WILDFOWL AND WILDFOWLING 
In 1892-3 2,061 geese, wigeon and mallard (in 85 shots). 
In 1895-6* 1,794 geese, wigeon and mallard (in 68 shots). 
On one occasion, during eight days, twelve shots realized 455 wigeon 
and mallard. On another, during seven days, twelve shots produced 
400 brent geese and wigeon. 
Wildfowling in Spain . — ^The Spanish peninsula consists in the main of a 
vast highland plateau, scored across by infinite mountain-ranges — all this 
being the abomination of desolation from a wildfowling point of view. It 
presents, nevertheless, on its southern and western faces, certain areas of 
low-lying littoral, fronting both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and 
these afford a winter resort to half the wildfowl of Europe. 
Probably no more wondrous aggregation of wildfowl are known than 
those which throng the rice-grounds of Valencia, on the Mediterranean. 
These great marshes — originally reclaimed half a century ago for the 
purpose of growing rice — soon attracted wildfowl in such quantities as 
threw the prospective profit on rice completely into the background, and 
that fact was speedily realized by the shrewd peasant-proprietary. At the 
present day the shooting at Valencia is conducted upon the strictest up- 
to-date commercial principles, being regulated and limited to certain 
fixed days, while the tenancy of the numerous shooting -posts is sold by 
auction previous to the opening day ! Such has been the indirect success 
of rice-growing in Spain that the favourite gun-posts on the Caldereria 
to-day realize in public sale up to £80 or £100 ! a stiff rent, even though 
it secures to the purchaser some ten days’ shooting (with intervals of a 
week between), and the opportunity of emptying some 500 or 1,000 
cartridges on each occasion. 
It is all flight -shooting with shoulder-guns (12 -bores), and the system, 
as well as that practised at the adjacent Albufera, will be found set out in 
full detail in “ Unexplored Spain.” 
Amidst an army of guns dispersed over horizon areas, it is estimated 
that upwards of 20,000 fowl have been secured in a single morning. This, 
however, includes a certain proportion (about 25 per cent) of coots. 
The marismas of Guadalquivir, on the Atlantic seaboard, also attract 
wildfowl in quantities undreamt of in lands so ” developed ” as to banish 
nearly all denizens not domestic or quasi-domestic. Here the aboriginal 
Spanish idea (and deadly enough it was), centred on the stalking-horse. 
* With a gun firing thirty-two ounces of shot. 
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