1851 M. H. Perley Rep. Fisheries Bay of Fundy (1852) 151 [The fish] are scattered over the flats, and much ‘mud larking’ takes place before they are all gathered.

1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 155/2 This, he says, he liked much better than mud-larking.

1888 Sat. Rev. 21 July 66 A series of sunny summers and perfect grounds have not taught us the noble lessons of mudlarking, as it hath often been played in the fens and marshes of rural cricket-grounds.

1905 Rep. U.S. Bureau Fisheries 1904 419 During the first two or three weeks of May they follow what is known as ‘mud-larking’, that is, scoop-netting in marshes and along the banks of small streams, the crabs being found in the mud at this time of year.

1933 S. Griffiths Rolling Stone on Turf viii. 131 You can imagine the discomfort of plodding about in mud and slush on race-day... Talk about mud-larking!

1960 Life (Internat. ed.) 1 Feb. 45/1 The back-bruising sport of mudlarking.., one of England's popular recreations, calls for a special-body car.

1976 W. W. Warner Beautiful Swimmers vi. 141 Before the advent of crab pots, mud-larking was practiced rather widely around Poquoson on Virginia's Lower Neck.

1989 S. Sucharitkul Moon Dance i. viii. 98 Perhaps you have fond memories of your mudlarking days, my little mad brother?

1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack xi. 72 You mud-larking vagabond.

1853 L. Oliphant Russian Shores of Black Sea iv. 71 Leaving the mudlarking little serfs to live and die in the state of ignorance provided for them.

1946 K. Tennant Lost Haven (1947) vii. 100 Set of roughs... Mudlarking larrikins.

1972 A. Curnow Trees, Effigies, Moving Objects viii Nature's art nouveau, little as it matters To mudlarking crabs and the morning's blue heron.

1998 Guardian (Nexis) 2 May 6 On the practice pitch the mudlarking teenagers are not noticeably in thrall to their two undoubted world stars.