SEA-POWL SHOOTING. 



141 



erce with faggots, well lashed on, and then cover them with mud, 

 sea-weed and light gravel, taking care to leave a sniooth np-hill 

 mrface, which yonr gun wiU play weU upon, and without leaving 

 my protuberance that would protect the bn-ds from the shot, 

 /^fter your island has stood a few heavy gales, you wiU then see 

 vrhether you have to replenish it or not ; and when all appears to 

 stand well, go and cut off your stakes level with the island, as they 

 might otherwise wholly alarm the hkds, and partly protect them 

 from your shot. Let your island be completed a few weeks betore 

 the autumnal passage of the bh:ds, and I'll waiTant that the hrst 

 heavy gale and spring tide will drive to it some home-bred ox bu^ds, 

 if not curlews. These, provided they are not driven away by some 

 premature tyro of a gunner, will bring down the bu-ds of passage 

 which migrate to the coast; so that, with the first gopd Me and 

 very high wind, you may expect to see— not one particle ot your 

 island— but only the rug or carpet,^as it were, which is lormed by 

 the innumerable birds that cover it." , j -x-. 



There are a number of miscellaneous matters connected with 

 wild-fowl shootms: which we shall hastily run over. _ 



The dress of the wild-fowl sportsman should suit his amusement. 

 Mr. Daniel says:— "To be properly equipped for this sport m 

 severe weather, it is essentially requisite to be well clothed, iiannel 

 shirt drawers, and additional exterior and warm garments, will 

 not be found unpleasant to those who face the cold wmds upon 

 the marshes, or sit fixed in a punt alongside the oozes ; thick yarn 

 stockings, and over them what are termed wads by the fishermen 

 (knit wooUen stockings that come up to the middle ; and however 

 inelegant m their appearance, prove very sohd comlorts to, the 

 wear?r); and over these double defenders of the legs, a pair ot 

 waterproof boots will also be found indispensable A cap must be 

 worn, made of skin, instead of a hat; the wild fowl will not ap- 

 proach near the latter, and nothing so much or so soon shies 



them. 



There is no kind of sporting with the gun that requires more at- 

 tention to health than wild-fowl shooting. It is a severe and much 

 exposed amusement, and should be very guardedly engaged m by 

 young men of a consumptive tendency. Indeed, we have kno^vn 

 many a man possessed of what is called an iron constitution, sink 

 under long continued exposure to night air, want of sleep with 

 perhaps a too great indulgence in tipphng, to keep the eoldout 

 ?rhe best means for this is to go out to the sea-shore i^a frosty 

 night pretty weU soaked with warm tea; it will enable the spoits- 

 man to stand longer uninjured by cold and damp than anything he 

 can take. We have found this to be true from personal experience, 

 as well as from the testunony of others. , 



Wild-fowl shootmg can be obtamedinahnost every section .ot 

 the coast of Great Britam and Ireland, and m most of the mountain- 

 ous and moorish districts of both islands. North and fouth Wa es 

 presents some fine lakes for this kind of shootmg, and so likewise 



