Broadland Sport

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt: ... Bridge is a small dyke to the left, which is the entrance to Heigham Sounds, formerly one of the best waters in Broadland for fish and fowl. Pike have been taken there between 30 lbs. and 50 lbs. in weight, and wildfowl have been seen in bunches of thousands at a time. There is a certain variety of water grass of which pochards are particularly fond, which used to grow on Heigham Sounds, and was very attractive to these fowl, but of late they have failed to put in an appearance, except in comparatively small quantities, which is more probably accounted for by the increase of visitors to these waters than by the scarcity of food. Beyond Heigham Sounds we pass through another narrow dyke, and immediately emerge upon Hickling Broad. This Broad is the most interesting in the Eastern counties to the naturalist, the fisherman and the sportsman. In extent it ranges between 400 and 500 acres, but in depth it does not average three feet, although a deeper channel has been kept open across its centre to Hickling Staithe on the north end of the broad, marked by a range of posts, without which it would be impossible for a stranger to reach the staithe unless he had the assistance of a pilot. There are one or two small islands in the broad upon which wildfowl love to plume themselves. The fishing is good provided one can find the right swims, a great improbability without local assistance. Boats may be obtained at about one shilling per day. The shooting is preserved, although it is nothing like so good as it used to be; still, fowl of all varieties may be daily seen. The annual coot shoot at Hickling was an event eagerly looked forward to by everyone who owned a gun within ten miles. The slaughter was great and the shooting wild, reckless and dangerous. To give a brie...