106 
ANATIDiE. 
number obtained by the fowler himself,* eighteen more were pro- 
cured by other persons.! 
The greatest number of wild-fowl killed in Belfast Bay within 
thirty years were obtained about twenty-two years ago, on the 
introduction of the first swivel-gun. The owner of this great 
engine of destruction killed during one week under the most 
favourable circumstances of weather — a continuance of severe 
frost when birds were driven from the inland waters to the 
estuary — 168 couple of brent geese, wigeon, wild ducks, and 
teak Sold at the low price of Is. 8d. a couple to the dealers (an 
average rate at which he was paid for the four species during the 
season), they produced £14. This shooter — who was a stranger 
* — lived during the winter in a boat in the midst of the best of 
the shooting, and shot both by day and night. Since that period 
about the extreme number of the above species killed in a week 
by the various shooters here may have amounted to from 100 to 
125 couple, of which wigeon were always the most numerous; — 
occasionally not twenty brace would be had in a week. The wild- 
fowl shooters, until the last few years, received from Is. 6d. to 
2s. 6d. a couple for wigeon from the dealers, who sold them at 
about 6d. a couple profit ; but the former price was near the 
maximum in the winter of 1849-50. Although these birds have 
been reduced in numbers in the north of Ireland of late years, 
the markets are better supplied with them than formerly, owing 
to the much greater quantity killed by the swivel-guns than by 
the ordinary fowling-piece. This serves to keep down the price ; 
and, besides, game of all kinds, having become much cheaper, 
is generally preferred. 
Wigeon, when wounded by boat-shooters, retreat in all direc- 
tions, seeking the sea-banks or sometimes the land, where, con- 
cealing themselves in drains, &c., they are more difficult to be 
captured than if they kept, like the brent geese, to the sea. They 
* Mr. Johnston of Glynn. 
f Mr. R. Chute “ counted seventy-five wigeon that the celebrated Buckle, Col. 
Hawker’s man, shot in Dingle Bay, in the winter of 1842-43, at one shot with his 
punt gun. It was duskish at the time ; and fifteen more that had been killed at the 
same shot were found dead on the following morning.” 
