A WEEK^S DCCK SHOOTING AT POOLE. 23 



flew off, and Dan lost a good sliot^ besides nearly losing 

 his life. 



At " ground ebb '' you must wait at liigb tide near a 

 bank whicli tbe fowl are known to haunt ; as the tide 

 recedes, the shallower the water the whiter it appears,, 

 and consequently the more distinct the birds which 

 pitch. You, on the other hand, are less distinct from 

 being in the deep water. By this method you are also 

 enabled to float down gradually to your flock, when, 

 by lying down in the punt, you will be mistaken by 

 them for a log a wood. In nine nights out of ten a 

 quite white or stone-colour dress is the best. I need 

 hardly mention that at " ground ebb ^^ shooting care 

 must be taken, after the shot, that both persons do not 

 leave the punt together, or even one without mud- 

 pattens. Many people have been lost in Poole harbour 

 by wandering away in the eager pursuit of cripples, and 

 either being frozen to death or sinking in the mud. " At 

 this time never go too far up a latch, unless you 

 know your way well ; if you don't, and you get among 

 the labyrinth of Poole latches at night, you may make 

 your mind up for ^^a night on the flats'' when you 

 might have been comfortably in your blankets. 



Very good sport may be had by taking a canoe, or 

 any small light-draught boat, and a heavy single shoulder 

 gun, and latching at nights; it may be called the 

 rabbit shooting of fowling. When out at this sport, 

 of course if you see a gunner approaching, or setting 

 up to your flock, you will give him the first shot, 

 reserving your fire for the cripples or as they pass you 

 on the wing — if they do. After a gunner has made 

 a shot, the big company frequently gets split up into 

 small bunches, and when much disturbed make for the 



