Wild Fowl Shooting at Holy Island, 



Sir Ralph Payne- Gall wey gives 

 the following interesting account. 



I SHOT over the tidal flats for ten years, usually for 

 six weeks after Christmas, with the assistance of one 

 of the best puntsmen in England, with every 

 appliance for obtaining sport, and at all hours by day and 

 by night. 



The Brent geese are seldom present in any number 

 before Christmas, but after Christmas, and till the end of 

 February, they are often very numerous. In a hard winter, 

 especially if the weather is severe in North Holland and 

 in Denmark, from 1,500 to 2,000 geese frequent the mud- 

 flats. In mild winters their numbers vary from 600 to 800. 



These birds are very difficult to obtain for the reason that 

 they pass most of the day in security at sea, and only fly 

 to the flats to feed on the sea grass (Zostera Marina) when 

 the tide is low. They are then, as a rule, unapproachable, 

 as they are careful to alight at a long distance from the 

 water, and when a boat or punt can push up within a 

 couple of hundred yards of them, on the flowing tide, they 

 fly out to sea or to other parts of the flats where they are 

 secure from the gunner. 



At the same time, by the exercise of much patience, hard 

 work night and day, and a good deal of luck, a shot at the 

 Brent with a punt gun can now and then be achieved, 

 especially in very windy weather, when they fly low and 

 are not so apt to leave for a rough sea. But this only 

 occurs when the wind is strong and, of course, on shore. 



