WILD-FOWLING IN DRIFT-ICE. 153 



coated with snow ; and the only resorts for the web-footed species, 

 when thus shut out from their haunts, are the estuaries, bays, 

 and rivers on the coast, where the force of the tide breaks up the ice, 

 and drives it up and down with every current ; rushing- and crushing- 

 masses, capped with crystallized snow, float about the waters, and 

 form themselves into solid substances and pyramidal ice-berg-s, some 

 in positions curious and beautiful to behold, with edg'es upwards, 

 sloping-, or askaunt, and g-raced with sparkling- clusters of transparent 

 stalactites ; whilst here and there are little arctic islands, drifting- to 

 and fro, the white-clad surfaces of which are chequered with little 

 spots of black. These the practised fowler well knows, thoug-h at 

 the distance of a mile and upwards, are the very objects of his pur- 

 suit. There they sit, huddled tog-ether like chickens crowding 

 beneath their mother's wing-s ; thoug-h often restless, wary, and 

 apparently difficult of access. But it is not to the ice-bergs alone 

 that the wild-fowler's attention is drawn on occasions such as these : 

 wherever his eyes turn, wild-fowl may be seen, some flying in little 

 trips, others in large flights, hovering over the frozen element, or 

 darting off" towards the sea on powerful wings, until lost to gaze in 

 the interminable regions of space. 



There is, then, no lack of sport for those who have the courage and 

 hardihood to expose themselves to such trying severities of weather. 

 At every dip of the oar-blades, the ice congeals thicker and thicker 

 upon them; and the oars eventually become so heavy, that it is 

 necessary every now and then to knock them one against the other, 

 to throw off" the burthen of ice they gather : and this is no overdrawn 

 picture of wild-fowling in England during- severe weather, but the 

 result of my own personal experiences. It is but a few years ago 

 since similar severities attended my pursuits on the eastern coast, 

 when every dash of spray which chanced to fall upon the punt, or 

 indeed upon any part of my attire, down to the worsted gloves upon 

 my hands, froze into ice before it could be wiped away. 



More than ordinary caution is necessary in the navigation of a 

 gunning-punt, when proceeding upon this diversion under such cir- 

 cumstances, and amidst so many surrounding perils. So frail a bark 

 may at any moment be crushed when moving amongst solid blocks 

 of ice in a tide-way ; and it is sometimes the height of imprudence to 

 venture in a gunning-punt, with such obstructions. Wind, tide, and 

 time of day have each to be regarded, ere the punter launches his 

 boat and proceeds among the ice, on his exciting sport. But when 



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