ARTIFICIAL ISLAND FOR CURLEWS, &C. 389 



and rival of the hungry " saddle-back*," with his go- 

 vernment-gear, is all eyes after a trip of birds, the 

 " fair-trader," by wholesale, is, perhaps, with all hands, 

 " working a crop of goods." But, to return to our 

 innocent occupation, at the ebb, there are generally 

 shooters in proportion to the birds ; and, at low water, 

 the birds are several hundred yards in, upon the mud, 

 which, on most parts of the Hampshire coast, is so flat, 

 that even the curlews are washed off their legs, by the 

 flowing tide, before a punter can find water to go into 

 them. The plan that I adopted, the season before last, 

 when I happened to be staying on the coast, was to 

 make an island in the middle of the ooze, where I was 

 sure of the first shot ; unless any one was there whose 

 punt drew less water than mine, which happened not 

 to be the case. The way to make an island, that will 

 stand the overwhelming south-westers, is this : Go, at 

 low water, and drive strong poles, from nine to twelve 

 feet long, into the mud, at about the interval usual for 

 hedge-stakes, till they stand no more than two or three 

 feet in height. Then make a hedge to enclose as much 

 space as you may wish your gun to sweep. Fill in your 

 fence with faggots, well lashed on ; and then cover them 

 with mud, sea-weed, and light gravel, taking care to 

 leave a smooth up-hill surface, which your gun will 

 play well upon ; and without leaving any protuberance 

 that would protect the birds from the shot. After your 

 island has stood a few heavy gales, you will then see 

 whether you have to replenish it or not ; and, when all 



* Coasters' term for the great black-backed gull, which hovers at 

 a distance, till a shot has been fired ; and then takes away the killed 

 and wounded before your face. 



