120 BROADLAND SPORT 



never forgetting to return to the flats as soon as the first ebb 

 of the tide commences. 



Fifthly, there is the system introduced by that well-known 

 wildfowler, Colonel Hawker, of utilising a dressed -up carriage 

 for a swivel, which, without doubt, can be denominated under 

 the heading of shore shooting. But it can never be used 

 unless the ground consists of hard ooze, such as that found on 

 portions of the Dutch coast (on the Scheldt, for instance), or 

 on the hard sandy bottoms of our Scotch estuaries, and in East 

 Anglia round Blakeney, Wells and Hunstanton. In the 

 famous Colonel's book, Hints to Young Sportsmen, will be 

 found drawings with a full description of this ingenious con- 

 trivance, and it is only necessary to add that if these directions 

 are carried out, and the exterior appearance of the arrange- 

 ment made to suit the surroundings of the neighbourhood in- 

 tended to be visited, success should follow. But on account 

 of the numerous unforeseen difficulties always springing 

 up, this happy outcome is extremely doubtful, whilst the 

 manual labour will be found something awful. 



Sixthly, there is the shore shooting proper, the following 

 of the high- water mark. It is no constitutional stroll of an 

 inactive, unenthusiastic powder-burner, but, with ears and 

 eyes constantly on the alert, the shore shooter proceeds, tread- 

 ing as noiselessly as possible, stopping every now and then to 

 sweep the flats with powerful binoculars (not a necessity, but 

 nevertheless a good help), whilst he carefully scans and searches 

 every nook and corner, every marsh, pond, or swamp, and on 

 his way he takes full advantage of every rise, bank or 

 elevation in the ground within his beat. 



Sneaking stealthily up ,to, or round the likely places, he 

 peers cautiously over before showing himself in bold relief 

 against the skyline ; and woe betide the unfortunate bird 

 that may be there taking a quiet siesta, or afternoon feed, 

 chuckling to itself on its apparent security. 



In these shore peregrinations the bag always contains a 

 variety ; oxbirds, curlew, wimbrel, a duck or two, snipe, half 

 a dozen plover, perhaps a couple of " seapies " (oyster catchers), 



