176 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



up to them till within range, then he drops his 

 paddles, aims, and fires. If the shot is successful, 

 he next stops " cripples " as wounded fowl are 

 called with a shoulder-gun, and collects them 

 afterwards. The undertaking is not easy. All fowl 

 on open water rise and fall with the motion the 

 pulse, so to speak of the ocean, which on the 

 calmest day is distinctly felt. 



Sportsmen of deservedly high repute have, we 

 know, spoken in disparaging terms about fowling on 

 the tide with fowling-punt and swivel-gun, but these 

 are such as have been mainly accustomed to inland 

 fowling. A double punt, one that carries two 

 fowlers and a heavier gun, is built on the same 

 lines as the one above described. 



And in tempestuous wintry weather, when the 

 snow is lying deep on the ground and heaped up 

 in wreaths upon our window-sills, and when even 

 the most enthusiastic of sportsmen will think twice 

 before venturing out into the biting blast, what 

 better resource can he find than in the books de- 

 voted to his favourite pursuit ? Fowling has a se- 

 lect and picturesque library of its own, which may 

 well compensate for enforced confinement from the 



