384 OTTER-SHOOTING BY MOONLIGHT. 



discovered the Otter's retreat, the ice should be broken 

 on both sides of the spot, and indeed at the same 

 instant of time; and if tliere be no opening between 

 the " Landkallen " and the water, the beast is pretty 

 certain to be destroyed. 



The surest plan, however, of circumventing- the Otter 

 in the winter is to shoot it by moonlight. For this purpose 

 the gunner ascertains in the daytime the holes in the 

 ice where it is accustomed to resort, which are readily 

 known by its " spar " and by the fish bones sti'ewed near 

 to them, and at dusk lies in ambush for the l)east. He 

 must be careful, however, not to fire until it comes fairly 

 upon the ice ; for if only wounded, the chances are that it 

 will craAvl to the aperture, and in all probability be lost 

 to liim. To shoot at an Otter in open w^ater, unless 

 shallow, is next to useless, for even if killed outright, it 

 most commonly sinks at once to the bottom. 



In the pairing season the Otter is frequently shot l)y 

 Loch, or imitating the animal's call-note, a long-drawn 

 sort of whistle. Many persons for this purpose make use 

 of the Hjerp-Tlpa, described at page 119, the implement 

 by which the Hazel Hen is beguiled. 



During the summer months, again, the following plan, 

 said to be a successful one, is adopted in Scandinavia to 

 shoot the Otter. A trimmer, or night-line, baited with a 

 pike or a large roach, is set in a river or brook known to be 

 frequented by it. When the beast sees and has seized the 

 fi.sh, it lands and devours it, leaving its remains, together 

 with the hook and line, on the bank. After this expedient 

 has been practised two or three times, the gunner, at 

 night-fall, conceals himself near to the spot where the 

 Otter is thus accustomed to make its repast, and it seldom 

 happens that he has to wait long before it makes its 

 appearance with the baited fish, and if he then holds the 

 gun straight, its fate is quickly decided. 



