GUNNING. 157 



It is, in a direct line from the town, about nine miles 

 by water, and a sail to this locality, in quest of blue- 

 fish, will be appreciated by all lovers of the sport of 

 fishing. Upon the point is a government lighthouse, 

 and large numbers of lobsters are caught here in their 

 season. 



Gunning. 



Although there is not much to boast of in the way 

 of shooting on Nantucket, yet there are times when a 

 great many desirable wild-fowl may be obtained by a 

 good gunner. 



In the early spring, at Coatue and in the upper 

 harbor, brant, sheldrakes, coots, and whistlers are to 

 be found in considerable numbers; in May, spring 

 black-breast plover are at times numerous; in Septem- 

 ber, golden plover, doe birds, yellow-legs, and upland 

 plover make their appearance on various parts of the 

 island. Snipe are frequently found in October on the 

 marshes, and teal later in the fall around the ponds. 

 In the fall of 1881 large numbers of the upland gray- 

 back, otherwise known as the brown-bird, made their 

 appearance here on the marshes. 



Capt. William C. Dunham is authority for the above. 



Mr. Herbert S. Sweet, who contributed to this book 

 the valuable article on ornithology (page 240) , says : — 



" Nantucket is not, as is supposed, a bonanza for 

 sporting men. There are, to be sure, many times 

 when plover are shot in goodly numbers, but all de- 

 pends upon the weather and wind. If storms come 

 while the birds are passing the island, they will stop 

 on the plains to rest and feed; but if the flight takes 



