326 Unexplored Spain 
solid hour, nay, for two and sometimes three, fire continues 
incessant. First to become silent are the distant guns along the 
shores; the minor replazas slacken down next, and by noon all 
save two or three of the best posts are reduced to a desultory and 
dropping fire. 
Then a second signal indicates that the “ pick-up” may 
begin—up to that moment not a gunner is permitted to leave his 
place. This gathering of the game, stopping cripples, etc., induces 
a short renewal of the fusillade ; but soon all is silent once more, 
and at three o’clock a third signal rings out, and at once every 
sportsman must quit the shooting-ground. 
Besides the lessees of the auction-sold pwestos (many of 
whom come from Madrid and distant parts of Spain), there 
foregather on these occasions all the local gunners; and far away 
beyond those sacred areas secured by purchase there form up 
league-long lines of fowlers by the distant shore ; so that, between 
the private and privileged puestos and the free public lines outside, 
there may assemble in all some 3000 gunners. Hence these 
teradas partake of the character of a popular festival. Yet in 
spite of such numbers there is not the slightest confusion or 
danger, so perfect are the rules and so scrupulously are they 
observed. 
With so many guns scattered over wide areas no precise 
record of the exact numbers secured are possible; but, according 
to the estimates of those best calculated to judge, as many as 
22,000 to 23,000 head (ducks and coots) are obtained in a single 
morning. 
The records of individual guns in the best replazas run from 
100 to 200 ducks gathered, and occasionally exceed those figures. 
At the first shoot of the year fully 25 per cent of the spoil are 
coots; but at the later shoots ducks are obtained in greater 
proportion, as coots then quit the rice-grounds. These later 
shoots do not produce quite such stupendous totals; but still 
immense numbers are bagged—ten or twelve thousand in a 
morning. 
As the majority of purchasers come from a distance and usually 
only remain for one, or perhaps two, of the fixed shooting days, 
such prices as £80 to £100 represent a fairly stiff rent. 
Few mallards are obtained at the first shoot, but their numbers 
increase as the winter advances. The chief species are pintail, 
