386 BOATS USED IN THE 



BOATS USED IN THE SOUTHAMPTON 

 RIVER, AND ELSEWHERE. 



Having spoken of the Hampshire coast, I allude to 

 that part of it all the way from Christchurch bay to 

 Leap and Calshot; on sailing round which point we 

 open the Southampton river, where the mode of shoot- 

 ing again differs. The order of the day here is to 

 have small carvel-built boats, and many other miserable 

 contrivances. 



The gunners (or rather bird-frighteners) in these 

 parts scarcely regard any appearance in dress or colour. 

 These men, particularly the Itchen ferrymen, go sailing 

 about all day, firing random shots, and so disturb the 

 coast, that they spoil the sport of those few who really 

 understand, and would assist their families by the pur- 

 suit of wildfowl. What few birds they kill are either 

 geese, brought down on the wing, by constantly firing 

 very large mould shot ; or cripples which have escaped 

 from other gunners, and got into a sea which their 

 light high-sided boats are able to weather. Farther up 

 this river, towards Millbrook, before it was so incessantly 

 bombarded, they had formerly a more sensible plan; 

 but this was chiefly for getting the curres. It was to 

 set, at low water, lines, with horse-hair loops, in which 

 these birds were caught and drowned, when diving to 

 bite the weeds, and were thus left on the mud by the 

 ebbing tide. 



On other parts, of the coast of England, I have ob- 

 served the boats are more or less on the construction of 

 those already mentioned. But when in Scotland, I 



