196 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



ordeal very well. Col. Feilden has informed me that on 

 an average about one hundred geese are shot and netted 

 by the Wells fowlers during the winter. The greatest 

 destruction amongst the geese is caused by the bird-nets 

 which the fishermen stretch along the sands. In dark 

 nights the geese leave the sand-banks on the rising of 

 the tide and blunder into the nets. In one net 30 yards 

 long, seventeen geese were entangled and caught in one 

 haul. But fortunate it is that such catches as these 

 seldom occur, otherwise the geese would be decimated 

 without yielding any of the excitement and grand sport 

 of which they are capable. I am told this company of 

 geese is from 3000 to 4000 strong, and thus from the 

 information at my disposal, estimating the average 

 yearly bag made by Lord Leicester and his guests at 

 another hundred, it is probable that not more than about 

 5 per cent, visiting Holkham in any one year are shot. 

 Surely this is a moderate and reasonable toll to take for 

 the protection and food afforded them, for they are not 

 by any means the most desirable guests on rich feeding 

 pastures, as any one will admit on seeing whole acres 

 eaten off close to the ground and soiled by these birds. 

 By the establishment of protected areas such as those at 

 Holkham Park, and at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, 

 as well also at Lilford Hall, and elsewhere, the owners 

 have earned the thanks of sportsman and naturalist 

 alike. 



As to the weight ot Pink-footed geese : this may be 

 placed at 6 Ib. to 6| Ib. ; the heaviest of which I have any 

 record was one of ?f Ib. I believe that on one or two 

 occasions I may have shot birds slightly heavier even 

 than this, though no mention of the fact appears in my 

 diary. Of one thing I am certain, that for one Pink- 



