a couple or two of entered hounds to begin with, -otherwise you are likely to walk as far as the Rev. -Jack Russell did before you find an otter. As -regards cross-bred hounds, the first cross may be -capital workers, but it is doubtful if much good -comes from breeding from them.</p> - -<p>One sees all shapes, makes, and sizes of rough -hounds in the various packs, but the best bred ones -are big, upstanding animals, from twenty-two to -twenty-four or more inches in height. Speaking -from our own experience, we have found the -majority of rough hounds to be much more clumsy -and less active than foxhounds. Their feet, too, -are often inclined to be open and flat, and they lack -the heart and stamina of the foxhound. There -are, of course, exceptions, and we have come -across rough hounds that were capital workers, -but take them all round they are too big and -clumsy, at any rate for work on rough, rocky -streams. Despite their rough jackets, they suffer -from the effects of long immersion in water far -more than the foxhound, whose short, smooth coat -is dry after a shake or two. In addition they are -not such good doers as the foxhound, and require -more attention after hunting. They are also apt -to be quarrelsome in kennel. Many of them -possess extremely fine noses, and can speak to a -line a day or two old, but this is of no practical -help in hunting, because it is impossible to drag -up to an otter that has been so long gone. They -swim well, and often draw well when swimming, -but the foxhound is quite their equal in this -respect. In our experience the hound that can -wind his otter across the stream and go straight -to him is more often a foxhound than a rough -hound.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 474px;"> -<img src="images/image10.png" width="474" height="325" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">A Famous Otterhound, Mr. W. Thompson's "Snowdrop."</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Photo by R. Clapham</i>).</div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 479px;"> -<img src="images/image11.png" width="479" height="330" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Some of Mr. W. Thompson's Rough Otterhounds.</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Photo by R. Clapham</i>).</div> -<div class="tdr"><i>To face p. 116.</i></div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">« 117 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The foxhound, too, is usually a better marker -once he has entered properly, and when it comes to -holding and killing an otter, the rough hound -cannot compare with him. Across country, too, -and when an otter runs through covert, the foxhound's -dash and drive at once put him in the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">« 118 »</a></span> -lead. The rough hound has a resonant, musical -voice, and a picturesque appearance, but taking -him all round, from a solely <i>working</i> point of view, -he is, in our humble opinion, inferior to the foxhound, -particularly on rough, rocky rivers, where a -light-built, active type of hound shows to advantage. -Custom ordains that hounds for otter-hunting -should be rough jacketed, and by employing -cross-bred or rough Welsh foxhounds you get -the rough coat, without the undesirable qualities -found in the pure otterhounds.</p> - -<p>The latter show to the best advantage in low-lying -country, where the rivers are slow running, -and the going easy. In these days, when meets -are late and time is valuable, pure otterhounds with -their tender noses dwell and revel on the drag -instead of pushing forward. The foxhound, on the -other hand, may feather on a stale line, but he will -not as a rule open unless the drag is fairly fresh. -When he does throw his tongue, you can confidently -cheer the others to him, knowing that -your otter is not so very far in front. Although -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">« 119 »</a></span> -we cannot deny that the deep, resonant music of -a pack of pure otterhounds is delightful to listen -to, something more than the "band" is required -to kill an otter.</p> - -<p>Foxhounds, cross-breds, and Welsh hounds -throw their tongues well enough, and in addition -they possess dash and drive, with little or no -inclination to dwell. Foxhounds, before they -have entered properly, draw wide and will not -always stick to the river, but if they have done a -few season's stag-hunting—thus being used to -water work—they generally enter well to otter and -draw closely enough. A hound may not take any -interest in the sport during his first season, but the -following season he may prove to be one of the -best. Unfortunately the majority of draft foxhounds -are aged before they find their way to the -otterhound kennels, therefore any lengthy delay -in entering to their new quarry shortens the period -of their usefulness, that at the best cannot be very -long.</p> - -<p>Aged foxhounds after a time show an inclination -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">« 120 »</a></span> -to dwell and revel in the scent, and when -this happens it is a sign that their utility is -coming to an end. If possible always get hold -of foxhounds which throw their tongues freely, -and have nothing whatever to do with a mute -hound. However closely you keep an eye on -the latter, he will sooner or later get away "on -his own," and be the means of spoiling more -than one good hunt. No matter how good a mute -hound is in his work, get rid of him, for unless -he lets you know what he is doing he is useless to -you. Likewise, never on any consideration be -tempted to breed from a mute hound. Rough -otterhounds cannot stand punishment like the -foxhound, and will howl and kick up a dreadful -racket if hurt, or hit with the whip for some fault.</p> - -<p>It is during the course of a long hunt in heavy -or chilly water that the average rough otterhound -will pull out and sit shivering on the bank, while -the foxhounds are keeping their otter on the move. -In our experience, the foxhound is a much better -fresh-finder than the pure otterhound, and it is -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">« 121 »</a></span> -the hounds good at fresh-finding and keeping -their otter going that do most towards bringing -the quarry to hand. At the end of a long day, too, -the cross-breds and foxhounds will return to -kennels with their sterns up, while many of the -rough sort exhibit a very depressed appearance. -They never seem to pick their feet up like a -foxhound, but shuffle about in an ungainly -fashion. When it comes to killing an otter, the -foxhound has it all his own way. Time and -again we have seen him seize and hold a big otter, -often shaking his quarry like a fox. The rough -hound often fails in this respect, for he has not -the courage to make him a good seizer and killer. -A foxhound which comes to the otterhound -kennels with the reputation of being a good -marker nearly always keeps up his fame in the -same way when entered to otter. Good marking -hounds are the mainstay of any pack. As far -as brains are concerned, the foxhound appears to -make more use of his "grey matter" than the -rough hound, and shows more initiative and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">« 122 »</a></span> -individuality. His pace and activity, too, are -beyond question, both of which qualities are of -the greatest assistance when swimming an otter, -and more particularly when hunting one across -country or through extensive coverts. It is the -active hounds which score so often on rough and -rocky rivers, for drive and pace are an occasion -quite as necessary in otter-hunting as fox-hunting.