BIRD NOTES 173 



men had not brought up families on their earnings ! 

 Prior to the 'sixties, the gunners used to stay out all 

 night, their boys bringing their breakfasts up the 

 walls in the morning, and returning with their 

 father's " bags " the smaller game being tied up 

 in sacks or in baskets, the ducks tied by the head 

 and slung on sticks carried on the shoulder. 



One noted wildfowler known as " Storks " sent his 

 wife with the fowl to a local game dealer, who used 

 to laugh about her light-handed ways " she never 

 brought a handkerchief of birds but he missed a 

 fowl or two after she was gone." That'this particular 

 dealer had vast numbers of fowl brought in is 

 evident from the fact that when a friend of mine 

 succeeded him in the shop, he described the floor 

 as being saturated with blood, so much so, that the 

 stain could be seen (having worked through the 

 boards) in the cellar! 



Reverting to the prices given: one man gladly 

 accepted three and sixpence for a Purple Heron. A 

 good Godwit " in the red " realised sixpence, and a 

 " grey " threepence ; while Spoonbills ran from three 

 shillings to six according to condition. Sixpence 

 was given for as many Kentish Plovers. 



In those days wildfowl were so plentiful in sharp 



