DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11277#0029
1886
DER NEUEN HEIMER.
L3
positis novus eruviis nitidusque juventa. Lubrica eonvolvit
sublato pectore terga Arduus ad solem, et Unguis micat
ore trisulcis. »Ajax«.
My experiences of sea-bird shooting.
Before I begin my little article I must beg ray kind
readers not to be too severe in their criticism as I am
only an amateur at the sport myself. The first thing,
certainly, that must be known is, where to find sea-birds.
(I think 1 hear some one remark — at the sea! but the
sea is a large place.) Well! of course there are many
places on the Scottish, Irish, and English coasts, but
at all events, I can promise you good sport on the coast
of Yorkshire, especially about Flamborough Head, whose
white clifl's literally swarm with birds in the breeding
season.
The slime on the birds' feathers often causes the
shot to glance aside, so it is best to use moderately big
shot. Gulls, and especially sea-swallnws can be attracted
by either a dead bird or a piece of white paper being
thrown overboard, and when ouce you get among a flight
of sea-swallows, your sport doesn't finish until you have
bagged a sufficient number for stuffing, or whatever other
purpose you want them, always provided you never miss
your shot, as, if you do, the birds immediately fly away,
whereas if you bring one down every shot, they will
always swoop down to look at their dead comrade before
flying away. Some people, indeed I may say many, call
this sport cruel, and so it would be if carried on in
breeding time, but as the shooting does not begin before
August, this is not the case, and unless the birds were
kept down, they would do untold harm to the fishing,
as they eat all the young fish. Some good fun may be
had by shooting at divers puffins while resting, with a
small rifle. It is rather hard shooting as the boat is
always rocking, and indeed we have often had to go
into the roughest water, after rare or wounded birds,
and then we are not only in danger of losing our bird,
DER NEUEN HEIMER.
L3
positis novus eruviis nitidusque juventa. Lubrica eonvolvit
sublato pectore terga Arduus ad solem, et Unguis micat
ore trisulcis. »Ajax«.
My experiences of sea-bird shooting.
Before I begin my little article I must beg ray kind
readers not to be too severe in their criticism as I am
only an amateur at the sport myself. The first thing,
certainly, that must be known is, where to find sea-birds.
(I think 1 hear some one remark — at the sea! but the
sea is a large place.) Well! of course there are many
places on the Scottish, Irish, and English coasts, but
at all events, I can promise you good sport on the coast
of Yorkshire, especially about Flamborough Head, whose
white clifl's literally swarm with birds in the breeding
season.
The slime on the birds' feathers often causes the
shot to glance aside, so it is best to use moderately big
shot. Gulls, and especially sea-swallnws can be attracted
by either a dead bird or a piece of white paper being
thrown overboard, and when ouce you get among a flight
of sea-swallows, your sport doesn't finish until you have
bagged a sufficient number for stuffing, or whatever other
purpose you want them, always provided you never miss
your shot, as, if you do, the birds immediately fly away,
whereas if you bring one down every shot, they will
always swoop down to look at their dead comrade before
flying away. Some people, indeed I may say many, call
this sport cruel, and so it would be if carried on in
breeding time, but as the shooting does not begin before
August, this is not the case, and unless the birds were
kept down, they would do untold harm to the fishing,
as they eat all the young fish. Some good fun may be
had by shooting at divers puffins while resting, with a
small rifle. It is rather hard shooting as the boat is
always rocking, and indeed we have often had to go
into the roughest water, after rare or wounded birds,
and then we are not only in danger of losing our bird,