A RIVER YACHTING RESORT 155 



would be too harsh to serve out to those guilty of such 

 wanton cruelty and mischief. However, as these lines are 

 more likely to be perused by sportsmen than by others, it 

 is not necessary to dwell upon the abuses that firearms of 

 every description have been put to in this locality. 



As Horning is approached the scenery undergoes a wel- 

 come change. The landscape becomes more undulating, and 

 in some places is densely wooded. The river is bordered by 

 a broad margin of reed -covered swampy marshes, studded 

 here and there with innumerable clumps of alder and secluded 

 pools and dykes a veritable paradise for wildfowl. 



Visitors, however, must not imagine that they are at 

 liberty to roam and rove to their hearts' content through 

 the tempting tangle of undergrowth and aquatic vegetation 

 which stretches away on either hand from the riverside to 

 the middle distance. But should they select a favourable 

 retreat by the river bank at sundown, they will, with 

 moderate luck, be rewarded for their patience when the 

 wildfowl leave their swampy haunts for evening flight. 



Early in August, after the duck have been disturbed on 

 the private broads abounding in this district, they may 

 frequently be seen on the wing in considerable quantities, 

 wheeling with uncertain flight within easy range, but sports- 

 men must remember that when retrieving birds dropped 

 beyond the boundary of the . river wall their guns must be 

 left behind, and it is not legal to avail one's self of the 

 assistance of a dog. 



With respect to " flighting," most careful observation is 

 necessary to determine the exact point of ambush, and 

 one more often than not finds the spot selected is just 

 out of range. However, in this as in everything else, 

 success is bought by experience, and one or two failures 

 may result in the discovery of the precise position which 

 will be favourable to making a bag. So long as the feeding 

 ground continues satisfactory and the fowl are not harassed 

 too much they will take the same line night after night. 

 From this it is patent that it is of the greatest importance 