</p> - -<p>The cross between foxhound and rough otterhound -possesses many of the attributes of the -former, including a rough jacket, and thus is -admirably fitted for the pursuit of <i>Lutra</i>.</p> - -<p>Turning to Welsh hounds, some of which have -rough, and others smooth coats, we find a breed -admirably suited to both fox and otter-hunting. -Many Welsh hounds are white or nearly so, while -others are the old black-and-tan colour. The -English foxhound of standard type is bigger -and has more substance than the Welsh hound, -but the latter excels in nose and tongue, and can -stand any amount of hard work in rough country. -In our experience, too, Welsh hounds—particularly -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">« 123 »</a></span> -those of the smaller type—are very active, -and have plenty of drive, while they are often -capital markers, and can hold and kill an otter -quite as quickly as any English foxhound.</p> - -<p>Another type of hound admirably suited to -otter-hunting is the fell-foxhound of Cumberland -and Westmorland. He is for the most -part a light-built, active sort, with a capital nose, -and any amount of tongue. In the Lakes and -certain districts adjoining, fell-hounds often hunt -fox in winter and otter in summer. The fell-hounds -are kennelled in the fox-hunting season, -but go out to walk in summer, and generally a -few couples are lent to the local otterhounds for -the chase of <i>Lutra</i>. In our experience fell-hounds -enter quickly to otter, and on our rough -and rocky northern rivers they are very hard to -beat as all round performers. Many of them -are capital markers, and they will hunt a drag, -and kill an otter with the best.</p> - -<p>Turning to the "Otter-hunting Diary" of the -late Mr James Lomax, of Clayton Hall, who -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">« 124 »</a></span> -kept a pack from 1829 to 1871, we find an -illustration of the old Lancashire harrier or -foumart-hound. The picture shows a couple of -rough-haired hounds in full cry, which appear a -medium-sized, light-built, active type; more -suggestive of the rough Welsh foxhound than -the modern otterhound. Mr Lomax used these -foumart-hounds in crossing with his otterhounds. -In another illustration, showing some of the pack -in 1835, the type of hound appears to be lighter-built -and more active-looking than the big, -present-day rough otterhound.</p> - -<p>The tendency with English foxhounds has -been to breed them much bigger than was the -case in former years, and the same apparently -applies to the rough otterhound. Certainly a tall -hound can wade where a smaller hound is obliged -to swim, but a medium-sized, active type is less -clumsy, and more fitted for work on rocky streams -than the heavy hounds now seen in most packs. -From a purely working point of view, a pack -composed of English, Welsh, and fell-foxhounds -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">« 125 »</a></span> -would be very hard to beat. By judicious -crossing, an ideal pack could be bred, retaining -to a great extent the rough coat of the Welsh -hound, if that was thought indispensable to the -appearance of the pack.</p> - -<p>Although draft foxhounds are generally used -for otter-hunting, it pays to get hold of a bitch or -two and breed from them. By so doing you can -gradually get together a pack composed of hounds -of the desired sort, and if you are lucky you may -be able to hunt fox with them in the winter, and -thus keep hounds in condition for their summer -work. Hounds, like human beings, get very fed-up -with continual road exercise, therefore a bit -of winter hunting appeals to them far more than -the dull routine of exercise walks.</p> - -<p>Next in importance to the hounds are the -terriers, for without their help it would be -impossible to eject an otter from his holt. The -most important quality in a terrier is gameness, -for no matter how well built he is, if he has not -the courage to go below ground and stay with -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">« 126 »</a></span> -his otter until the latter bolts, or the diggers -unearth him, he is not worth his keep. Provided -he is thoroughly game, and not too big, it matters -not how a terrier is bred. He is there to work, -and not to be looked at. Roughly speaking, a -terrier of about 14 lb. weight will be suited to -otter-hunting. As, apart from bolting otters, he -will not be called upon to do any great amount -of travelling over rough country, short legs are -no great drawback to him. For all that, however, -we like to see a terrier with a fair length of leg, -for there are certain holts, particularly amongst -rocks, where an otter can command the upper -position, and a short-legged terrier is much -handicapped when trying to get at him. A -terrier should have a fair head and jaw, and he -should be as narrow in front as is compatible with -adequate heart and lung room. A narrow-fronted -dog can always get into a smaller place -than a broad-chested one, even if he is longer -on the leg. A terrier that will lie up close to an -otter and move him with his tongue is preferable -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">« 127 »</a></span> -to one that goes straight in to the attack. His -barking eventually gets on the otter's nerves -and causes him to get "out of that," while -should the otter refuse to bolt, the terrier's voice -is a guide as to where to dig. A terrier soon -learns his job, and after getting mauled a time -or two by otters, he will make more use of his -tongue than his teeth. When entering a puppy -for the first time, choose an easy place, so that -the youngster has a fair chance to get in touch -with his otter.</p> - -<p>As to the colour of a terrier, good ones—like -horses—come in all colours. White is perhaps -preferable, as a white terrier is less likely to be -mistaken for the otter by hounds at a kill. -Certainly white terriers appear to suffer fewer -casualties in this respect than coloured ones. As -to whether terriers should run loose with hounds -is a question the Master must settle for himself. -When terriers are loose, there is always the -chance that cubs may be chopped by them, -though to set against such a contretemps, many -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">« 128 »</a></span> -an otter is found and put down by the terriers. -Again, coloured terriers running loose may be -killed or badly mauled by hounds, when the latter -are hard at their otter.