164 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
familiar with some post or stones near by. In addition to the 
purpose mentioned a compass is of great value in a fog. It 
need scarcely be mentioned that a pocket barometer should 
be a sine gua non with the wildfowler. We have used an 
aneroid and found it of capital service and assistance in calcu- 
lating changes of atmospheric conditions. 
A wildfowler’s flashlight is a thing not often used. From 
a candle in a polished bucket to a powerful acetylene lamp 
we might trace the evolution of this article. Time was when 
a flight-shooter sat in the dark by the side of a pond where 
ducks came, and as soon as he heard a duck splash in he 
flashed on his feeble candle-light, in the hope of gaining a 
glimpse of the half-bewildered duck. On very dark nights, 
by the aid of a powerful light, some good shots have been 
made with heavy shoulder guns, but we cannot state that any 
success has been attained with punt and gun under such con- 
ditions. The lamp should be of power equal to a motor-car 
headlight. It should have a long cone (about fifteen inches) to 
converge the rays from the light in front of the lamp, and 
arranged so that no stray light can be emitted from the body of 
the lamp, and must be capable, by means of a shutter, of being 
instantly flashed on or off. The effect on birds is wonderful. 
They sit for a moment in bewilderment. We have yet to learn 
whether this way of shooting birds can be classed as sport. 
Wildfowl and waders can be located by their calls on dark nights. 
We might stray from our subject and discuss the many 
things which are of use in the wildfowler’s hut ashore or cabin 
afloat. Most of the things used, however, are of common 
daily experience, but let us remind shooters that these things, 
which are of most service, are easily forgotten, yet of much in- 
convenience if one is compelled to do without them. In the 
hut, all chairs, tables, beds, etc., should be made to fold up 
and take up little room when not in actual use. Pictures, 
mirrors, and such-like things are of no service, are at most 
