240 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



Every puntsman should be equipped with an aneroid or some 

 form of handy and reliable pocket barometer. They are 

 invaluable, and, combined with experience, are of inestimable 

 assistance to the fowler afloat. We give some further "weather 

 warnings or forecasts " which we have found of service, though 

 as we cannot make a calm day when it is a windy one (being in 

 this respect only like everybody else), we hope to receive no 

 challenges to duel should our tables prove in some instances 

 inaccurate. 



A thermometer falls if wind changes towards northerly 

 directions, and rises if wind changes towards southerly direc- 

 tions. 



Rise of barometer for northerly wind in N.W. by N. to E., 

 dry or less wet for less wind, and so on. This does not apply 

 when hail, rain, snow, etc., come from the N. with strong 

 wind. 



Fall of barometer for southerly wind in S. E. by S. to W., 

 wet or more wet, and stronger wind. This does not apply 

 always when light wind with rain or snow comes from any 

 quarter of N. 



On barometer scales the following contractions may be 

 useful : — Rise, for north, N.W. — N. — E. Dry or less wind, 

 except wet from north. Fall, for south, S.E.-S.-W. Wet 

 or more wind, except wet from north. 



Further non-barometrical signs, along with inferences 

 drawn from atmospheric appearances, will be given at the end 

 of this chapter. 



Nothing has been said about fogs and calms. At these 

 times, if birds are about, shots can generally be secured. 

 Punt-shooting in fogs, nevertheless, is looked upon as no 

 sport ; besides, there is danger, not only of losing your 

 bearings, but also of shooting someone, if only a poor brother 

 fowler, who, by the way, may be one who is seeking a liveli- 

 hood by killing fowl, and in this can be excused for his actions. 



