HOW TO USE IT. 365 



flight of others, again such as the Gull tribe is so 

 heavy and slow, that they cannot but be aware of and 

 shun the net. 



As with the " Wettar," the best time for the " Fogel- 

 Nat " is either soon after dawn, or towards dusk in the 

 evening, fowl being then not only more in motion, but 

 less able to perceive the toils. As said, they usually fly 

 against the wind, which should blow from the land if the 

 net be used in the morning ; but if in the evening, from 

 the sea : otherwise, little will be accomplished. When 

 there is a ripple on the water, the chances of success are 

 the greatest. Stormy weather is very unfavourable for 

 the purpose. 



The " Fogel-Nat " being set, the fowler, holding in 

 his hand the end of the rope to which it is appended, 

 stations himself behind one of the uprights spoken of, 

 and patiently awaits the coming of the birds. If these 

 are few in number, and in compact order, he, just as 

 they are in the act of striking the net, lets go the rope 

 " by the run," when both birds and net fall together into 

 the water ; but should the flock, on the contrary, be 

 numerous and scattered, he eases the rope gradually, so 

 that not even the rearmost ranks can escape capture. 

 By the mere act of striking against the net, the fowl are 

 more or less entangled in the meshes ; but in their 

 endeavours, by diving or otherwise, to recover their 

 liberty, they usually become inextricably fixed in the 

 toils. The net is seldom dropped into the water for one 

 or two birds, it being thought better to allow stragglers 

 to escape, than for so trifling a booty to lose the chance 

 of making prisoners of a whole flock which may be 

 approaching at the very moment. It is said that if the 

 rope be not slackened when the fowl come in contact 

 with the net, they are pretty sure, however strong it 

 may be, not only to pass clean through it, but to carry 



