32 Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



CHAPTER VI. 



WATER-FOWL. 



UCK shooting, that most fascinating of all sports with the 

 gun. Giving in the " sound of the horn, on a fine hunting 

 morn/' what more pleasant music is there to the ears of a good 

 sportsman, than the whistle of a fat mallard's wing as he rushes 

 past at dusk on his evening flight ? 



I think a wild-fowler, to make most of his opportunities ; must 

 be as keen as mustard, a good weather prophet, a lover of 

 nature, and above all a sportsman possessed of a large store of 

 woodcraft, or perhaps one might call it watercraft. 



On the China coast, there are but few openings for the 

 punt gunner ; although at a port called Swatow in the south, and 

 in some parts of the inland sea of Japan, the heavy gun is used. 

 But with no great success, and most of the shooting is therefore 

 done on the " stalking " and " waiting " principles. 



In waiting for duck on the flight ; wood powder being almost 

 smokeless, is preferable to any other ; following birds are not then 

 scared, by the hanging smoke of a previous shot. 



If not hidden, and birds are unexpectedly sighted, apparently 



