1 92 WILD-FOWLING AFLOAT BY NIGHT 



I freely admit that if one is compelled continually to 

 turn night into day as is the case with some of our 

 professional gunners, who earn a living by fowling 

 the element of downright hard work does seem to 

 exist in a particularly trying form. 



Broadly speaking, widgeon, wild ducks, and teal 

 constitute the night punter's mainstay, and of these 

 widgeon are by far the most numerous and show the 

 best sport. Wild ducks, there is reason for thinking, 

 are quite as plentiful in many parts of our islands as 

 they were five and twenty years ago, thanks to the 

 stricter enforcement of the Wild Birds' Protection Acts. 

 During the autumn and winter months both ducks 

 and teal may frequently be found in small ' bunches ' 

 by night, tucked away in remote corners of our salt- 

 water bays ; but they do not come to the tide in any 

 great numbers until their inland haunts are frozen up 

 in the depth of winter. Being naturally lovers of fresh 

 water they show a decided partiality, even on the 

 coast, for feeding near any running stream, whether 

 river or brook, which empties itself into the sea. Pin- 

 tail are at times also shot by night when mixed with 

 widgeon or ducks ; but the diving ducks, being mainly 

 day feeders, usually go to sea before dark. Curlews, 

 waders, and plovers will also probably cross the 

 fowler's path at night when least expected, but he will 



