268 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



marsh-men ; their accurate knowledge of the fowls' 

 habits and the localities they frequent making up 

 for the want of large guns. If the magnificent 

 productions of the boat-builder and the gun-maker 

 help to produce generous results in the way of fowl 

 (I need not enter into this matter at length, as all 

 fowlers will at once know my meaning) all will go 

 well, and the crew of that punt will make friends ; 

 and this will be a good thing, as high-handed pro- 

 ceedings do not answer with the marsh-men. As 

 regards steam-launches for fowling, want of space 

 and lack of suitable language forbid such a subject 

 being dwelt upon. 



Out on the open water weather is rough, and 

 there is a general state of high-water and of rivers 

 full to the brim, the salt water keeping back the 

 fresh. " Drownded mashes," for miles, are the con- 

 sequence. All the sprat, oyster, and shrimping 

 crafts are at their moorings, and some of the 

 fowling-punts are drawn up in their owners' gardens, 

 while the salt water lips the front-door sills. This 

 state of affairs has lasted three days, and the whole 

 of that time the flats have been under water even 

 with the tide at ebb, as then the pent-up fresh water 

 was rushing down at least it had been fresh ; now 

 it was more than brackish. 



Then all at once there came a lull, and the lonely 

 hamlet was busy as a hive of bees because the 

 moon was at first quarter. There would be a full 

 tide, not a high one, made after dark, and with that 

 tide the Wigeon would come. Some had come in 



