DUCK-SHOOTING. 274 
a tiny two-pronged pitchfork, on the end, to catch 
against the reeds in poling. A place is made to rest 
the gun on upon one of the thwarts; an ammunition- 
box, containing separate compartments for shot of 
several sizes, wads, and caps, is stowed away in the 
bottom, and a heavy loading-stick, in addition to 
the ramrod, is carried. Two guns are an absolute 
necessity, unless the sportsman has a breech-loader ; 
for many birds are crippled and require a second 
shot before they escape into the thick weeds, where 
they are hopelessly lost; and when the flight is 
rapid, he requires, at least, four barrels, and would 
be thankful if he could manage more. 
The bay, which stretches in vast extent, is filled 
with high reeds and wild rice, and rarely exceeds 
a few feet in depth except where open passages 
mark the deeper channels. It is a matter of no lit- 
tle intricacy for a stranger to find his way, and 
after nightfall the oldest habitué will often become 
bewildered, as the various bunches of weeds, 
tufts of rice, or stretches of pond lilies look alike, 
and when a southerly wind is blowing the water 
falls and leaves all but the deep channels nearly or 
quite bare. Ifa man under such circumstances once 
loses his course he may as well make up his mind to 
pass the night in his boat; though he work himself 
almost to death trying to pole over bare spots, he 
will but travel in a circle and grow momentarily 
more bewildered. 
I landed at the wharf in the middle of October, 
of a year ever famous for the immense numbers of 
