224 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



hatchway. They will also take care to be on the look-out for their 

 sport at dawn of day ; when there is no wind, they will take to 

 their punts and guns, go in quest of sport, and return to the yacht at 

 pleasure. 



Men who make wild-fowl shooting their business, in the season, 

 proceed to sea in parties of three or four, in a small vessel of from 

 ten to twenty tons, taking each a punt and gun with which to pursue 

 their calling, and making simply a temporary habitation of the 

 vessel. These men frequently endure great hardships, and remain 

 at sea several days at a time. They seldom put off in their punts by 

 daylight, but watch the birds at morning and evening twilight, when 

 they mark their whereabouts, and steal upon them as soon as it is 

 dark, often making a profitable return. 



The wild-fowlers on the English coast are, for the most part, a 

 hardy, independent class. They are usually employed during 

 summer as fishers or dredgers ; and when winter sets in, some of 

 them pursue the more precarious calling of wild-fowl shooting, as a 

 means of maintenance. 



As there is generally a good deal of gunpowder aboard a shooting- 

 yacht, by way of caution, every one should be made acquainted with 

 the place where it is deposited, directly he sets foot on deck. It must 

 be kept dry, and should be in canisters ; but it is advisable that 

 the powder-locker and ammunition-box should not be too near the 

 cabin-fire : an accident, whereby it ignited, would inevitably blow 

 the yacht to atoms. It is fearful to contemplate the result of a 

 misfortune of the kind ; whilst the smallest indiscretion one un- 

 guarded moment may cause it. 



Every one aboard should be extremely cautious in using pipes and 

 cigars, and never lay them down carelessly. If in haste at any time, 

 the best way is to throw them overboard at once, though only half- 

 smoked, because it is during hasty and excited moments that 

 accidents generally occur. 



It is usual to keep the guns loaded aboard the yacht, both punt- 

 guns and others ; but neither should be laid by or taken into the 

 cabin until the caps are removed, and a piece of tow or oakum placed 

 over the nipples. No one aboard should ever be allowed to stand 

 or sit before the muzzle of a loaded gun ; and whenever fire-arms 

 are used in small open boats, the greater caution is necessary, unless 

 the muzzles are held pointing upwards, and the but-ends resting on 



