SHORE-SHOOTING 83 



the situation. Several of the accomplishments of the hut- 

 shooter are also required of the 'longshoreman, such as 

 "calling" and readiness to hide, keeping perfectly still, and 

 taking shots in awkward and cramped positions. 



One diversity affects 'longshore work, and that is stalking. 

 Here alone is it of importance to the wildfowler. A clever 

 stalker may be favourably compared with a good hut-shooter, 

 though seldom are the two faculties prominent in one man. 

 It invariably happens that good shots are bad shore-stalkers, 

 and bad shots are good stalkers ; strange though this may 

 seem, it is nevertheless true. But what is lost in one part of 

 the pleasure may be gained in another, and thus it may be 

 said that with some a long, exciting stalk would be better 

 enjoyed than a few really skilful kills. Shore-shooting admits 

 of both, for if a wary bird is stalked to a long, yet probable 

 killing range, it is considered legitimate fowling to shoot at it 

 sitting, since the chances of killing when the bird rises would 

 be out of the question. Under these circumstances we can 

 imagine the poor shot who is a good stalker to have some 

 enjoyment, for surely everyone can shoot a bird sitting if the 

 gun will kill ! The pleasure here, it must be distinctly under- 

 stood, does not lie in the shooting at all, but in the skill 

 displayed in stalking and outwitting the wily creatures. This 

 state of affairs opens up a new branch of the game — stalking 

 and securing, by means of devices which assist the gunner, 

 the various fowl and shore-birds to be met with on and 

 adjacent to shore and marsh. 



The stalking-horse is perhaps one of the oldest principles of 

 stalking machines. It may be a live animal trained for the 

 purpose or an artificial '^gee-gee " specially constructed. The 

 latter, as far as my experience goes, is undoubtedly the better, 

 for, unless a very highly trained animal, a horse will become 

 uneasy when nearing worthy fowl like geese, and spoil the 

 shot. Besides, an artificial stalking-horse can be made a 



