236 GAME SHOAL-WATER FOWL. 



stand it is to use the sculling-float ; the novice, 

 however, will need to be pretty thoroughly trained 

 before he can hope to be very fortunate, for scull- 

 ing upon wild fowl successfully is almost a science 

 in itself. One must thoroughly understand their 

 habits, and be able to determine by their various 

 actions or talk the state of their suspicions, and 

 so govern his approaches accordingly. I will give 

 a few of the principal rules, however, which will 

 be necessary for the novice to follow. Some minor 

 ones, which it is almost impossible to describe 

 here, I will leave him to learn from experience. 



We will suppose him, fully equipped in his float, 

 to have discovered a flock of geese sitting in a 

 position favorable for his approach. His guns 

 (two or three should be used in this branch of 

 the sport) are properly loaded, and his float trim- 

 med, according to the season and the nature of 

 the locality, with flags, rice, or brush, as he may 

 deem least liable to excite suspicion ; or, if in 

 winter, when masses of ice are floating about, by 

 a cake of ice laid judiciously across the bow. 

 He must now, if not already there, get to the 

 windward of the geese without their observing 

 him ; then, taking care not to rock his boat or make 

 the least noise, proceed to scull down upon them 



