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A Traditional Pursuit: Fox Hunting in England
| Article
# : |
18934 |
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Section : |
CULTURE
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| Issue
Date : |
2 / 1991 |
2,407 Words |
| Author
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Bryan and Cherry Alexander
Bryan and Cherry Alexander are free-lance photojournalists
based in England. |
"If the Labour Party is elected in 1992, fox hunting will be banned by 1995," John Bryant, press spokesman of Britain's League against Cruel Sports, declares confidently. "We oppose fox hunting because it is blatantly cruel, and our polls show that 75 percent of th British population agrees with us."
Founded in 1924, the League, as it is commonly known, spends approximately £500,000 (U.S. $850,000) a year on campaigning against fox hunting as well as other organized blood-sports (such as hare coursing and deer hunting) that involve hunting with dogs. The sport has always had its critics, or "antis," as they are known by hunting people; however, since the 1960s, saboteur groups have been visibly active in attempts to disrupt fox hunts. Saboteur tactics have been included protesting at hunt meets (formal gatherings held before the chase begins), laying false trails with aniseed, and spraying Antimate to divert the hounds.
In recent years, protests by hunt saboteurs have become increasingly violent and ugly. One hunt master had his car bombed, and a hunt kennels in Surrey was attacked by arson. These attacks aren't just aimed against the hunt members: A garage owner from Liverpool, who was also a keen hunt follower, had acid thrown over his cars, and a firebomb was placed beneath the shop of a Dorset saddler.
John Bryant is quick to disassociate the league from what he describes as confrontational saboteurs. "Hunt saboteurs nowadays have anarchists among them, who see their campaign as a 'smash the Establishment' exercise," Bryant told the authors.
Despite the behavior of the extremists, Bryant feels that the league's campaign against fox hunting is "nearing the end of the tunnel," claiming that the tide of public opinion appears to be going the league's way. Already 130 local authorities and 26 county councils have banned fox hunting from their jurisdictions. The Church of England and the National Trust, both substantial landowners, voted on the issue in 1990, and the hunts survived by the most narrow of margins. Conservation groups are also buying up land and banning fox hunting on it. "I am absolutely certain that fox hunting will be banned within three years of the next change of government," Bryant concludes.
However, Caroline Yates, press officer for the British Field Sports Society, which aims to preserve hunting, shooting, and fishing, is dismissive of Bryant's prediction. "We have been fighting for all the field sports
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