326 Unexplored Spain 



solid hour, nay, for two and sometimes three, fire continues 

 incessant. First to become silent are the distant guns along the 

 shores ; the minor replazas slacken down next, and by noon all 

 save two or three of the best posts are reduced to a desultory and 

 dropping fire. 



Then a second signal indicates that the " pick-up " may 

 begin — up to that moment not a gunner is permitted to leave his 

 place. This gathering of the game, stopping cripples, etc., induces 

 a short renewal of the fusillade ; but soon all is silent once more, 

 and at three o'clock a third signal rings out, and at once every 

 sportsman must quit the shooting-ground. 



Besides the lessees of the auction-sold puestos (many of 

 whom come from Madrid and distant parts of Spain), there 

 foregather on these occasions all the local gunners ; and far away 

 beyond those sacred areas secured by purchase there form up 

 league-long lines of fowlers by the distant shore ; so that, between 

 the private and privileged _2:>^^e5^os and the free public lines outside, 

 there may assemble in all some 3000 gunners. Hence these 

 tiraclas partake of the character of a popular festival. Yet in 

 spite of such numbers there is not the slightest confusion or 

 danger, so perfect are the rules and so scrupulously are they 

 observed. 



With so many guns scattered over wide areas no precise 

 record of the exact numbers secured are possible ; but, according 

 to the estimates of those best calculated to judge, as many as 

 22,000 to 23,000 head (ducks and coots) are obtained in a single 

 morning. 



The records of individual guns in the best replazas run from 

 100 to 200 ducks gathered, and occasionally exceed those figures. 

 At the first shoot of the year fully 25 per cent of the spoil are 

 coots ; but at the later shoots ducks are obtained in greater 

 proportion, as coots then quit the rice-grounds. These later 

 shoots do not produce quite such stupendous totals ; but still 

 immense numbers are bagged — ten or twelve thousand in a 

 morning. 



As the majority of purchasers come from a distance and usually 

 only remain for one, or perhaps two, of the fixed shooting days, 

 such prices as £80 to £100 represent a fairly stiff rent. 



Few mallards are obtained at the first shoot, but their numbers 

 increase as the winter advances. The chief species are pintail, 



