General Instructions 



FOU 



SEA COAST WILDFOWL SHOOTING, WHEN 

 AFLOAT. 



I SHALL now more briefly explain my reasons for 

 entering into the minutiae of wildfowl shooting. It is 

 very rare to meet a gentleman, that can, or a good pro- 

 fessional gunner that will, give any information on the 

 subject. The art is, therefore, the least understood of 

 any sport in existence. No man, who had a large gun, 

 and could earn five pounds in a day, or night, would 

 be bored with a gentleman for the sake of his five 

 shillings ; and therefore the only man likely to be hired, 

 at a good time for this sport, is some boatman, who has 

 little to recommend him beyond a local knowledge of 

 the harbour; and who therefore requires some one to 

 direct him how to manoeuvre the birds. 



In following wildfowl, it is easier to get within 

 twenty yards of them by going to leeward, than a hun- 

 dred and fifty if directly to windward, so very acute 

 is their sense of smelling. 



The best time, therefore, to have sport with a canoe 

 and a shoulder gun (provided it be low water, or half 

 ebb, while you are hid in the creeks) is in clear, frosty, 

 moonlight nights, when the wind happens to blow to- 

 wards if on as you face the moon. It is then impossible 



