98 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



as wild-fowl shooting- ; not on account of any difficiilty in killing when 

 once within range, but because of the cunning of the birds, and the wide 

 open expanse of water, ooze, or moor where they resort. The chief 

 art is not simply to pull a trigger and bring down, with unerring 

 aim, a well-fed duck and maUard at a double shot : but one of the 

 great secrets of success, and chief accomplishment pf the art, is to 

 understand their habits, migrations, and instincts, and know how to 

 approach them.* 



Previously to the invention of gunning-punts, the method of 

 shooting wild-fowl by night was as follows : — One or two men would 

 proceed down river on the ebb tide, or at low-water, in a small ilat- 

 bottomed boat, creeping stealthily and noiselessly along the stream, 

 as close to the bank of the ooze as possible, anxiously listening all 

 the while for the clacking of the birds. As the tide rose, the boat 

 rose ; and, guided by the sounds aforesaid, the shooters made for 

 the nearest approach they could obtain, from the leewardmost posi- 

 tion. The wild-fowl might then be discovered feeding in the puddles, 

 or on the grassy substances of the ooze, and the fowler would proceed, 

 without showing himself, to get as near them as practicable, by rowing 

 or sculling the boat up the nearest rill, the banks of which effectually 

 screened him from view ; and with a little ordinary precaution, and by 

 occasionally raising his head to peep over the bank, he could easily 

 discover when within range. A stout crutched stick was then stuck 

 in the mud on the bank of the rill; and thus a rest was at once 

 formed on which to place the barrel of the gun — a rather 

 formidable weapon, carrying from two to four ounces of shot. 

 A steady and dehberate aim might thus be taken, and a vast 

 number killed at a single discharge. Thousands of wild-fowl 

 have been shot in this manner; and there are many old punters 

 still living, who, previous to the invention of punt-guns, ob- 

 tained, annually, a very comfortable winter's maintenance for 

 themselves and families, by this apparently rustic system of wild- 

 fowl shooting. 



Immediately after the gun was fired, the fowler or his assistant had 



* " If shooting could speake slie would accuse England of unkindnesse and slouth- 

 fuUnesse : of unkindnesse towards her because she being left to a little bUnd use, 

 lacks her best maintainer, which is cunning ; of sloutlifulnesse towarde theyr owne 

 selfe, because they are content with that which aptnesse and use doth graunt them 

 in shooting, and will seeke for no knowledge as other noble commonwealthes have 

 done." — " Toxophilvs : " TJie Schoole or Partitions of Shooting, contayned in two 

 hookes" black letter ; iy Roger Ascha/>n : a.d. 1589. 



