258 THE JERSEY COAST. 



the labor is easy, the body can be kept cool Ly 

 wading for dead birds, and to those who are, at the 

 best, not vigorous, bay-snipe shooting is a delightful 

 resource. 



Never did mortals pass a pleasanter week than 

 that week at the beach, and it is impossible to chro- 

 nicle all the good shots, to repeat all the amusing 

 stories or merry jokes, or to record all the valuable 

 instruction ; and to obtain an inkling even, the reader 

 had better make a firm resolve that next August will 

 -not pass over Ms head without his devoting at least 

 one week to bay-snipe shooting. When at last the 

 time came to part, and the baggage was packed, and 

 the guns reluctantly bestowed in their cases, we bade 

 our farewell with sincere regret, praying that often 

 thereafter might we have such sport, and meet such 

 companionship. 



It is a long journey to the beach, but it is a longer 

 one back again ; no high hopes buoy up the traveller, 

 regrets accompany him instead — no anticipation of 

 grand sport, but the gloomy certainty that it is over 

 for the year; and although the conveyance to the 

 beach is irregular, there is absolutely none away 

 from it. It is true there are several different routes 

 to and from it, but all by private conveyance, and, 

 rendered by the mosquitoes nearly impracticable. 



Bill harnessed his ponies — for, wonderful to say, a 

 few horses and cattle manage to live on the beach 

 and sustain existence in spite of the mosquitoes — and 

 we stowed ourselves and our luggage in his well 

 worn wagon. The road lay over the barren beach, 



