214 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



Whenever there are many wild-fowl on the coast, and the sports- 

 man has been cruising about among their haunts at sea several hours, 

 without observing- any or but few on the wing, he may rely on it 

 they are resting ; and such is generally a faithful foreboding of the 

 near approach of bad weather : instinct seems to warn the feathered 

 occupants of the waters to obtain all the repose they can, previous to 

 being tossed and driven to and fro in restless confusion during an 

 impending gale. On such occasions the sportsman should make the 

 best of his time, and obtain as many shots as he can ; and then, with- 

 out delay, seek a safe harbour for himself, his vessel, and crew. 



During thick weather, when there is only little wind, with snow 

 and sleet, sea-game may generally be bagged with good success ; 

 the birds are tamer in their habits, and do not fly so far on being 

 disturbed as they do in clear fine weather. But the most golden 

 opportunities are those of a few hours immediately preceding a gale, 

 and also those immediately succeeding it; on both which occasions the 

 sea-going sportsman will invariably find that, with ordinary pre- 

 cautions, access may be obtained to the wildest gaggles which frequent 

 the coast. 



Wild-geese and ducks prefer muddy flats and shallows, tide- 

 ways, the margin of sea-banks, and surface floatage. Pochards, 

 shovellers, and such like, when at sea, frequent sandy bottoms and 

 deeper places than those of other fowl. A thorough knowledge of 

 the coast or inland waters, or wherever else the sport may be engaged 

 in, is of paramount importance to the sailor- sportsman ; either he or 

 one at least of his crew must be familiar with the locality. 



Much of the success depends on the skill of the skipper or helms- 

 man ; it is, therefore, very desirable that the sportsman should en- 

 gage the services of an efficient captain, one familiar with the arts 

 and manoauvres of the sport. The yacht should always be well in 

 hand, and the skipper's whole undivided attention must be directed 

 to the pursuit. He should lay his course at the birds with a free 

 wind, so as to be enabled to fetch them on a "full and by," and thus 

 have scope to make a powerful sweep in the luff, and so " head" the 

 birds. 



As the deadly range is being gained upon wild-fowl, the sportsman 

 should take care to have his gun in readiness ; and he must avoid 

 looking back at the helmsman to give instructions of any kind, more 

 especially that of waving the hand, which would immediately put up 

 every bird. Having given his directions long before approaching 

 within range, the sportsman must rely entirely on the helmsman for 



