THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
December 5. Frost gone and renewal of S.W. gale, strengthening 
towards dusk. Two blank days. 
December 6. Still blowing, and sea too rough for punt. Having noticed 
four scaup in outer harbour, ran down in big coble to leeward; a green- 
water job, and all wet as walruses. Made all snug, and let boat drive in 
on flood; killed three of the four scaup with 10 -bore, most interesting 
specimens. (Here follow descriptions.) Had to tack round scaur-head, 
and beat home half-seas over, but shot an immature eider drake, required 
as a specimen, in very heavy sea off the bar. 
December 7. Glass down to 28' 55 ", a full gale and furious sea. Went home. 
December 19. Forty-eight hours without undressing, result fifty fowl. 
Went afloat 11 p.m. on 17th, fine clear night, but moon too vertical, giving 
no “ loom ” and bad light ahead while a ripple blackened the shallows. 
First shot (2 a.m.) seemed to stop quite a score, though got but thirteen 
wigeon, several diving under the ice alongside which they had been sitting. 
(N.B. Till then I was unaware of the presence of ice.) An hour later got 
seven mallards, out of about a score, losing two others, after a heavy 
chase on the mud, by their going down rabbit -holes on the main shore. 
At 3 o’clock intended returning home to bed; but being held up by a sudden 
breeze that prevented our crossing “ the deeps,” had to weather out the 
night afloat — result, four hours of bitter starvation. A close shot in the 
grey dawn, at about a dozen mallards, stopped five and struck three more, 
two of which were lost through the sea haze preventing our marking them. 
Landed at 7, and lay down without undressing till near noon ; during the 
afternoon flood, fired twice at geese, results, 2+8 = 10, also shot two 
godwits with small gun. Afloat again at midnight; cloudy, and a strong 
breeze ruffling the water, could scarce see a shot ahead. Fired once and 
secured eight wigeon (six adult drakes), besides losing others in the 
darkness — in about 7.30 a.m. Lay down till lunch time. 
All this day a strong breeze— confining our operations to the narrow 
waters, where during the afternoon, I managed to get four geese out of 
less than a score by a rather long flying shot. At night breeze freshened 
to a gale and, the glass falling, returned home next morning — luckily not 
a feather the worse for it all ! 
February 8. Splendid clear night, third -quarter moon, a touch of 
frost and steady northerly airs — a grand show of wigeon, “talking” 
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