154 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



familiar with the locality and changes of tide, the experienced punter 

 may venture ; for then is the time to make marvellous shots, and fill 

 his boat with wild-fowl in a few hours. 



It is only at certain intervals of tide that prudence admits the 

 punter to launch on the frigid surface ; and it is necessary to watch 

 carefully the direction taken by the drift-ice, the largest and heaviest 

 pieces of which move off with the first rush of the ebb, and drive to 

 the most leeward part of the waters. When the tide has run off the 

 ooze, and the current is then confined to the channel, there is less 

 danger of venturing; but the punter must choose a fitting opportunity, 

 and shove off as clear of the ice-bergs as he can. The best chance will 

 probably offer at an hour or so before low water, when the channel is 

 usually clearer than at any other time. But it is advisable to contrive, 

 either by land-carriage or otherwise, to get round to windward of the 

 ice, where there is generally open water ; and, in fact, that is where 

 .the largest numbers of birds will be found. 



The chief danger to be avoided is that of being set fast between 

 two floating ice-bergs, which would crush a punt as if a mere band- 

 box. The punter assuredly finds, in severe seasons, that by far the 

 greater skill is required to keep clear of obstructions, than to kill the 

 wild-fowl, which often float past him, upon the drifting ice, within 

 gun-shot ; but, from his perilous position, or the impossibility of reco- 

 vering the birds after killing them, he is often induced to reserve his 

 fire for a more fitting opportunity. The punter may often make ex- 

 cellent shots with his shoulder-gun, when driving down the current 

 among drift-ice. 



It is a very good plan, when the waters are so blockaded, to look 

 out for a space in a small tributary or bight, which may be clear of 

 ice ; and, by lying in ambush a short time, there is every probability 

 of a shot offering, from the numbers of fowl which are constantly 

 drifting past in the main channel. After shooting, the punter must 

 not be too eager in attempting to recover his birds, if they are amidst 

 drift-ice; and it will be useless to attempt getting any but the 

 dead ones. One by one, the wounded birds will disappear, the 

 rushing and crushing masses of ice scattering and running com- 

 pletely over them ; when those which are killed, afterwards make 

 food for the crows, which are always eagerly watching, upon the 

 oozes and ice-bergs, for such prey ; and the wounded, after hard 

 struggles and perilous encounters with the ice, at last reach the shore, 

 to combat with further difficulties, and become the lawful prizes of 



