WILDFOWL AND WILDFOWLING 
fowling diaries, by way of illustrating the precarious nature of this pursuit 
— already emphasized: 
October 29. After three stormy days (when we were never afloat), 
wind fell at midnight, and we started on quarter-flood at 6 a.m. Soon 
after dawn, sighted wigeon in a broad bight but all “ sore squandered ” 
as the puntsman put it. However, ere we drew in, the run of the flood-tide 
sw'ept them well together and nicely “ lined out ” along our shore ; afford- 
ing (what won’t happen thrice in a lifetime !) a length-long shot, straight 
ahead. Gathered thirty-four, though there were not much over one hundred 
of them in all, and three or four cripples beat us on the rotten ooze. Saw 
hundreds of grey geese on the wing all the morning. Before noon, wind 
freshened, and by three we were driven home by rising sea. Gale all night, 
and glass having fallen to 28' 95 ", returned home next day. 
The one bit of luck in a week’s work was catching those storm -tossed 
wigeon resting between gales. 
December 2. Hard frost (10° to 14°) since three days ago. Noticed 
succession of mallards flighting up North Channel ; laid in wait at 3 p.m., 
and got five (three at one shot, 10 -bore). At dusk went to try for grey 
geese on sand-bar; but not a bird appeared. A fortnight ago, they were 
hundreds strong, but the frost has driven them South. It was amusing 
to watch half a dozen flight -gunners burying themselves in the bare 
brown sand -wastes on the merest offchance of geese alighting within 
range. None came. 
December 3. Wind N.N.W., frost holding— afloat at 6, half-flood 
(neaps). At daybreak got in to two golden -eyes and stopped both with 
small gun, second a long way out. Fifteen brent geese came in from sea 
(they had arrived Nov. 14), set in to 120 yards, but refused the chance, 
and never got so near again. Fired at seven sheld-ducks on mussel -scap, 
80 yards, BB, stopped four. Two, being winged, tried diving — ^they dive 
as v/ell as wigeon. One was a superb adult drake, nearly 3| lb. During 
full-sea found two lots of wigeon “inside ” — had one fair shot, empunting 
eleven. A sailing boat put the others to sea. Coming home on ebb, shot 
fourteen golden plover and lost nearly as many more on the ooze. (See 
note on this later.) 
December 4. Wind S., frost gone, a full gale and heavy sea; glass low 
and falling. Thought to return home, but in afternoon glass rose rapidly; 
wind veered to N.W., gentle, with black frost, so stayed on. 
FFF 
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