CHAPTER XXIX. 



SLEDGING FOR WILD-FOWL. 



OF all the contrivances for shooting wild-fowl this is the most un- 

 sportsmanlike, contemptible, and laborious ; and yet it is one which 

 has been long in use by the indefatigable punters of Lymington, in 

 Hants. 



The pursuit is carried on at night; the sledger traversing the 

 muddy oozes by means of a small light sledge, termed a " launching- 

 punt," very similar in construction to a gunning-punt with the stern 

 sawn off, but lighter and of less proportions. The gun is placed on 

 the fore part of the launch, in similar position to that of the equipment of 

 a gunning-punt. The sledger pushes the launch ahead, over oozes and 

 savannas, crawling upon his l^nees, and frequently crouching so low- 

 as to be quite upon his stomach at full length on the mud ; in those 

 creeping postures wriggling himself along and pushing the launch 

 before him, stirring the mud as he proceeds, and so rendering his 

 pursuit as filthy as it is detestable. But the severest part of the toil 

 is that of launching the sledge over sands and hard ground ; the 

 softer and wetter the mud, the lighter is the sledger's labour. 



It being impossible to distinguish wild-fowl upon the ooze on a 

 dark night, the launcher's best guiding star is the sound of their 

 voices ; so directed, he uses his exertions to discover their where- 

 abouts : and if they happen to be in a puddle or pan-hole on the 

 ooze he finds them, because the glittering surface of the water 

 exposes to view any dark object which may be upon it. If the 

 sledger succeeds in discovering their retreat and getting within 

 range, he takes the best aim he can, though always a doubtful one, 

 and pulls the trigger by means of a string attached to it leading 

 to the aft part of the launch. Disappointments too frequently 

 attend the discharge ; the sledger finding, to his annoyance, that 

 every bird flies away uninjured. Under any circumstances there can 

 be no certainty in such shooting, because of the impossibility of keep- 

 ing a large gun in correct position upon an uneven surface ; the 



