CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



WILD-FOWL SHOOTING UNDER SAIL. 



* * * " With fiery burst, 

 The unexpected death invades the flock ; 

 Tumbling they lie, and beat the flashing waves, 

 Whilst those remoter from the fatal range 

 Of the swift shot, mount up on vig'rous wing, 

 And wake the sleeping echoes as they fly." 



Fowling, a Poem, Book v. 



THIS is supposed by the uninitiated to be so cold a sport that none 

 but those who have lion-like constitutions can endure it. A man 

 who enters spiritedly upon any branch of the sport of wild-fowl 

 shooting- must, truly, be robust and strong- in health and limb, but to 

 enable him to partake of the pleasures of the diversion under sail, he 

 will not require that muscular strength which is necessary for punt- 

 ing and many other branches of the pursuit. His constitution, how- 

 ever, will be well tried in the shooting-yacht, and still more so in the 

 open sailing-boat, if he exposes himself to severities of weather, which 

 he must do if he expects to be successful. There is, however, one 

 essential to the true enjoyment of wild -fowl shooting under sail, 

 which is, that the sportsman must be a good sailor, or in all proba- 

 bility the motion of the yacht, in a sea-way, will entirely mar the 

 pleasure ; and he who follows up the sport effectively will assuredly 

 be exposed to rough weather on some occasions; winter cruising being 

 far different to summer yachting, and the chances of encountering 

 bad weather at least two to one on the winter season against summer. 

 The sea-going sportsman must, therefore, be always provided for 

 storms and gales. 



In the opinion of all indolent sportsmen there is no branch of the 

 pursuit so agreeable as this ; and, indeed, it may sometimes be in- 

 dulged in with little exertion and very much pleasure. It is one 

 which need not be pursued alone : the sportsman may invite to ac- 

 company him friends and amateurs, who, if they be well behaved and 

 obedient to his injunctions when approaching birds, will be no 



