5 o O^^lTHOLOgr. Book I. 



well able to throw over. It muft be verged with a ftrong cord on each fide, and 

 extended ftiff upon a long Pole at each end : Then having obferved the Morning and 

 Evening- feeding of the Fowl ( which is feldom in one and the fame place) before to 

 come two hours before thofe feeding times ( which are twilight in the Morning, and 

 after Sun-fet at Night ) and upon thefe haunts fpread your Nets fmooth and flat, Ira- 

 king down the two lower ends firm on the ground, fothat they may only come and 

 go, and no more. The upper verge of the Net muft ftand extended on the long Cord, 

 the further end whereof muft be ftaked down to the earth, two or three fathoms 

 from the Net, (the Stake ftanding in a right line with the lower edge of the Net ) the 

 Fowler holding in his hand the other end ( which fhould be at leaft ten or twelve fa- 

 thom long ) at its diftance : where he (hall make fome artificial ihelter of grafs, fcds, 

 earth, or fuch like matter, where he may lie out of fight of the Fowl. Be lure 

 that the Net lie fo tickle, that upon the leaft twitch it will rife from the earth, and 

 fly over. Strow over the Net (hort dead fog and other grafs to hide it as much as may 

 be from the view of the Fowl. It would be of advantage, clofe to your Net to ftake 

 down a live Heron^ or other Fowl you fpread for, formerly taken, foraftale, making 

 her now and then flutter her wings. When you fee a competent number of Fowl with- 

 in the danger of your Net, draw your Cord luddenly aud cover them. This you may 

 do till the Sun be almofthalf an hour high, but no longer, for after that time no more 

 Fowl will come to feed; and at Evening from Sun-fet till the Stars begin to appear. 

 Thus you may take not only the greater Water-fowl, but Plover and others. 



4. ii. 



How to take whoh'fooUdWater-fowl tofth Nets. 



MAke your Nets of the fmalleft and ftrongeft Pack-thread 3 the Matties Of lefs 

 compafs than the f orementioned 5 let them be 2 l 7 or 3 foot deep, for length 

 according to the Rivers and Waters they are to be pitched over. Let them be lined on 

 both fides with falfe Nets of ftrong Packthread, every Maih being 1 ;~ foot fquare, 

 that as the Fowl ftriketh either through or againft them, the finaller Net may pafs 

 through the great Mafhes, and fo entangle them. 



Thefe Nets you (hall pitch for the Evening-flight of Fowl before Sun-fet, and 

 ftake them faft down on each fide the River, the lower fide of the Nets about half a 

 foot within the water, the upper fide (hoaling llantwife againft the water, yet not 

 touching it by a foot and half at leaft. The ftrings that fupportthis upper fide muft be 

 faftned to fmall yielding fticks prickt in the bark, which as the Fowl ftriketh may give 

 liberty to the Net to run and entangle them : Yet one end ever made fo faft that the 

 Net may by no means be carried away. You may thus place divers of thefe Nets over 

 the River about twelve fcore one from another. 



If there be any Fens, Plafhes, or Pits at a good diftance from the River, go tq 

 them, and (hooting off a piece" twice or thrice, raife the Fowl from thence, which 

 wilLpfefently pack to the River, then plant your Nets of the middle fize upon the 

 fmall Plalhes and Pits, and the longeft of all upon the Fens : In like manner if there 

 beany covert of Sedge, Reeds, Rufhes,^. in the water, pitch Nets about them 

 alfo. 



In the Morning go firft to the River about an hour or two before day, and fee 

 what your Nets have taken, and unlade them : Then if you find there be many 

 Fowls upon the River, (hoot off your Gun in one or two places, and that will quick- 

 ly fend them to the Fens, Plalhes, and blank waters, whither you may repair about 

 Sun-rifing, and fee what your Nets have taken there. 



Chap.IL §.1. 



How to take Water-FoTfl "frith limed firings. 



AFter you have found and obferved the haunts of the Fowl, provide a long 

 line made of fmall cord, knotted here and there, and well limed over 3 and 

 a burthen of little fticks, (harp at the nether end, and with a little fork at 

 the upper. If it be for the Evening-flight, come to the place an hour before Sun-fet -^ 



