56 EQUIPMENT. 



and though certainly accomplishing their object in 

 this respect, have foiled most decidedly in the 

 main thing needed. One of them gave us 

 rubber decoys for the modest price of thirty 

 dollars per dozen. They were hollow, with a 

 tube attached, through which, when needed for use, 

 they were to be inflated with the breath, which 

 being ejected by compression when ready for 

 transportation, they could be packed in very little 

 space. They would float remarkably light and 

 airy, a property, though contrary to general sup- 

 position, not at all desirable, as causing them to 

 roll sidewise in the least ripple, a motion the 

 natural ducks never make, even in the roughest 

 w^eather. A shot-hole ruined them, and as the 

 rubber soon besjan to crack after but little usage 

 in a hot sun, they soon proved a failure. De- 

 coys of metal, too, w^ere tried, both of copper 

 and tin, made to be taken apart, and the several 

 parts nested together for packing ; these, besides 

 being very expensive, were proved to be com- 

 paratively no better than the rubber ones, for 

 reasons very obvious to the knowing ones, but 

 which the "greenies," who want everything new, 

 could not see until they had paid their money 

 to find out. 