</p> - -<p>During the season of 1921, with the K. and -D.O.H., we had two coloured terriers worried by -hounds, one of which recovered but the other -died the same night. The otter, which was -getting beat, took to land, and hounds collared -him as he left the water, the terriers being seized -by some of the pack in mistake for their quarry. -Had those terriers been in the couples at the -time, they would have been saved. It is really -safest to lead the terriers until they are wanted, -and after bolting their otter they should be got -hold of again as soon as possible. The same -when hounds are worrying their otter, always pick -up the terriers if any of them are loose.</p> - -<p>In order that hounds shall keep fit and well, -they must receive proper attention in the kennel. -Less flesh is needed for feeding otterhounds -than foxhounds, because they do their work in -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">« 129 »</a></span> -summer, and both the season of the year and the -work itself do not make so great a call on their -powers as does the chase of the fox in winter. -During the off season, otterhounds should be -exercised for two or three hours daily, and as -the hunting season approaches the exercise can -be gradually lengthened. With a pack of cross-bred, -Welsh, or English foxhounds, it is possible -to hunt otters in summer and fox in winter, and -where this can be done, hounds will, of course, -keep perfectly fit. In the case of the fell-foxhounds, -those hunting otter in summer return to -their own kennels for the winter fox-catching. -As far as food is concerned, this should always -be given thick, rather than soft and sloppy. -Hounds splash "slop" into their eyes, and get -particles of it up their nostrils, to the detriment -of both sight and olfactory powers. On the -return from hunting, cuts and bruises should be -attended to, and thorns, etc., extracted. Hounds' -coats should also be brushed, and burrs, etc., -removed. Rough hounds require more looking -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">« 130 »</a></span> -after in this respect than smooth-coated ones. -The huntsman should see that his hounds are -fed and properly bedded down before he attends -to his own wants. If hounds look well and hunt -well, you can rest assured that your huntsman -or feeder is paying proper attention to the pack -in kennel. As regards kennels, these need not -be of an expensive nature, but the drainage and -general sanitation <i>must</i> be adequate if hounds -are to keep fit. Wherever waste matter is -present, either in the boiling house, feeding -place, or yards, there will disease germs gather, -and complaints amongst hounds will be for ever -breaking out. The old adage "Cleanliness is -next to godliness" applies as much to hounds -and their kennels as it does to human beings -and their houses.</p> - -<p>Some huntsmen are apt to let hounds get very -much out of condition during the winter months, -instead of exercising regularly, which means that -on the approach of the hunting season all sorts -of physic is used in an attempt to get them fit -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">« 131 »</a></span> -again. It is quite safe to say that the less -medicine you employ about the kennels the -better, and there will be little or no need for it -if hounds are rationally fed and exercised in the -winter.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">« 132 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2 pmt2"><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> - -<span class="smaller">REMINISCENCES</span></p> - - -<p>There are very few Masters in the country who -hunt fox in winter and otter in summer with the -same hounds, and fewer still we imagine who have -killed an otter and a fox on the same day. The -latter feat was performed by the Master of the -South Tetcott, whose hounds found and killed an -otter on the River Othery, after which they -unkennelled a fox cub, and after rattling him about -a bit, eventually brought him to hand.</p> - -<p>One of the few packs hunting both fox and otter -is the Ynsfor, a private pack owned by Major -Evan Jones. His country lies in Carnarvon and -Merioneth, Snowdon and the adjoining mountains -lying within its borders. The Master is his own -huntsman, and hounds are followed on foot, owing -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">« 133 »</a></span> -to the precipitous nature of the country. The -pack is composed of the old Welsh breed, some -rough and some smooth, with many of the old -black-and-tan colour amongst them. These -hounds have been in Major Jones's family since -1765.</p> - -<p>Probably few people have been out with both -foxhounds and otterhounds on the same day, but -we can plead guilty to having accomplished this -feat. Before the L.D.O.H. were disbanded, -hounds met very early one morning, but failed -to get an otter afloat, and when they returned to -kennels we went off and joined the Coniston -Foxhounds, and eventually saw Reynard accounted -for.</p> - -<p>A great many people appear to have a rooted -idea that an otter is a slow-moving, clumsy creature, -which never leaves the vicinity of water. Such an -assumption is, to say the least of it, inaccurate, as -anyone can easily testify, particularly those who -have done much otter-hunting on the rocky rivers -of the north. In a previous chapter we have -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">« 134 »</a></span> -mentioned a hunt during which the otter crossed a -watershed, and this brings to mind a seven and a -half hours' hunt by the K. and D.O.H. on the -River Lune in the season of 1921. The otter was -lying rough in a hanging wood overlooking the -river, and was found by a little fell-foxhound -named Cragsman, belonging to the Ullswater pack. -After some up and down work on the river, our -otter stole away on land, and crossed some fields -to a small stream which runs between steep banks. -There was a screaming scent, and hounds fairly -flew in pursuit. The otter ran the small stream -nearly to the top of the ghyll, then turned and -came back. In a rock-bound pool he lay low, but -hounds were soon at him again. The pool lay -between smooth and slippery walls of rock, and at -first the otter barely showed his nose. Suddenly, -however, he made a terrific spring—his hind legs -no doubt getting purchase on a ledge below the -surface of the water—and all but got clear of the -pool. He hung for a brief instant on the rock -wall, making the picture of a lifetime for anyone -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">« 135 »</a></span> -lucky enough to have been there with a camera, -then he turned and fell with a splash into the pool. -It was a miracle how he got clear, but get away -he did to run the fields again, and take refuge in -a rabbit burrow on the bank of the main river. -Hounds were taken away, and after a bit of work -the terriers bolted him. He took down stream, -and after the pack was laid on, a couple of hounds -collared him on the shallows. He appeared to -fling these hounds off as if they were straws, then -he shot into a pool, raising a splash and a wake -like a hydroplane as he crossed it.