Although many writers describe the Otter-hound as a dog of mixed breed, all refer him back to the old Southern Hound, or the Bloodhound, for his origin, whatever crosses may have been resorted to for producing the dog we now recognise as the legitimate hound to pursue the "Fish-slicer." Blaine says he is the old Southern Hound crossed with the Water Spaniel, and that those with a dash of the Bulldog in them are the best; the Water Spaniel being supposed to supply the roughness of coat - for Water Spaniels of the eighteenth century were very different in coat, as in other points, from those dogs of to-day called by that name - and also to give or to increase the aptitude for swimming, whilst the Bulldog cross is supposed to have infused the necessary hardiness, courage, and tenacity.

Both Youatt and Richardson suppose him to be the result of a cross between the Southern Hound and the Rough Terrier, and by others the Rough Deerhound has been held to have had a share in the production of the Otter-hound. If, however, any such cross ever occurred, by either accident or design, it is so remote and slight as to be now quite swallowed up; and as a stream is lost in the immensely larger volume of the river to which it is a tributary, so has any infusion of alien blood been absorbed by the true old English hound blood of the genuine Otter-hound.

The hunting of the otter is one of our most ancient sports. Jesse, in his researches into the history of the dog, gives many interesting quotations from ancient documents showing the pursuit with hounds to have been a Royal pastime with many of our English kings. In July, 1212, the Sheriff of Somerset received commands from King John to "provide necessaries for Ralph, the otter-huntsman, and Godfrey, his fellow, with two men and two horses, and twelve Otter-hounds, as long as they find employment in capturing otters in your shire." And John, the otter-hunter to King Edward I., had twelve otter dogs under his charge. An annual payment, called "Kilgh Dourgon," was made in Wales for the king's water dogs with which otters were hunted; and James I., an ardent sportsman, had for his Master of Otter-hounds John Parry, to superintend the hunt, and provide for the king's diversion; and so on, from reign to reign, otter-hunting has, with varying patronage and popularity, remained a British sport, there being fifteen or sixteen packs at the present time, and these spread over England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Some of them, like the Carlisle, the Cheriton, and the Culmstock, are old-time packs.

Otter-hunting has become a most popular sport within the last few years, and the followers of a good pack are very numerous. Instead, too, of employing quite a scratch pack for the purpose, as was at one time not uncommon, we have either the Otter-hound pure and simple (that is, the dog described and figured here), or the same dog with a number of Foxhounds. According to Mr. E. Buckley, whose name is well known in connection with the sport of otter-hunting, one very often gets the best sport from hitting off the "drag " (i.e. scent) left by the otter who has been travelling the night before. He has had runs up to four miles, sometimes finding in a "holt" (or "earth"), and sometimes without reward. From the time when he is driven from his "wicker couch," contrived "within some hollow trunk, where ancient alders shade the deep, still pool," the mephitic otter gives his pursuers plenty to do, and when it comes to close quarters, be it with Terrier or with hound, makes, as opportunity offers, good use of his teeth. Traced by his spraints and seal, and unharboured from his kennel or couch, he finds hard work for men and dogs, as the latter follow him up from holt to holt, and pool to pool, and the huntsmen eagerly watch for his "vents," or "chain."

In recent times otter-hunting has been modified to suit different circumstances, and practices in vogue in one hunt are tabooed in another. The spear is discontinued, and the practice of tailing the otter - that is, rushing in on him when worn and pressed, seizing him by the tail, swinging him round in the presence of the hounds, to excite them, and finally throwing him among them - whilst treated as an act of prowess in some otter-hunting districts, is strictly forbidden in others.

"Whoa-Whoop," a writer in the Fields thus interestingly describes the pastime: -

"A pack of otter-hounds consists of from nine to fourteen couples, and the variation of their appearance, some being smooth coated and some rough, lends a peculiar contrast to the eye. Two, three, or more Terriers are also employed for the purpose of driving the otter from its holt, and of these rough-coated ones are preferred. The staff is contained in a huntsman - generally the Master - a couple of whips, and in many Hunts a 'follower,' as the field are termed, called the 'amateur whip,' one whom, by his enthusiasm and general knowledge of the craft, has shown himself to be a useful addition to the Hunt. As in most cases, this division of the chase has its own 'calls,' the principal of which are a 'solid mark,' when the pack strike the true line of the 'trail,' which is the term applying distinctly to the scent of an otter; ' bubble avent,' for the air-bubbles which break the surface of a pool, showing the line of the otter's passage as it travels up or down stream under water. 'Heu gaze ' is the term used when it appears in view, and it is 'watched' when it makes its ' holt,' as those elaborate underground workings made in the bank of the river are termed, in which it sometimes passes its time during the day, after having eaten a hearty breakfast; and then the 'spur' is the name given to its footprint.

The meet is usually made at some well-known trysting-place, which, though not always near to a railway, yet generally there may be found conveyances that will carry one to the river. The time of appointment entirely depends on the length of the river to be hunted. Those of a short course necessarily must be hunted earlier than those whose length extends far into the country, the reason for this being that it has been found that those otters which frequent the less lengthy streams generally return to the estuaries into which they empty, and unless you are up betimes the hounds will only strike a trail which will soon show that the otter has gone beyond their reach. Those, however, which inhabit the longer rivers often betake themselves up some of the smaller tributaries, and, leaving these some distance away from the main stream, find shelter during the day in the woods which are sometimes to be found in the vicinity. When the time of appointment has elapsed, the pack, which had arrived at the river side some time previously and have been duly rested, are what is called 'cast off,' or 'put to water,' and while some feather along each bank of the river, others swim the stream until at length a hound, whose note is well known to the pack, lifts its voice in quack cadence once or twice, then suddenly becomes mute. But as the rest of the pack gather round, knowing full well that their companion has not spoken without good cause, again comes the sound of their voices, which, gathering in strength in a few seconds, breaks into a lovely volume of melody. Now onward and upward dash the whole pack until, maybe, they reach a long, deep pool, to which, though they may have driven the trail with a good head, yet, as they take the deep water, all becomes as silent as the grave. Nothing discouraged, however, they begin without any hesitation at once to search silently every root and nook, while the huntsman, whips, and followers at the same time are eagerly looking along the side of the bank, seeking for some sign of the otter's presence.