WILD-FOWL SHOOTING UNDER SAIL. 213 



any of the tackle. It is of much importance that the gun should be 

 carefully wiped out with a bit of oakum before reloading. Instruc- 

 tions for loading the punt-gun, which apply equally to the stanchion- 

 gun, have already been given under the head, " Management of the 

 Punt-gun" (vide ante, page 130). 



It is usual to take a gunning-punt with the yacht, when venturing 

 to sea on a shooting excursion : it can be hauled on deck in rough 

 weather, and during calms it is often found useful to the sportsman 

 for going in pursuit of wild-fowl in shallow water and sheltered bays; 

 where it would not be prudent, and is sometimes impossible, to ven- 

 ture with the yacht. Opportunities of this kind are of daily occurrence 

 during severe weather. 



Mild winters are unfavourable alike for this branch of the sport 

 as others j for, besides the scarcity, the birds are generally more 

 wary in mild weather than in severe, consequently the sportsman 

 must not expect much sport with his swivel-gun, unless the winter 

 sets in, in good old-fashioned earnest. 



The pursuit of wild-fowl shooting under sail, with yacht and swivel- 

 gun, is chiefly directed to the gaggles of Brent geese, which frequent 

 various parts of the coast in winter ; but with sailing- boat and swivel- 

 gun the pursuit is generally confined to extensive inland waters, 

 where small birds, as duck and widgeon, form the chief objects of 

 the diversion; and the sailing-sportsman should make himself as 

 familiar as possible with the habits of such birds under the various 

 changes of wind and weather, which always, more or less, regulate 

 their movements. 



" As now the season conies, the fowler marks 

 Sagacious every change, and feeds his hopes 

 With signs predictive." 



In fine weather wild-fowl are generally watchful, sprightly, and 

 difficult of access ; in cloudy and threatening weather they are either 

 drowsy and reluctant to rise from the water, or so busily and greedily 

 at feed, that they regard the sportsman's movements with far less 

 concern and suspicion than during bright and open weather. On 

 sunny days, immediately succeeding rough weather, storms, or a 

 gale, wild-fowl are resting and sleeping during the day, and will sit 

 to the sportsman with remarkable indifference. In very windy 

 weather they are generally unsettled and difficult of approach ; but in 

 a moderate breeze the sportsman will often be able to come at them 

 in smooth water, while he will find it no easy task in a heavy sea. 



