4 8 SHOOTING THE DUCK 



the mere purpose of ridding themselves of powder 

 and shot, and fire at anything and everything at well- 

 nigh any and every range. In an estuary, a much 

 recommended resort, where during the last week of 

 the 1904-5 season I am scribbling these words, the 

 arrival of the sport-spoiling stranger is of painful 

 frequency. Of course there are all sorts of opinions 

 regarding the ethics of wild-fowling, a subject which 

 might be argued for an age. The practical side of 

 what I would say is this : that, if one be bent on sport 

 and nothing else, it is infinitely better to avoid a 

 ' centre,' where only odds and ends are to be picked 

 up ; to explore likely parts of the coast for one's 

 self not necessarily very much out-of-the-way parts 

 and then to select one's quarters and establish one's 

 outfit there. 



Having done this, one should chum in heartily 

 with what few local men there may be, and show 

 them every consideration. It all more than pays 

 in the long run. A study of the Ordnance Survey 

 maps will reveal likely parts of the coast parts 

 marked with stretches of mudflats or saltings where 

 on account of their distance from any town or large 

 village the explorer may light on some cosy little 

 beat, free from material competition. On punt- 

 ridden parts of the shore duck and brent are very 



