50 SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



SEAFOWL SHOOTING ON THE KIBBLE (1887). 



Thursday, the 8th September, I set out alone in the boat, taking 

 my i2-bore gun and 50 cartridges. I also took a fluke "rake," 

 (now illegal), but as the shooting proved very good, I did not use 

 the fishing implement. What little breeze there was being from the 

 West, and therefore adverse, I leisurely pulled down the stream. 

 I had not got very far when a flock of small birds alighted on the 

 north side. Having plenty of small shot, I inserted a couple of 

 Q'S cartridges, and prepared for a good shot. However, on the 

 birds rising, only two of them came in range, both of which fell 

 to one shot. One I picked up, and the other, a little boy, who was 

 looking for crabs, retrieved from the bank. Not having any 

 coppers, I could only thank him. 



I was astonished at the small size of the birds, and whilst 

 examining them it struck me they were little stints. 



Afterwards, by the aid of Montague's Dictionary and other 

 books, I made sure they were such, and very proud I was, as they 

 were the first I ever saw. 



Further on I saw the head and neck of a curlew just showing 

 over a hillock on the bank. Feeling sure of it, I neglected to 

 change the Q'S cartridge in the other barrel, and stepping on one 

 of the thwarts I let fly with No. 4's. Unluckily, the boat gave a 

 dip just as the trigger was pressed, and away sped the curlew, 

 the shot having struck just below it. The No. g's which I sent 

 after it doubtless accelerated its flight, but that was all. 



To make sure, however, I jumped ashore in time to see the 

 bird disappear in the distance. 



However, I managed to secure a black-headed gull in winter 

 plumage, which I had shot at just previously, and which had 

 gone over the bank evidently struck. 



Pulling lower down, much annoyed, I heard some more birds 

 on the south side, and therefore landed and, peeping over the 

 wall, saw a great number of purres and ring dotterels spread over 

 the marsh, in nice range, but very much scattered. There were, 

 however, several nicely placed for a shot a little higher up the 

 river. Stooping beneath the wall, I stepped very gently on the 

 slippery stones, and at length got opposite them. Just as I was 

 about to fire three teal whirled over the river, and I had time to 

 get a barrel in. One of the birds fell on the opposite wall. The 

 ring dotterels, etc., vanished. 



