562 TTIF. FF.ATHKPED TRIBES. 



The banks of the lake on each side of the ditch were kept cleai- from reeds and close 

 herbage, in order that the ducks might get on them to sit and dress themselves. Along 

 the ditch poles were driven into the ground, close to its edge, on each side, and the tops 

 were bent over across the ditch, and tied together. 



The poles thus bent formed at the entrance of the ditch an arch, the top of which was 

 ten feet distant from the surface of the water. The arch was made to decrease in height 

 as the ditch decreased in width, so that the remote end ^^■as not more than eighteen 

 inches in height. The poles were placed about six feet from each other, and connected 

 by poles laid lengthwise across tlie arch and tied together. Over the whole was thrown 

 a net, which was made fast to a reed-fence at the entrance, and nine or ten yards up the 

 ditch, and afterwards strongly pegged to the ground. 



At the end of the ditch furthest from the entrance was fixed what was called a " tunnel- 

 net," about four yards in length, of a round form, and kept open by a number of hoops, 

 about eighteen inches in diameter, placed at a small distance from each other, to keep it 

 distended. Supposing the circular bend of the ditch to be to the right when one stands 

 with his back to the lake, then on the left hand side a number of reed-fences were con- 

 structed, called " shootings," for the purpose of screening the decoy-man from observation, 

 and in such a manner that the fowl in the decoj' might not be alarmed while he was 

 driving those that were in the pipe. These shootings, which were ten in number, were 

 about four yards in length and about six feet high. From the end of the last shooting 

 a person could not see the lake, owing to the bend of the ditch, and there was then no 

 further occasion for shelter. Were it not for these shootings, the fowl that remained 

 about the mouth of the ditch would have been alarmed if the person driving the fowl 

 already under the net should have been exposed, and would have become so shy as entirely 

 to forsake the place. 



The first thing the decoy-man did on approaching the ditch was to take a piece of 

 lighted turf or peat, and to hold it near his mouth to prevent the birds from smelling 

 him. He was attended by a dog trained for the purpose of rendering him assistance. 

 He walked very silently about half-waj' up the shootings, Avhere a small piece of wood 

 was thrust through the reed-fence, which made an aperture just large enough to enable 

 him to see if any fowl were in ; if not, he walked forward to see if any were about the 

 entrance of the ditch. If there were, he stopped, made a motion to his dog, and gave 

 him a piece of cheese, or something else, to eat ; M'hen the dog went directly to a hole 

 tlirough the reed-fence, and the birds immediately flew off the bank into the water. The 

 dog returned along the bank between the reed-fences, and came out to his master at 

 another hole. The man tlicn gave the dog something more to encourage him, and the 

 •dog repeated his rounds until the birds were attracted by his motions, and followed him 

 into the mouth of the ditch ; — an ojaeration which was called " working " them. 



The man now retreated further back, working the dop; at diffei'cnt holes until tlic ducks 

 were sufficiently imdcr the net. He then commanded liis dog to lie down behind the 

 fence, and going himself forward to the end of the ditch next the lake, he took oflp his 

 hat, and gave it a wave between the shooting. All the birds that were under tlic net 

 could then sec him ; but none that were in the lake could. The former flew I'orwaid, and 

 the man then ran to the next shooting and waved his hat, and so on, driving them along 

 until they came to the tunnel-net, into which they crept. When they were all in, the 

 man gav(r the net a twist, so as 1o prevent llicm gcttitig back. He then took tlie net off 

 from tlio end of the dilcli. mid (aking nul, oiin by one, (lu^ ducks fliat werr in i(, dislo- 

 cated their necks. 



The not was afterwards hung f)n again (or llie rcpotiliim of (lie ]irnccss ; and in (liis 

 manner five or six dozen wore sometimes taken at one drift. Wlien tlic wind blew 

 directly in fir out of the dit<dirR, (he fowl seldom worked well, especially when Iho wind 