</p> - -<p>Reaching the farther bank, he at once took to -the hanging wood, and went straight up it. He -gained a short start by this manœuvre, then the -pack was roaring in his wake. Running the wood -like a fox, it looked at first as if he was going right -out at the top, but he turned and came down again, -crossed the river and took refuge in a strong root -holt. Some time was spent digging before he -could be ejected, and when he was at last obliged -to bolt, he again went straight across the river and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">« 136 »</a></span> -took to the wood. Hounds drove him round it, -and he once more took the water. Here he -entered a long but not very deep pool, and hounds -swam him down it, then he turned and hounds -checked. There was little or no cover on the -banks, but he got out without being seen, the first -warning we had of his departure being given by -a young, rough hound which hit off his line in the -wood. This time he ran straight out to the top of -the covert, turned left-handed and crossed the open -fields for more than a mile, just beating hounds -to a drain, the grating of which had been -moved, where he got in and was eventually -left.</p> - -<p>We viewed this otter several times at close -quarters, and estimated his weight at nearer 30 lb. -than 25 lb.</p> - -<p>He showed extraordinary running powers and -activity for so large an otter, and it was hard luck -on hounds that he beat them.</p> - -<p>There was a screaming scent on land, but when -he took the water for the last time, hounds had -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">« 137 »</a></span> -some difficulty in owning the wash. That otter -would most certainly have convinced anyone who -was sceptical of <i>Lutra's</i> activity and running -powers.</p> - -<p>We have already mentioned the fondness that -otters have—particularly in Canada—for sliding. -When engaged in this amusement, they tuck their -forelegs in, and toboggan down the bank on their -stomachs. This season (1921), whilst the Coniston -Foxhounds were hunting on the fells, a couple -and a half of hounds ran a fox in the direction of -an earth on which some of the field were standing. -About the same time, an otter suddenly ran out -from some rocks near the main earth, and after -going some distance, tucked in its head and forelegs, -and actually <i>rolled</i> some yards downhill. -We were on the opposite side of the valley at the -time, but a very keen and experienced fox and otter -hunter who was there, and witnessed the incident, -said that he had never seen anything like it before -in his life.</p> - -<p>A name to conjure with in the annals of Lakeland -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">« 138 »</a></span> -otter-hunting is that of the late Bobby -Troughton. He was born on Fellside, Kendal, in -1836. In the early eighties he purchased three -hounds, "Raleigh," "Ragman," and "Londesborough," -and with these three hounds and a -couple of terriers he began to hunt the local rivers. -Having thus formed the nucleus of a pack, he -gradually added to it and improved it, until the -late Mr Courtenay Tracy, M.O.H., said there -was not another pack like it in England. Bobby's -heaviest otter was a big dog weighing 32 lb., and -was killed in Rydal Lake. One of his most famous -hunts took place in Lever's Water on the Coniston -fells. Hounds met at 5 a.m. at the foot of Yewdale -Beck, and striking a hot drag at once, went out -towards the hills. Near the edge of the tarn they -put their otter down, and he at once took to the -water. For nine hours he kept hounds going, and -it was not until some of the field volunteered to go -to Coniston for a boat—no small undertaking—that -Bobby was able to get afloat himself, and give -his hounds a helping hand. At long last the otter -attempted to land, and hounds collared him, thus -earning their reward.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 473px;"> -<img src="images/image12.png" width="473" height="287" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">K. & D.O.H. Moving Off to Draw.</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Copyright by R. F. Lees, Blackpool</i>).</div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 480px;"> -<img src="images/image13.png" width="480" height="329" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Going to the Meet by Ferry on Lake Windermere.</span><br /> -<div class="tdl">(<i>Photo by R. Clapham</i>).</div> -<div class="tdr"><i>To face p. 139.</i></div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">« 139 »</a></span></p> - -<p>At one time in the north, packs of rough hounds -were kept for hunting otter, marten, and foumart. -One of the last of these packs to hunt in the Lake -District belonged to the late Mr Fleming Green, -of Grasmere. Anthony Chapman, who was his -huntsman, and later hunted the Windermere -Harriers for many seasons, is still hale and hearty, -and delights in a "crack" about old times.</p> - -<p>Another well-known Master in the north was the -late Mr James Lomax, of Clayton Hall, Great -Harwood, Lancashire.</p> - -<p>His "Otter-hunting Diary" contains an account -of the sport he enjoyed from 1829 to 1871, and is -most interesting reading. Like Bobby Troughton -in later years, he bred a very perfect pack of -hounds of the rough-coated type. In 1871 -rabies unfortunately broke out in his kennels, -necessitating the destruction of all but three of the -hounds. Being himself advanced in years, he -made no attempt to start a new pack, despite the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">« 140 »</a></span> -many offers of hounds he received, and one cannot -blame him. By the time he had got together -another pack as good as the one he had lost, he -would as he said himself have been too old to follow -and enjoy the sport. Mr Lomax always met very -early in the morning, often as soon as 3 a.m. He -showed wonderful sport on Ribble, Lune, and -many other rivers, and old men who can remember -hunting with him, speak in glowing terms of the -great hunts they enjoyed with his pack. In one -respect Mr Lomax differed from present-day -Masters, i.e., in the practice of "sacking" otters -and removing them to more huntable waters. -There are in the diary, several instances recorded -of such otters having died, so that the practice -was not a profitable one.