THE SCIENCE OF SCULLING WILD FOWL. 909 
trifle so its edges cut the water going and returning. 
This shoves the boat ahead as if pushed from the stern. 
An expert sculler will drive the boat along with such 
steadiness that were one to shut his eyes and sit in the 
boat, he would hear no noise, feel no motion, although 
the boat is going quite fast. It must be borne in mind, 
that the sculler should always have absolute control of 
his boat; that is, to constantly send it steadily forward. 
So steady indeed, that the slightest rocking of the boat 
will not be seen or felt, or the smallest ripple made as 
it moves, one might say as it skims, over the surface of 
the water. The sculler never loses control, whether 
he is near game or drifting down with the current. 
His hands or hand, is constantly working the oar, quite 
gently perhaps, still, just sufficient to feel the power 
at the end of the blade, and to always have it at his 
command. After years of experience one does this in- 
stinctively. As by constant practice one becomes pro- 
ficient in the art of sculling one of these small boats, it 
is surprising how one’s skill will become developed, 
until an expert duck sculler will scull with both hands, 
or one hand, while half reclining or lying on the flat of 
lus back. 
In my experience of a lifetime in hunting wild fowl 
T have used all kinds of duck-boats, and I never yet 
found a man who, after using one of these boats, would 
use any other. They are light of draught, can be row- 
ed or pushed anywhere, are light of weight,—mine 
weighed when new 105 pounds,—are perfectly safe, and 
there is no danger or risk in using them anywhere. 1 
have crossed the Mississippi in one, when the south 
wind had lashed the broad river into a sea of seething, 
hissing foam, as it rolled and flew into spray from the 
14 
