There has been a long controversy as to whether the English or American type of hound is best suited for hunting in this country, and the matter seems still to remain one of opinion.  Probably the best English pack in the United States is that of Mr. A. Henry Higginson.  Some years since, Mr. Higginson and Mr. Harry Worcester Smith, of Worcester, Massachusetts, master of the Grafton pack, made a bet of $5000 a side, each backing his own hounds, the question being that of the general suitability of the American versus the English hound for American country.  The trials were made in the Piedmont region of Virginia, and Mr. Smith’s American hounds won the wager for him.

In the last ten or twenty years hunting in the United States has been organized under the Hunts Committee of the National Steeplechase Association.  Practically all the important hunting organizations are members of this association, there being forty of these:  eleven in Virginia, nine in Pennsylvania, six in New York, four in Massachusetts, three each in Maryland and New Jersey, and one each in Connecticut, Vermont, Ohio, and Michigan—­the Grosse Pointe Hounds, near Detroit, being the most westerly of recognized hunts, although there is some unrecognized hunting near Chicago.

An idea of the comparative importance of hunting in the United States and in England may be gathered from the fact that in England and Wales alone there are more than 180 packs of foxhounds, 88 packs of beagles, and 16 packs of staghounds, while Ireland and Scotland have many also.  The war, however, has struck hard at hunting in the British Isles.  Baily’s Hunting Directory for 1915-16, says: 

“Hunting has given her best, for of those who have gone from the hunting field to join the colors, the masters lead, as they have led in more happy days, with a tale of over 80 per cent. of their number, the hunt secretaries following with over 50 per cent., while the hunt servants show over 30 per cent.  No exact data are available to tell of the multitude from the rank and file that has followed this magnificent lead, excepting that from all the hunts there comes the same report, that practically every man fit for service has responded to the call.”

It is estimated that 17,000 horses were drafted from hunting for the cavalry in England at the beginning of the war; and it is to be noticed that so soon after the outbreak as July, 1915, the “Directory” published a list of names of well-known hunting men killed in action, which occupied more than seven large pages printed in small type.

Under the heading “Incidents of the 1914-15 Season” are to be found many items of curious early war-time interest, a few of which I quote: 

     Lady Stalbridge announces willingness to act as field master of the
     South and West Wilts Hounds during her husband’s absence in France.

     Lieutenant Charles Romer Williams took out to the front a pack of
     beagles, with which the officers of the Second Cavalry Brigade
     hoped to hunt Belgian hares.