</p> - -<p>The most famous otter-hunter Scotland has ever -seen was the late Mr Waldron Hill, of Murrayfield -House, near Edinburgh.</p> - -<p>When quite a young man he contracted -consumption, and was told by his doctors that he -had not long to live. Nothing daunted, however, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">« 141 »</a></span> -Mr Hill took to otter-hunting, and the sport agreed -with him so well, that he hunted practically every -river in Scotland, and lived to be far advanced in -years.</p> - -<p>When the West Lothian Foxhounds were in -existence, Mr Hill used to run with them, and saw -as much sport as most of the mounted brigade.</p> - -<p>In "Field and Fern," <i>The Druid</i> wrote regarding -Mr Hill: "Some years ago he had a pack of -otterhounds in Monmouthshire, of the Welsh -breed, smooth and white with yellow ears; for the -last five years he has had black and tans, a cross -between the bloodhound and rough Lancashire -hound, which is used in that country for otter and -foumart. Their nose is nearly equal to the Lancashire -hound, who are unrivalled in this respect -and never disposed to be tonguey. The bloodhound -cross also makes them more savage in their -worry, but they are often very unpleasant to -manage in kennel. Mr Hill has found the foxhound -fail in working up to his otter in a cold drag, -but excellent on the line when the game is fairly -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">« 142 »</a></span> -started. With him the southern hound has only -failed from lack of constitution, which is injured -by too much swimming."</p> - -<p>Mr Hill used terriers of Welsh breed, which he -got from the kennels of Mr Ramsay Williams, -after the latter's death. These terriers weighed -about 15 lb., and were bred as flat-sided as -possible to enable them to squeeze into narrow -places. They were fairly long on the leg, and -were used for bolting fox, otter, marten, and -foumart. Mr Hill's principal river was the Tyne, -flowing through Haddingtonshire. Speaking of -the South Esk, <i>The Druid</i> says: "Last August it -was the scene of a very remarkable run, as the -otter only touched the water twice for a few -minutes throughout a run of eight or nine miles, -and was eventually pulled down in the heart of one -of the East Lothian fox-whins." Regarding a -long drag with Mr Hill's hounds, <i>The Druid</i> says: -"In '62 the hounds hit upon one at the Clutby -Dam reservoir on the north side of the Pentlands, -and hunted him through the sheep-drains right -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">« 143 »</a></span> -over the Pentlands, down to the reservoir at St -Catherine's. He had gone through it on the north -side, and from there down the Glencorn burn, -nearly to the North Esk. Leaving this for another -burn across the country, he headed back to the -reservoir at St Catherine's, where, on account of -the water being too high, he could not be moved. -This otter must have travelled nearly twenty miles -during the night, and it was well for Mr Hill that -his terriers were long-legged; and that he himself -is always in condition summer or winter, or he -would have seen nothing of the fun on that hot -and very wet September morning." We wonder -how far the members of a modern otter-hunting -field would get, if asked to follow hounds on a hot -drag for twenty miles? Not far we'll warrant, for -most of them would swear that hounds were on a -fox.</p> - -<p>People who incautiously "tail" an otter are very -apt to get bitten, and regarding this <i>The Druid</i> -says: "In all these forays Mr Hill has never got -heavily bitten himself; but many years ago, when -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">« 144 »</a></span> -he was hunting on the Kenvy near Abergavenny, -the otter came out of the water just before it was -killed, made straight at the whip, who was a few -yards off his master, shook him savagely by the -trousers, and then passed on."</p> - -<p>We have heard people say that an otter makes no -splash when diving or otherwise entering the -water. Certainly at times he does not make much -of a disturbance, for his sinuous body is built for -swimming, but when playing in the water, or when -hunted, he splashes quite a lot. We were on one -occasion watching the mouth of a drain on the river -Lune, in which the terriers were baiting an otter. -In front of this drain was a row of willow trees. -Standing quietly a yard or so to one side of the -drain entrance we at last saw the otter show himself. -He stood at the drain mouth sniffing the air, -the muscles working his thick "whiskers," giving -his face a very puffed out appearance. Hearing -or seeing some of the field on the opposite bank of -the river he turned round and went back up the -drain. A fairly long interval elapsed, and we -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">« 145 »</a></span> -were just bending down to listen at the drain -mouth, when, without the slightest warning the -otter shot out, and leapt straight through the willow -tree, to land in the water with a splash like a sack -of oats. From where he took off, to the point -where he hit the river, constituted a remarkable -jump, and he must have been coming pretty fast -when he shot out of the drain.</p> - -<p>On another occasion at the same drain, which is -a favourite resort of otters, the terriers were at -work, and an opening had been made into the drain -at some distance from the river. We were watching -the drain mouth, and after a bit the otter -showed himself, but went back. The bank where -we stood was high, and there was a certain amount -of rubbish in the way of dead branches, etc., -partially covering the drain mouth. Being below -the bank we could not see what was happening -in the field, and we were greatly astonished when -a big otter suddenly rushed over the edge of the -bank, nearly on top of us, scrambled through the -branches, and disappeared up the drain. The -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">« 146 »</a></span> -terriers had bolted him in the field, and we, of -course, were unaware of what was happening. -This otter finally emerged at the drain mouth, but -unlike his predecessor, took the water quietly -below the willow trees.</p> - -<p>In Walton's description of a morning's sport -with Mr Sadler's "Otter-dogs," Sweetlips—one of -the hounds—brings the carcass of the otter to -"Venator." We have on several occasions seen -a hound seize and carry a dead-beat otter ashore. -This is easily done in the case of a 12 lb. or 14 lb. -otter, but it is a different matter for a hound to -handle a big, fighting dog otter. When a hunted -otter is floating on top of the water, he often makes -a considerable splash if he dives in a hurry.