298 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



such supposition. Personally, I find greater risk of 

 catching colds, influenza, and the like, amidst the smoke 

 and fog-laden atmosphere, in the stuffy overcrowded 

 carriages, ill-ventilated rooms, and the general conditions 

 of every-day life in the metropolis or other of our big 

 cities, than I do whilst facing the wild rough winds, the 

 snow and frost of the sea-coasts. It will, doubtless, be 

 safe to assert that one genuine London fog of the pea- 

 soupy order is more prolific of fatalities than years of 

 exposure to the boisterous winter weather of the sea- 

 shore. 



Shore-shooters will do well to remember that the 

 rights of all owning property contiguous to the foreshore 

 should receive due respect. Coast-gunners, it must be 

 admitted, get something for nothing, and they should 

 strictly conform to all proper regulations and by-laws 

 as citizens they undoubtedly possess certain rights and 

 privileges, and equally as good citizens they will, in turn, 

 respect the just rights of others. It is to be regretted 

 that certain shore- shooters, here and there, have per- 

 mitted their zeal in quest of sport to over-run their 

 discretion. Some to the extent of trespassing upon 

 land where they had no right to be ; whilst others, per- 

 haps, have offended by shooting hares and rabbits on 

 the saltings, or both these and partridges along the sea- 

 wall. I can name one or two places where the " locals," 

 watching their opportunity, lie in wait for the spring- 

 tides to drive ground game off the saltings. Hares and 

 rabbits thus occupied in escaping from the insidious 

 danger in their rear run more or less blindly into that 

 lurking ahead, and so fall an easy prey to these gentry. 

 Such practices are most reprehensible, and no true 

 sportsman will countenance them for one moment. 



