TOPOGRAPHY OF THE DISTRICT. 21 



not less than 300 loaded shells; two guns, to change when one becomes 

 too hot to handle. Shells should be loaded with 2 drachms of powder 

 and three-quarters of an ounce of Xo. 10 shot. Some use 2.1 drachms 

 of powder and one ounce ISTo. 10 shot. 



Having taken his position, the pusher shoves off and paddles over 

 the channel to the marsh opposite. Entering- the marsh both must 

 stand, the sportsman in front, his left foot forward and right foot behind 

 the seat, steadying himself as best he can. He soon becomes accus- 

 tomed to the motion of the boat, which, if the pusher be a good one, is 

 moderately steady, being propelled along at the rate of about 2 miles 

 an hour. If propelled too slowly, the birds will run out of the way with- 

 out flushing, and if too fast, they will dive and wait for the boat to pass. 

 The pusher propels the skiff by means of a pole 10 feet in length, with 

 a crotch at the distal end to prevent it from sinking in the mud. 



By skillful use the boat is kept moving almost at a uniform rate 

 except where very thick masses of tangled reed are met, when all the 

 strength and skill is taxed in getting through, and the sportsman must 

 take care that he is not by a sudden lurch precipitated overboard. 



On the marsh the little craft is much steadier than in open water, 

 because supported by the undergrowth, and a tumble overboard results 

 only in a disagreeable wetting, the water being but 2 or 3 feet deep. 



The time of day for entering the marsh varies with the tide. The water 

 is usually deep enough one hour and a half before the flood tide, and 

 the shooting continues one and a half hours after, making about three 

 hours' shooting for an average tide. The highest tides occur when the 

 wind has been from the east or southeast for twenty-four hours and 

 when the moon is in conjunction with the sun. 



When the birds have not been much disturbed they will be found 

 feeding all over the marsh ; and as the centers are more easily accessi- 

 ble to the boat these are first gone over, and as many birds secured as 

 possible. This drives them to such shelter as they can find in thick 

 patches of tall reeds and tangled saw-grass and wanquapins usually 

 found along the edges of the river and of the guts. These covers must 

 then be beaten as the tide begins to fall. The boat is run along the 

 edges and the reeds beaten with a pole, by which means many birds are 

 frightened into taking flight and secured. 



So they go, gliding through the marsh, and the birds begin to rise. 

 Now both the pusher and shooter have all they can attend to. Birds 

 rise in front, to the right, to the left, behind ; the greenhorn becomes 

 excited, confused ; doesn't know which to shoot at ; fires almost at ran- 

 dom ; misses oftener than he hits ; swears at his gun, at his shells, at the 

 unfortunate pusher, at everything but himself, who alone is at fault, and 

 not unlikely tumbles overboard. If he is of the right mettle, however? 

 he soon settles down to work, deliberately picks his bird each time, and 

 then there is but little more missing. 



Sometimes birds will get up behind him and out of the range of his 



