W EX FORD HARBOUR. 27 



be in the gloom under the land two bunches of 

 Wigeon, and fired at the half he thought the best. 

 The supposed birds were, alas ! two float-shooters, 

 lying low in their boats on the look-out for fowl, 

 that were piping all around. That winter's night 

 the fowler in question towed astern of him a punt 

 with a dead man in it, slowly threading his way in 

 the dark through tortuous channels to the shore ! 



The Brent Geese being mercilessly followed in 

 the harbour, rest at high water in thousands outside 

 the bar, where a heavy gun and large safe punt 

 might do wonders, for there these cockle-shells 

 never venture. But, as in most places in Ireland, 

 these men are banded together, and any stranger, 

 to obtain sport, would have to empty his bag for 

 their benefit. 



The first fowler who ever visited Wexford with a 

 large gun, now many years since, lived on a smack 

 in the centre of the ooze, and the birds being 

 then tame and undisturbed, he did great execution. 

 From his isolated position and lonely life this 

 shooter was nicknamed " Robinson Crusoe " by the 

 neighbouring gentry, and to this day the old fowlers, 

 never having heard of De Foe's immortal work, 

 recount the deeds of one " Mr. Robinson Crusoe," 

 and how he slew the Geese and Duck of Wexford. 

 Though several thousand acres have here been 

 rescued from the sea, it would yet be the safest 

 and best fowling ground in Ireland were the birds 

 allowed to feed even on dark nights in peace. 



But they get no such chance of quiet from the 

 floaters, who cannot be brought to see what great 

 mutual benefit would accrue from such an armistice. 



