SHORE SHOOTING 117 



Some people content themselves by merely walking along 

 the shore, picking up en route whatsoever birds cross their 

 path, from the gyrating tern to the croaking hanser (heron), 

 without taking any trouble to lie in wait, stalk, or go a yard 

 from their path to obtain better chances. 



Others, visiting a shore freely indented with rocks, 

 boulders or broken promontories, obtain at times splendid 

 sport by concealing themselves behind various obstacles, 

 and whenever these project far enough out into favourite 

 bays or other places frequented by birds, the shooter can 

 follow up the receding tide, taking fresh vantage posts further 

 out on the uncovered flats. In this method widgeon, which do 

 not like to miss a moment's feed that there is a chance of 

 availing themselves of, and which on tidal estuaries flight at 

 tide time instead of dusk, often offer good opportunities to 

 the shooter by leading along the wash close inshore pre- 

 paratory to pitching upon the first portion of grass that 

 becomes uncovered. Whilst curlew, oxbirds and other waders 

 keep one well employed. 



Another plan, perhaps less known, is " tubbing," and many 

 there are who in England, Ireland and Scotland earn a liveli- 

 hood during the winter months by this means. It is simple 

 and effective. It consists of a continuous row of old casks 

 sunk into the sand equi-distant from each other (about 100 to 

 150 yards, in accordance with the rise and fall of the tide), 

 each being ballasted and surrounded with loose stones, and 

 a seat arranged inside. As the tide recedes and the 

 long stretches of flats become available to the birds, the 

 tubbist wades out to cask No. 1 as soon as it is visible, with 

 bailer, and a dry cap to cover the otherwise damp seat. 

 Bailing the water out and putting all to rights, he ensconces 

 himself inside, blazing away at anything that passes within 

 range, either gathering the dead birds at once or (when the 

 wind is in the right quarter) allowing them to drift ashore. 

 He remains in tub No. 1 until the continuing ebbing tide 

 renders tub No. 2 available for use, when the same tactics are 

 repeated, thus following the line of casks till tide turn, when 