</p> - -<p>Although perhaps not so good a climber as some -other members of the weasel family, the otter is no -slouch at negotiating steep, rocky ghylls, and can -scramble about in a wonderful manner. It seems -rather hard to account for the fact that in some -seasons hounds kill a majority of dog otters, while -in other seasons the total is chiefly made up of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">« 147 »</a></span> -bitches. Where you find a bitch otter, there is -often a dog within a mile or so, either up or down -stream; and no doubt the two of them keep that -particular stretch of water free from other lutrine -intruders.</p> - -<p>Scent and its vagaries will no doubt always be a -mysterious problem. How often have we seen -hounds able to hunt quite well amongst the undergrowth, -yet when they reached an open expanse of -sand where the seal of an otter was plainly visible, -they have crossed it without a single hound speaking. -An instance of this comes to mind during the -season of 1921, when hounds ran well across -country, whereas on a sand-bank, literally padded -flat with otter tracks, never a hound opened.</p> - -<p>Although hounds may sometimes travel a long -way up-stream without touching a drag, that does -not always signify that you will not find. An -instance of this comes to mind when we were -hunting a small hill-stream. Hounds had covered -some miles of water without a sign of a drag, and -the field was becoming rather discouraged, when -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">« 148 »</a></span> -suddenly the pack opened in no uncertain manner, -and began tearing at a holt on the bank. While -hounds were thus occupied, the otter bolted and -went downstream, and after a short hunt was -accounted for. Until reaching the spot where -hounds marked, there was little or no lying ground, -and seeing that there was also no up-stream drag -it pointed to the fact that our otter had travelled -over a neighbouring watershed, and had entered -the holt on his journey downstream. It is always -well to remember that an otter may be found anywhere, -and because there happens to be no drag -up-stream that does not mean to say that you may -not find when you reach the head waters.</p> - -<p>Regarding the agility and jumping powers of -otters we remember hounds finding an otter lying -rough, which, after a certain amount of dusting -up and down stream, jumped a wall into a road, -passed under a motor car standing there, and went -over another wall into the field beyond. Leaving -the field it scaled a third wall before returning to -the water. Eventually it took to some extensive -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">« 149 »</a></span> -coverts, and after running a ring through them, it -was bowled over by hounds in the open as it was -making its way back to the river. That an otter -knows every inch of ground over which he has once -travelled is made quite apparent to those who do -much otter-hunting.</p> - -<p>We have, in a previous chapter, told of an otter -which travelled ten miles overland from one stream -to another, going straight to the various smoots -through the walls which barred its passage. In -an emergency, too, an otter makes up his mind -pretty quickly. On one occasion the terriers got -to their otter in a drain, and after opening the -latter, the otter backed out. The drain lay -parallel to a hedge, and like a flash the otter darted -through this, ran down behind it, and was into -another underground retreat before anyone had -time to realise his game.</p> - -<p>As a rule, if two otters are put down together, the -one which is not being hunted will promptly make -itself scarce. We remember on one occasion, -however, when hounds were hunting a bitch otter, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">« 150 »</a></span> -the dog hung about in plain sight under a bridge, -and remained there until the bitch was accounted -for, after which he himself suffered the same fate.</p> - -<p>Otter-hunting is the least artificial of our British -field sports. The otter is a wild animal, living -the same free life that he has done for generations, -and we have yet to learn a good deal concerning -him. Being a great wanderer, he is here to-day -and gone to-morrow, and his hunting provides -more "glorious uncertainty" than the chase of any -other beast. Before you can hunt him you must -find him, but whereas with deer, fox, and hare, the -finding is often the easiest part of the business, in -the case of the otter it is the most difficult. In -a previous chapter we have made brief mention -of otter-hunting dress. In these days blue is the -popular colour for Hunt livery, the material most -favoured being woollen serge. We wonder how -modern otter-hunters would like to wear the dress -mentioned by Blaine, i.e., a green dress turned up -with red, fur cap with gold band, and waterproof -hip-boots decorated with red or gold tassels.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">« 151 »</a></span></p> - -<p>It was Somervile in <i>The Chase</i> who coined -the phrase "sly goose-footed prowler," and gave -to the world one of the best accounts of an otter-hunt -ever penned. Otter-hunting seems to have -been little catered for in the matter of songs pertaining -to the sport. No doubt there are many -purely local ditties concerning the doings of -various packs, but few songs of real worth have -made their appearance. In "The Poetry of -Sport" by Hedley Peek, we find one or two, and -in the "Otter-hunting Diary" of Mr James -Lomax there are a couple of Lancashire otter-hunting -songs. One of these songs is in dialect, -and we take the liberty of quoting a verse or two -for to anyone who understands broad Lancashire -they convey a lively description of the sport. The -song is entitled "The Hunt in the Hodder." In -the first verse the narrator goes to the meet:</p> - -<div class="poem"> -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"Old Squire Lomax's dags I'd oft heerd um tell,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">I bethought me one morning I'd see um mysell,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">So I donn'd me, and reet off for Mytton dud trig,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Un I landed me just as they loosed under th' Brig.<br /></span> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">« 152 »</a></span></div> -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Chorus</i><br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Cobbler wur theer, Carver wur theer,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Random and Rover, oud Pilot and aw."<br /></span> -</div> -</div> - -<p>After a good drag, hounds mark their otter in his -holt, and Crab the terrier is sent in.</p> - -<div class="poem"> -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"Hark! Crab's agate feighting him, hard as he con,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Be sharp un seize howd of a dog, every mon.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">We had nobbut just cleeked um, un roven um back,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">When th' grey-headed maister croap eawt in a crack."