ioo A Sportsman at Large 



Another and milder game in which we indulged when 

 spring tides were in was prawn catching. These crustaceans 

 were the finest in size and flavour that I have ever met with. 

 We used a triangular net, wading knee deep and shovelling 

 under the weed-grown rocks. Both in this connection and 

 the skate- spearing the water was beautifully translucent ; 

 crystal clear, with a submarine garden of infinite variety of 

 form and tint. I have gazed into those decorative depths 

 for long minutes together, marvelling at the infinite and 

 altogether satisfying beauty of Nature in her kindliest 

 mood. 



There was a colony of seals in Clew Bay, but they were 

 very wary. I tried several stalks with my Winchester, but 

 met with no success. Ted, my ever-ready Fidus Achates, 

 was more fortunate, for one day he returned in triumph 

 with a couple of natives, bearing a half-grown grey seal on a 

 pole. We were loud in our felicitations, but, when later 

 my lusty cousin proceeded to skin the victim of his skill on 

 the lawn, just when we were thinking of our mid-day meal, 

 our congratulations turned to curses, loud and deer). The 

 aroma of that confounded creature reduced us to such a state 

 of nausea and olfactory repulsion that we lost all hope of 

 enjoying our repast Moreover, it remained in our nostrils 

 for an unconscionable time. But the depths of Ted's 

 capabilities as a parfumier were as yet by no means 

 sounded. 



McDonald had told him that on a certain one of the 365 

 islands of Clew Bay Innistorwhele to wit there was a flock 

 of wild mountain goats, the " boss billy " of which carried a 

 fine set of butting implements and a patriarchal beard. My 

 life-long pal, having accounted for a seal, had now set his 

 gallant heart on big game shooting. No more for him the 

 inconspicuous grouse (which many a time and oft he missed), 

 the elusive snipe (which he invariably muffed), or other such 

 small deer. To Innistorwhele he went and we heard nothing 

 of him for some hours. At last the faint report of his rifle 

 was wafted across the waves. As the shades of evening fell 

 the White Wings drifted into port, and Ted and McDonald 

 disembarked, the latter bearing in his arms the gory head, 



