362 DUCK-SHOOTING. 



the southern extremity, at a somewhat greater distance, form- 

 ing the termination of the ridge, the Little Eye. At low 

 water, the passage between these rocks and the mainland is 

 entirely dry. At this time, therefore, those who were inclined 

 to take the chance of one single shot — for a second loading 

 was out of the question — bent their way to the Little Eye, and 

 took possession of a sort of excavated hovel, where, under cover 

 of a few rough stones piled together, they were prepared to 

 remain till high-water ; when if they were fortunate (but this 

 was by no means to be calculated upon with anything like 

 certainty), a floating flock of Ducks and other sea-fowl would 

 drift within reach, and a well-directed fire might do prodigious 

 execution. 



We have heard of we know not how many dozens of birds 

 killed or disabled by this solitary broadside. Whether the 

 birds have retired from this part of the river, or the patience 

 of the Duck-shooters has been exhausted, we cannot say ; but 

 of late years the sport seems to have been discontinued. 



In the south of England, this mode is, however, still prac- 

 tised. On the coast of Hampshire, the marksman conceals 

 himself till night, and then, listening with attention, directs 

 his course towards the spot on which a flight of sea-fowl has 

 descended to feed : when he judges himself sufficiently near, 

 he directs his piece, and fires at a venture, and instantly catch- 

 ing up another gun, discharges it where he supposes the flock 

 to be rising on the wing ; he then hastens to the spot with his 

 mud-pattens, and gathers up the profits of his toil. 



We suspect, indeed, that the birds have seceded from the 

 whole line of the river Dee ; for the flights now seen are not 

 to be compared with those which are spoken of as frequent a 

 few years ago, when a couple of experienced Duck-shooters, 

 we believe from the fens of Lincolnshire, spent some weeks 

 on the coast, and realised a considerable sum by supplying the 

 Chester and Liverpool markets. Their plan was this : — One of 

 them had a small flat-built boat, without any keel, about six- 

 teen feet long and three feet broad, drawing about three-and-a- 

 half inches water. It was managed by a pole, twelve feet 

 long, made about six inches broad at each end, which the 



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