106 ANATID^. 



number obtained by the fowler himself,^ eighteen more were pro- 

 cured by other persons. f 



The greatest number of wild-fowl killed in Belfast Bay within 

 tliirty years were obtained about twenty-two years ago, on the 

 introduction of the first swivel-gun. The owner of this great 

 engine of destruction killed during one w^eek under the most 

 favourable circumstances of weather — a continuance of severe 

 frost when birds were driven from the inland waters to the 

 estuary — 168 couple of brent geese, wigeon, wild ducks, and 

 teal. Sold at the low price of Is. 8d. a couple to the dealers (an 

 average rate at which he was paid for the four species during the 

 season), they produced £14. This shooter — who was a stranger 

 — ^lived during the winter in a boat in the midst of the best of 

 the shooting, and shot both by day and night. Since that period 

 about the extreme number of the above species killed in a week 

 by the various shooters here may have amounted to from 100 to 

 135 couple, of which wigeon were always the most numerous; — 

 occasionally not twenty brace would be had in a week. The wild- 

 fowl shooters, until the last few years, received from Is. 6d. to 

 2s, 6d. a couple for wigeon from the dealers, who sold them at 

 about 6d. a couple profit ; but the former price was near the 

 maximum in the winter of 1849-50. Although these birds have 

 been reduced in numbers in the north of Ireland of late years, 

 the markets are better supplied with them than formerly, owing 

 to the much greater quantity killed by the swivel-guns than by 

 the ordinary fowling-piece. This serves to keep down the price ; 

 and, besides, game of all kinds, having become much cheaper, 

 is generally preferred. 



Wigeon, when wounded by boat-shooters, retreat in aU direc- 

 tions, seeking the sea-banks or sometimes the land, where, con- 

 ceahng tliemselves in drains, &c., they are more difficult to be 

 captured than if they kept, like the brent gees'e, to the sea. They 



* Mr. Johnston of Glynn. 



t Mr. R. Chute " counted seventy-five wigeon that the celehrated Buclde, Col. 

 Hawker's man, shot in Dingle Bay, in the winter of 1842-43, at one sliot with his 

 punt gun. It was duskish at the time ; and fifteen more that had been killed at the 

 same shot were found dead on the following morning." 



