LETTER I. 



43 



stronger sea-fowl, which are remarkably tenacious of life. It 

 does not hurt the skin, if it is required, as the loop will easily 

 open again, especially if the horse-hair snooding of a fish-hook is 

 used. It is certainly a much neater manner than that of knocking 



the wounded bird's head against the side of the boat, or a stone, 

 which disfigures it very much, and causes the blood to flow so 

 much as to make it disagreeable to carry in the pocket. I have 

 practised it now so long that I lasso my victims with as much 



