SHORE-SHOOTING 79 
your way at first. If you have made an error in striking the 
flight-line, endeavour to rectify it another day, for it will prove 
impossible for you to do so successfully at the time, especially 
after the flight of birds has begun. It invariably happens that 
it is better to stick to a bad spot, for a flurry, bustle, and 
rush elsewhere will be accompanied as a rule by bad and 
erratic shooting. 
Your position chosen, the building of the hut is next to be 
considered. Build of material which will harmonise in colour 
with the various surroundings. A grassy bank in autumn has 
a brown appearance. Old baskets, timber, brush, bents, 
and such-like piled up and covered with grass pulled from 
around the hut serve well to construct the little hiding-place. 
Stones and rocks in places where the shooter chooses to 
‘“‘hut” are easily thrown up into very comfortable and suitable 
shooting holes. It is well and pays to spend some time and 
care in making a comfortable ambuscade; in fact, half the 
battle and, indeed, the pleasure of shore-shooting from a hut 
is secured by properly arranging things so that you can 
comfortably shoot at the birds as they come near. A bad 
shooting-hut is always unsatisfactory. Such conditions mean 
disappointment ; thus it is wise to avoid them at the outset. 
Twothings to be observed are the size and height of the 
hut. The size inside should not be too large, or the birds will 
see into the hut and most likely spot your dog. Sufficient 
room for one man and a dog to comfortably hide and turn 
inside is all that is required. About five feet in diameter is 
near the mark. The height should be just up to the shooter’s 
chest. Too low a hut causes the shooter to be cramped or 
leg-bent when about to take a shot, whilst one too high pre- 
vents the taking of low or water-level shots. These extremes 
are often the cause of bad shooting. Gain the right height, 
and the shooting will be much assisted—at least in comfort if 
nothing else. An entrance must be left, and if the shore- 
