MALLARD SHOOTING AT HOLES IN THE ICE WINTER. 175 



it goes. And when new ice is found that the boat 

 will not break, the fowler, after pushing the boat 

 as far out of the water as possible, should step 

 quickly to the bow, and, resting one knee upon 

 it, should push with the other leg against the ice 

 until he can get out, and push again from the 

 stern, or use his pole as first described. 



If you have no boat, and must cross where you 

 suspect the ice to be weak, cut a strong pole a 

 couple of inches thick and eight or ten feet long, 

 and then Keeping hold of the pole with both 

 hands to prevent your sinking entirely in case 

 the ice should break, lie down at full length on 

 your breast, and you may wriggle across safely 

 where otherwise it would be impossible. If you 

 should break through, and have no companion 

 with you, don't be frightened, don't tire yourself 

 out with useless struggles, breaking ice in all di- 

 rections, but take time to determine your best 

 course and shortest way out, and then stick to 

 it. By so doing you will easily get out where 

 a nervous, excited person would inevitably be 

 drowned. 



At the mouths of the creeks and shoals where 

 the ducks come for sand, large numbers arc fre- 

 quently killed from a l)lind built at a convenient 



