SHOOTING THE DUCK AT SEA 45 



to be supposed from all this that putting in a well- 

 aimed shot from a swivel-gun is an easy thing ; as a 

 matter of fact it is a very difficult one. Just a few 

 further words in conclusion of the subject of firing. 



One constantly sees it stated by the parrots of 

 wild-fowling literature that when a bunch of teal is 

 descried the gunner has the almost certainty of a 

 rare shot before him. True, teal are the easiest of 

 all duck to approach. But then it is equally true 

 that when once teal have sprung, the gunner's chance, 

 unless he has both hands at the gun, of placing the 

 charge as it ought to be placed is a small one at 

 the best. Brent give ample time when they rise at 

 a sudden alarm ; widgeon and mallard give fair time 

 for the expert fowler ; teal are up and off like a flash 

 of lightning ; and I believe though my belief may 

 be hopelessly wrong of course that 90 per cent, at 

 least of gunners who have had all-round experience 

 on salt water could narrate disastrous teal experiences 

 if they cared to do so : something like this : a dense 

 bunch of teal, a hope amounting almost to a certainty 

 of killing forty at the least, a further hope to lessen 

 the range by a dozen yards, a moment of utter 

 bewilderment, a charge put in feet below the rising 

 birds, a bag of absolutely nil, and a very bad attack 

 of rumination afterwards. When you are within 



