Far from bog standard

Although I would agree with anyone that the present opening date for duck shooting ought to remain, it is nevertheless true that my happiest days on the bog were at one time spent in early August, and 1 August was the best of all. Towards the end of July, I would slip about cautiously on that extensive waste between Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater in the shadow of Skiddaw, so that I might have a fair idea of the duck population on the waterways for future reference.

Sometimes my employer would decide to walk-up ducks and snipe with a few friends at the beginning of the season, but just as often this minor sport was left