Autumn 2002 No. 14

Page 6

‘Tarquol ran out of the thorns just before Render’s muzzle pushed into his hiding place; but hounds leapt the low hedge and overtook him, before he had gone very far on his short, tired legs. Deadlock seized him and shook him into the air. Tarquol sprang up as soon as he fell, snapping and writhing as more jaws bit his body, crushed his head, cracked his ribs, his paws and his rudder. Among the brilliant hawkbits – little flowers of the meadow – he was picked up and dropped again, trodden on and wrenched and broken, while the screaming cheers and whoops of sportsmen mingled with the growling rumble of hounds at worry. Tarquol fought them until he was blinded, and his jaws were smashed’.

Henry Williamson followed many otter hunts and this graphic description may be relied upon as an accurate account. It casts some doubt on Captain Cameron’s claim that ‘hunting is the most humane manner of keeping otters within due bounds’. His suggestion that otter hunting was conducted under ‘entirely unartificial conditions’ is also open to question. One may ask what could be more artificial than transporting a large pack of specially bred dogs in a motorised vehicle to a suitable river, accompanied by a large number of humans, some equipped with spades and crow bars, all ready to give warning of an otter’s presence or make a stickle across the water to prevent its escape. He even mentions ‘artificial’ drains, specifically constructed for the use of otters in the same way that today fox hunters continue to build artificial earths to encourage foxes.

Like many hunters Captain Cameron had a certain respect for the wild animal which he spent so much time pursuing and killing. He wrote ‘I’m afraid that the poor old otter gets all the blame for the harm he does, and very little for the good; but still, he is a very cunning old fellow and manages to look after his skin pretty well. I hope he continues to do so’.

Thirty years after he wrote these words it became clear that no amount of animal cunning would protect the otter from the pesticides with which we had begun to poison the countryside. Ironically it was the hunters themselves who first gave warning of the decline in the otter population as season by season they found and killed fewer and fewer otters. However it took a concerted effort by a small group of dedicated campaigners, including members of the ‘faddist societies’ which Captain Cameron so greatly feared, before otters were finally given full legal protection in 1978 and hunting came to an end.

Peter Irvine

An Angler Perturbed By Otters…

The ________ Angling Society

2nd September 1965

Dear ______,

One of our members who has just spent a few days on our section of the Stour, has reported that on the stretch from Eyebridge up to the Salmon Ladder or Weir, he has actually seen five otters and obviously we find this rather perturbing and wonder whether you were aware of this or if it would be possible to obtain permission for our member to carry a gun and shoot them if possible.

I understand that they can make terrific inroads on the stock of a fishery but as I am a little inexperienced in these matters, I would appreciate your comments. Our member will be visiting the fishery again in about two weeks time, if permission can be given to carry a gun before this, it would be helpful.

I trust you are keeping well. Kind regards.

Yours Sincerely ______