2, GAME AND ITS PROTECTION. 
At the South, where the sportsman shoots from 
behind a blind, and calls to his aid the courage and 
intelligence of his faithful “‘ retriever” to recover his 
game, the walk to and from the stand warms his 
blood, and he can move around at will. In the 
West, where duck-shooting is to be had in perfec- 
tion, the sportsman pushes his light and narrow 
boat through the weeds and lilies of the marshes, 
and has many a long chase after wounded birds 
that will bring into play his muscles, and send the 
circulation through his veins. Even in shooting 
through the “sneak boxes” of Barnegat Bay, there 
is much exercise and a certain amount of liberty of 
motion; but in the battery, a man is a mere death- 
dealing machine, expected to mind neither cold nor 
cramp, and to demand neither comfort nor pleasure. 
One of the most necessary reforms in the game- 
laws would be the absolute prohibition of the use 
of a battery. At the South this was done by the 
good sense of the people; and many a stranger from 
Long Island, who was unaware of the customs of 
the country, and had brought with him his battery 
to teach the natives “‘ New York tricks,” has been 
warned to move his quarters by the whistle of a 
rifle-ball skipping across the water. It is surprising 
that the gunners of the great South Bay did not 
long ago discover that their interest lay in ‘dis- 
continuing the use of this machine. For the first 
few years, perhaps, after its prohibition, they might 
not have as good success; but in time the birds 
would resume their old habits and renew their 
