176 GAME SHOAL-WATER FOWL. 



distance on the shore. I had, together with my 

 partner, most excellent sport for several days one 

 winter at two such places about a mile apart, 

 both shooting on alternate days at either place. 

 The ducks at this time were feeding on corn, 

 and would come in from the fields with their 

 craws completely distended — often as much as a 

 gill in each one. Those of the dead ones, after 

 we had finished shooting, we would cut open and 

 scatter the corn from them about in the shallow 

 water, and the ducks finding it there next day, 

 while we were shooting at the other place, would 

 be so tempted by the bait as to almost make it 

 hard work to keep them away when the third 

 day came. Decoys should be used, " the more 

 the merrier " ; and " call your prettiest " whenever 

 you see a duck passing. 



