NETTING SEA-BIRDS ON THE WASH. 



In 1873 I saw nets for the first time at Blakeney for 

 catching birds at night on the muds ; long, large-meshed 

 nets, supported by poles. I had always thought before that 

 they were only used in the Wash. Charles Hornigold was 

 the first man to use them there, that is to say of recent 

 years, and the art has been carried to perfection by 

 Mr. F. J. Cresswell of Lynn. One of the best day's wild 

 fowling I ever had was in company with that gentleman on 

 the 1 8th of December, 1862. Well protected with wraps, 

 for the cold was intense, I went on board the " Wild Duck," 

 which is the name of his yacht, and all night we rode at 

 anchor in a sea so tempestuous that she lurched like a 

 drunken man, in order to be early at the nets in the morn- 

 ing ; but it was well worth the trouble to see the singular 

 spectacle which so many varieties of birds dangling in the 

 meshes presented. There is nothing like a pitch-dark, 

 blustering night, and the catch was good. 



Woodcock - - ■ - I 



Curlew - _ - 3 



Knot - - - - 15 



Golden Plover - - 3 



Gray ditto - - - 3 



Bartailed Godwit - - i 



Redshank - - - i 



Oystercatcher - - 2 



Dunlin - - - 34 

 Gulls of dift"erent species, including the 



Greater Black-backed - -17 



Total 80 