<br /></span> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Chorus</i><br /></span> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Hounds swim their otter for some time until at -last he takes refuge in a holt.</p> - -<div class="poem"> -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"We swum him to Winckley, un theer he dud hoyle,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">But a pick un a spade soon his harbour dud spoil;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Then he fought into Ribble, ay, reet thro' the pack,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Thro' foar on um once had him dean of his back."<br /></span> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Chorus</i><br /></span> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Hounds eventually account for their otter, and -the song finishes with:</p> - -<div class="poem"> -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"This otter whoas weight wor just twenty-four peands,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Two hears, forty minits, wor hunted by th' heands;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Heer's luck to all th' pack, when they meeten next year,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">May th' Captain, un me, un aw us be theer."<br /></span> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Chorus</i><br /></span> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">« 153 »</a></span></p> - -<p>A rather amusing incident occurred some years -ago when we were whipping-in to the now -disbanded Lake District Otterhounds. Whilst -waiting at Lakeside for the boat that runs up -Lake Windermere, a char-a-banc load of trippers -arrived, to whom the sight of a pack of otterhounds -was evidently a novelty. Before we -knew what was happening, the crowd of sightseers -had formed a ring round hounds, each -member of the party producing a song book. -There then rose on the air the well-known refrain -"John Peel." The old huntsman listened whilst -they sang the first verse, then suddenly exclaimed -"Give it more weft! give it more weft!" Isaac -evidently thought that their efforts compared -badly with the way in which the old song is sung -by fox-hunters in Cumberland or Westmorland.</p> - -<p>In addition to being the least artificial of our -British field sports, otter-hunting affords unrivalled -opportunities for those who love to watch the work -of hounds. It is more popular now than it ever -was, yet there is still ample room for many more -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">« 154 »</a></span> -packs before our rivers and lakes are thoroughly -hunted as they should be. The more otters you -kill the more you will have, for riparian owners and -tenants are for the most part quite willing to afford -protection to <i>Lutra</i>, when they know that a keen -huntsman and a killing pack of hounds are hunting -their waters regularly throughout the season.</p> - -<p>In conclusion we will finish with the old south-country -toast "Death to dog otters! Long life -to the little bitches!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">« 155 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 344px;"> -<img src="images/fig_6.png" width="344" height="524" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="caption4">FINIS</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">« 156 »</a><br /> - <a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">« 157 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX">INDEX</a></p> - -<p class="caption3"> -<a href="#alpha_a">A</a> | <a href="#alpha_b">B</a> | <a href="#alpha_c">C</a> | <a href="#alpha_d">D</a> | <a href="#alpha_e">E</a> | <a href="#alpha_f">F</a> | <a href="#alpha_g">G</a> | <a href="#alpha_h">H</a><br /> -<a href="#alpha_i">I</a> | <a href="#alpha_i">I</a> | <a href="#alpha_j">J</a> | <a href="#alpha_k">K</a> | <a href="#alpha_l">L</a> | <a href="#alpha_m">M</a> | <a href="#alpha_n">N</a> | <a href="#alpha_o">O</a><br /> -<a href="#alpha_p">P</a> | <a href="#alpha_r">R</a> | <a href="#alpha_s">S</a> | <a href="#alpha_t">T</a> | <a href="#alpha_u">U</a> | <a href="#alpha_w">W</a> | <a href="#alpha_y">Y</a> | <a href="#alpha_z">Z</a> -</p> - - -<div class="p0"> -<a id="alpha_a" name="alpha_a"></a>Abnormal colour, <a href="#Page_32">32</a><br /> -Activity of otter, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a><br /> -Adult otter, eyes of, <a href="#Page_46">46</a><br /> -African otter, <a href="#Page_23">23</a><br /> -Age of otters, <a href="#Page_32">32</a><br /> -Air, in holts, <a href="#Page_50">50</a><br /> -"Argyll, a Fauna of," <a href="#Page_32">32</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_b" name="alpha_b"></a>Back teeth of otter, <a href="#Page_22">22</a><br /> -Bethel, William, <a href="#Page_43">43</a><br /> -Bitch otter, breeding of, <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> -Biss hunters, <a href="#Page_115">115</a><br /> -Black-and-tan Welsh hounds, <a href="#Page_122">122</a><br /> -Bloodhound, <a href="#Page_112">112</a><br /> -Blaine, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> -Bobby Troughton, <a href="#Page_138">138</a><br /> -British otter, <a href="#Page_22">22</a><br /> -"British Rural Sports, Manual of," <a href="#Page_76">76</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_c" name="alpha_c"></a>Coke, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a><br /> -Colour of otter, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> -Charles St John, <a href="#Page_56">56</a><br /> -Claw-marks of otter, <a href="#Page_40">40</a><br /> -Clothing for otter-hunting, <a href="#Page_109">109</a><br /> -Claws, otter, <a href="#Page_71">71</a><br /> -<i>Chase, The</i>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> -Colour of terriers, <a href="#Page_127">127</a><br /> -Chesapeake Bay dog, <a href="#Page_113">113</a><br /> -Cross-bred hounds, <a href="#Page_115">115</a><br /> -Cubs, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_d" name="alpha_d"></a>Dabchicks, <a href="#Page_62">62</a><br /> -Dalnaspidal, <a href="#Page_63">63</a><br /> -Digging by otter, <a href="#Page_70">70</a><br /> -Dixon, H. H., <a href="#Page_77">77</a><br /> -Digging, <a href="#Page_98">98</a><br /> -Drains, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a><br /> -<i>Druid, The</i>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a><br /> -Dress, otter-hunting, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> -Drag, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a><br /> -Ducklings, <a href="#Page_64">64</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_e" name="alpha_e"></a>Eels, <a href="#Page_60">60</a><br /> -Early meets, <a href="#Page_77">77-80</a><br /> -Essex O.H., <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> -Equipment, otter-hunting, <a