62 SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



better. I shot a couple of ring-plover, a sanderling, and dunlin, 

 my brother accounted for another couple of birds, whilst Will 

 g-ot ii. Our total bag- was one gull, one tern, eight ring-plover, 

 five dunlin, two sanderlings, and two other small birds. 



I kept a keen look-out for little stints, of which I have killed 

 several on the river, but did not see any. During our passage 

 down we found a few mussels on the walls, but', as they were very 

 small, we did not linger very long over them. 



We got to the last lamp on the north wall, and then anchored 

 to await the flood. One of the sandbanks was covered with 

 birds, and we were in hopes they would come our way when the 

 tide took them off their legs. Unfortunately, they stretched away 

 in another direction, so we did not get a chance. 



We now got our anchor and pulled home, bagging a few birds 

 on the way. 



The next day the same party set out again in the afternoon to 

 meet the tide. W 7 e had not got very far when my brother, whose 

 first season this is, got a shot at a stock dove, which he dropped 

 very neatly. It fell upon the mud, and, as we hadn't a dog, it was 

 rather a disagreeable task to retrieve it. A cool breeze spring- 

 ing up, our passengers decided to land and walk home. After 

 some delicate manoeuvring with their skirts, they succeeded in 

 getting on firm ground, whilst we pulled down towards Longton 

 Marsh. 



For a short time we had pretty fair shooting. We saw several 

 curlews, but they judiciously gave us a wide berth, and as there 

 was no cover, we did not get a shot at them. A few ducks also 

 passed wide. 



I shot a ring plover, dunlin, and gull. The latter being placed 

 on the sand, proved a good decoy, as my brother and Will got 

 one each to it ; the former also shot a dunlin or two, and the 

 latter a ring-plover, &c. Our total was 15 birds, and singularly 

 enough we each lost a winged bird. I could have got one, but 

 was not inclined to venture very far for fear of being cut off 

 from the boat, as the tide was now due. 



On its arrival we re-embarked, and were soon back again, 

 well tired with our three days on the river. 



I am aware the above was a very poor kind of sport, but 

 there was the hope of doing better, and we got plenty of fresh 

 air and exercise, with good appetites, and something to talk 

 about over a social pipe and glass of whisky on our arrival 

 home. 



On the ist of September in the following year, from the boat 

 the same company and our mutual friend, James Eastwood, of 

 Oldham (who has since been with us many times) bad a rather 

 better day, getting 23 birds. 



