SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



After eating some luncheon, I again went in the boat and 

 hoisting the sail, which was an ordinary fisherman's standing lug, 

 necessitating its being lowered and rehoisted at every tack, and 

 a great nuisance, we beat about the harbour. The wind getting 

 very strong, one man was constantly employed in bailing. 

 Whilst we were pitching about, a few redshanks went over. I 

 managed to drop one, which was, with some difficulty, bagged. 



I fired several times at oyster catchers, curlews, and gulls, but 

 in vain. For one thing, my cartridges contained No. 5 and 6 

 shot, which was much too small. Threes they ought to have 

 been at the least. We sailed about for a long time trying to 

 get a diver, of which they were several very large ones they kept 

 out of our range, however. I dropped a purre, ring dotterel, and 

 young- herring gull, and this concluded the sport. H.M.S. 

 Achilles was lying in the harbour, and as we sailed by I could 

 see the marine sentry pacing the quarterdeck. I wondered 

 whether he was envying us. He had no occasion. 



At 2 30 I gave it up in disgust, and instead of staying a few 

 days, came away on the 3 15 train. No doubt, if my friend had 

 shot with me, I should have viewed things more " coleur du 

 rose " ; as it was, I was annoyed at missing him, and conse- 

 quently shot badly. The boatman's charge was 153., which 

 would have covered the day if I had cared to stop, so that it may 

 be considered pretty reasonable. Taking it altogether, I should 

 scarcely recommend Holyhead. I have had much better sport 

 nearer home. 



The next season, along with Stephenson, whose keenness after 

 sport is about equal to my own, I visited Hilbre Island, in the 

 estuary of the Dee. We arose early on the ist of August, and 

 after a substantial breakfast took the train for Liverpool. 



Our reason for going to Hilbre Island was that the opening 

 day for seafowl shooting in our own county had been postponed 

 to the ist September, whereas in Cheshire there was no altera- 

 tion in the Act, and we could legitimately begin on the ist of 

 August. As we expected principally to see small shore birds, our 

 cartridges were loaded with eights shot, having, however, a 

 few charged with fours. 



Arriving at Liverpool, we were not long in crossing over to 

 Birkenhead in one of the magnificent ferry-boats. Then we 

 boarded a tramcar, which took us along the docks and wharves 

 to the Docks Station. Here we booked for Hoylake, and trans- 

 ferred ourselves and " impedimenta " to the train. In half-an- 

 hour or so we were at the Hoylake Station, and after calling 

 for refreshment at one of the hotels, we engaged a couple of 

 boatmen to take us across to the island, an island only at high 

 water, I believe. 



