Posted by Ian E-N on February 07, 2000 at 15:09:50 from es-electronics.lancs.ac.uk:
In Reply to: Re: Drag vs Fox-hunting- AR PC before his time?? posted by Peter H on February 06, 2000 at 20:10:04:
Richard Clapham (Foxhunting on the Lakeland Fells 1920) notes
that "By degrees, owing to the importation of foxes for restocking certain
districts adjoining the fells the true hill fox became infused with this new
blood.
....... It may be safely said that the real old "greyhound" variety is a
thing of the past, only seen today staring woodenly from a glass case in
the fell-side farmhouses".
so one assumes it was something that had got to be done because it could be enjoyed, else why restock ?
Reminiscences of Joe Bowman and the Ullswater Foxhounds by W.C.Shelton
is worth a read for details of parochial records detailing remuneration paid
out of church funds for slaughter of foxes and other pests in C18
For killing a fox 10 groats
For killing a foxes cub 3 groats
For killing an eagle 3 groats
For killing a martern 3 groats
For killing a wild cat 2 groats
For killing a raven 1 groats
How about a campaign to reintroduce wildcats ?
"And then judge they for right and law that small thieves
that steal hens and chickens should be hanged! But they themselves that
steal kine, oxen, and horses, they shall go quit and be lords and seem as
though they were wiser than Solomon, Avicenna, or Aristotle".
Reynard the Fox -William Caxton 1481
Ian