href="#Page_110">110</a><br /> -Evicting otter, <a href="#Page_96">96</a><br /> -Exercising hounds, <a href="#Page_129">129</a><br /> -Excrement, <a href="#Page_37">37</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_f" name="alpha_f"></a>Feet, otter's, <a href="#Page_25">25</a><br /> -"Field and Fern," <a href="#Page_77">77</a><br /> -Finding otters, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a><br /> -Food for hounds, <a href="#Page_129">129</a><br /> -Footprints, <a href="#Page_38">38-40</a><br /> -Fur, otter's, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_g" name="alpha_g"></a>Gaits of otter, <a href="#Page_41">41</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_h" name="alpha_h"></a>Harrier, Lancashire, <a href="#Page_113">113</a><br /> -Hazel pole, <a href="#Page_110">110</a><br /> -Head, otter's, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> -Hebrides, otters in, <a href="#Page_55">55</a><br /> -Hide, otter's, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">« 158 »</a></span> -Highlands, otters in, <a href="#Page_55">55</a><br /> -Highway, hounds on, <a href="#Page_108">108</a><br /> -Hill, Mr Waldron, <a href="#Page_140">140</a><br /> -Holts, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a><br /> -Hound, lime, <a href="#Page_75">75</a><br /> -Horn, <a href="#Page_110">110</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_i" name="alpha_i"></a>Indian otter, <a href="#Page_23">23</a><br /> -Interdigital webs, <a href="#Page_28">28</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_j" name="alpha_j"></a>James Lomax, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a><br /> -John, King, <a href="#Page_73">73</a><br /> -Jones, Major Evan, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a><br /> -John, Charles St, <a href="#Page_56">56</a><br /> -Jura, <a href="#Page_32">32</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_k" name="alpha_k"></a>King John, <a href="#Page_73">73</a><br /> -Kenets, <a href="#Page_113">113</a><br /> -Kennels, <a href="#Page_130">130</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_l" name="alpha_l"></a>Lash, whip, <a href="#Page_110">110</a><br /> -Liam, <a href="#Page_75">75</a><br /> -Lime hound, <a href="#Page_75">75</a><br /> -Lomax, James, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a><br /> -<br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_m" name="alpha_m"></a>"Master of Game," <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a><br /> -Marten, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a><br /> -Meeting early, <a href="#Page_77">77-80</a><br /> -Milbourne, <a href="#Page_36">36</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_n" name="alpha_n"></a>Notes on the horn, <a href="#Page_111">111</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_o" name="alpha_o"></a>Otter, natural history of, <a href="#Page_21">21-41</a><br /> -----, head of, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> -----, hide of, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> -----, Indian, <a href="#Page_23">23</a><br /> -----, digging, <a href="#Page_70">70</a><br /> -----, excrement of, <a href="#Page_37">37</a><br /> -----, feet of, <a href="#Page_25">25</a><br /> -----, fur of, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> -----, footprints of, <a href="#Page_38">38-40</a><br /> -----, African, <a href="#Page_23">23</a><br /> -----, age of, <a href="#Page_32">32</a><br /> -----, activity of, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a><br /> -----, British, <a href="#Page_22">22</a><br /> -----, back teeth of, <a href="#Page_29">29</a><br /> -----, colour of, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> -----, cubs, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a><br /> -----, coke, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a><br /> -----, claw-marks of, <a href="#Page_40">40</a><br /> -----, claws, <a href="#Page_71">71</a><br /> -----, holts, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a><br /> -----, abnormal colour of, <a href="#Page_32">32</a><br /> -----, weights and measurements of, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_p" name="alpha_p"></a>Peek, Hedley, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> -Pine-marten, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a><br /> -"Poetry of Sport," <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_r" name="alpha_r"></a>Record weights, <a href="#Page_30">30</a><br /> -Rose, Mr, <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_s" name="alpha_s"></a>Salmon and otter, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a><br /> -Seal, <a href="#Page_38">38</a><br /> -Scent, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a><br /> -Signal, on whistle, <a href="#Page_100">100</a><br /> -Size of otters, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> -Songs, otter-hunting, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> -Spears, otter, <a href="#Page_74">74</a><br /> -Spraints, <a href="#Page_37">37</a><br /> -Spur, <a href="#Page_38">38</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_t" name="alpha_t"></a>Tail, otter's, <a href="#Page_25">25</a><br /> -Tame cubs, <a href="#Page_47">47</a><br /> -Tallying, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a><br /> -Teeth, otter's, <a href="#Page_29">29</a><br /> -Track, otter's, <a href="#Page_38">38</a><br /> -Troughton, Bobby, <a href="#Page_138">138</a><br /> -Terriers, <a href="#Page_125">125-128</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_u" name="alpha_u"></a>Uniforms, hunt, <a href="#Page_109">109</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_w" name="alpha_w"></a>Weights of otters, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> -Welsh hounds, <a href="#Page_122">122</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_y" name="alpha_y"></a>Ynsfor O.H., <a href="#Page_132">132</a><br /> -<br /> -<a id="alpha_z" name="alpha_z"></a>Zoological Gardens, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a><br /> -</div> - - -<p class="center pmt4 pmb4"> -PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN AT<br /> -THE NORTHUMBERLAND PRESS LIMITED, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE<br /> -</p> - - -<hr class="full" /> - - -<div class="trans_notes"> - -<p class="caption2">Transcriber Note</p> - - -<p>Illustrations moved so as to not split paragraphs. On <a href="#Page_114">page 114</a>, braches -was changed to raches.</p> - -</div> - - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Book of the Otter, by Richard Clapham - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE OTTER *** - -***** This file should be named 52071-h.htm or 52071-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/0/7/52071/ - -Produced by Tom Cosmas and The Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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