250 GAME DEEP-WATER FOWL. 



almost invariably inundated in the spring or cov- 

 ered with high weeds and brush, thus leaving no 

 bare ground upon which to operate the system 

 of toling canvas-backs, as practised upon the 

 Chesapeake Bay, is never made use of in the 

 West. As it may, however, prove of interest to 

 my readers to know how the sport is conducted, 

 I will quote Dr. Sharpless's vivid description, 

 never myself having had the pleasure of witness- 

 ing it: 



" A spot is usually selected where the birds have 

 not been much disturbed, and where they feed at 

 three or four hundred yards from, and can approach 

 to within forty or fifty yards of, the shore, as 

 they will never come nearer than they can swim 

 freely. The higher the tides and the calmer the 

 day the better, for they feed closer to the shores ; 

 and see more distinctly. Most persons on these 

 waters have a race of small, white or liver-colored 

 dogs, which they fiimiliarly call the tolcr breed, 

 but which appear to be the ordinary poodle. These 

 dogs are extremely playful, and are taught to run 

 up iv-id down the shore, in sight of the ducks, 

 either by the motion of the hand or by throwing 

 chips from side to side. They soon become j^er- 

 fectly acquainted with their business, and, as they 



