THE CAROLINA RAIL. 19^5 



houra befoi3 high water, they enter the reeds, the sjx)rtsman 

 taling his place in the bow ready for action ; while tha 

 boatman in the stern-seat pushes her steadily through th« 

 reeds. 



The Kails generally spring singly, as the boat advances^ 

 and at a short distance ahead, are instantly shot down, 

 while the boatman, keeping his eye on the spot where the 

 bird fell, directs the vessel forward, and picks it up as the 

 gunner is loading. 



In this manner the boat continucB throuf!i;h and oyer the 

 wild-rice marsh, the birds flushing und falling, the gunner 

 loading and filling, while the helmsman is pushing and pick- 

 ing up the game ; which sport continues till an hour or two 

 after high water, when its shallowness, and the strength 

 and weight of the floating reeds, as also the unwillingness 

 of the game to spring as the tide decreases, oblige them to 

 return. 



Several boats are sometimes within a short distance of 

 each other, and a perpetual cracking of musketry prevails 

 along the whole reedy shores of the river. In these 

 excursioDS, it is not uncommon for an active and expert 

 marksman to kill ten or twelve dozea in tho serving of t 

 mtgle tida. 



