THE SPORT OF OTTER HUNTING. BY THE EDITOR. "See, there he vents! The pack plunge headlong, and protended spears SOMERVILE. SUCH as desire to know what the chase of the otter may be in all its pomp and circumstance, must seek their lore in the records of the olden time. There they will read how those who followed the amphibious sport, were wont to sally forth, arrayed in vests of green, braided with scarlet, their caps of fur encircled with bands of gold, and surmounted with the graceful plumes of the ostrich. Boots, much of the fashion of those known to modern hunting fields, reaching to the tops of the thighs, and waterproof, encased their lower limbs, and were ornamented with tassels of gold and silver, according to the taste of the wearer. Their spears were also highly embellished, both with carving and costly mountings; the whole set-out of the higher classes engaged in these waterhuntings, being of a very picturesque and imposing character. Towards the latter end of the last century, otterhunting was one of the most popular of our field sports, and the list of establishments supported for its pursuit would have, probably, outnumbered those devoted to hunting in any of its other forms. Regular packs of otterhounds were kept in almost every parish, and an otterpole was as common an instrument in the peasant's hand as a walking-stick. Indeed, it was found, for all ordinary occasions, a much more useful accompaniment, as it stood him who carried it in good stead (if his way led him out of the high roads) in crossing the brooks and rivers which, in those days, were little encumbered by bridges, in the rural districts. This pole was much more simple than the spear now in use, of which I shall speak presently. It was merely a stick of straight ash, shod with a common iron barb head, or a fork of two prongs, also arrow-headed. With these weapons in their hands, and a motley group of miscellaneous curs at their heels, the village rustics would hie them to the neighbouring streams, to chase, in humble imitation of their betters, the Mustela Lutra of the naturalist. But the chase of the otter is fast on the wane; and it is to preserve, as it seems most likely, the last reminiscences of it, while yet an item in the catalogue of British National Sports, that I put my hand to this paper. I have not been able to ascertain how many really organized otter packs exist, at the present day, in England; but they are few. The principle of breeding hounds for this sport is, I believe, altogether obsolete; if not, the sooner it is abandoned the better. For this assertion I have the authority of the best of modern otter-slayers, as will appear in the sequel. Thus, having incidentally touched upon the theory of this sport, I proceed to offer a few rules for its practice, derived from the system adopted by those who possess the The best reputation as professors of its mysteries. modern otter spear is an article of some artistical pretension. It is, like its predecessor, a long, flexible, ashen pole, but headed with a barb somewhat scientifically constructed. The smaller end of the pole being bored and fitted with a counter sink (a female screw and collar), a spring barb is screwed to it. This barb is so constructed, that, being driven into the hide of the quarry, it expands, and gives out two hooks, which effectually prevent the hold of the spear being destroyed by any efforts of the animal to release itself. Sometimes, the otter has been captured by far more simple means, one instance of which will bear the telling, forasmuch as it is, probably, unique of its kind. The clever author of the "Sportsman in Ireland and Scotland," being on a fishing excursion in the wilds of Connemara, meets with the following adventure: "We were presently surprised by a succession of leaps; four or five salmon at once cleared the surface. Our surprise and curiosity were soon satisfied; the nose of an otter was elevated, then another, and another. We were up in a moment; the rifle had been left with Owen. It was a brood. "Pelt them with stones!' cried the major. "This I did with all imaginable industry, and succeeded in separating the young ones from the parents. The latter had gone down the stream, while the three whelps, unable to sustain themselves under water for so great a length of time, popped up their heads in exactly the most inconvenient places. The chase now began; as the young ones had started up the stream, we had no difficulty in keeping them in that direction. At length the three perched on a rock, and began to cry with the small voice of a cat; they were obviously in the wrong, and had missed the old ones, who were doubtless not far off. "The skill of the major was now in requisition; he had hastily tied to his line all the large salmon-flies he could find, and, at the distance of twenty yards, ere I was informed of his intention, covered the three whelps by a foot; they immediately started, and the major as immediately drew. "Here's one at least,' exclaimed he. "It was true; he had one of the otters fast; but the difficulty of holding him was not trifling. The fight was exactly in the style of a large and heavy fish; first he was down to the bottom of the pool, then, with the rapidity of lightning, he rose at another part where he was least expected. The contest was one of most singular dexterity on the one part, and of strength and agility on the other. At length, the smaller of the two fishermen began to yield, and, in a few minutes, he was dragged by main force to the shore. I now assisted in the fight, but warily, as the little animal bit ferociously at everything that was put towards him. He died the death of honour; he was stoned to death, and crammed into the creel as the most remarkable trophy of expert angling." Of the spirit with which this exciting sport is followed in our day, I have not met with a more striking instance than that afforded in the account of a run with the Haworth and Stockton otterhounds during the present season; the account published of it was to the following effect: "A splendid run with these hounds commenced on the |