Duck-shooting 53 



a way that it is well fitted for the rough water 

 and sudden squalls that are common in these re- 

 gions. Painted water color, the craft is incon- 

 spicuous, and a slight ripple makes it still more 

 so. It is used in two ways, either anchored within 

 range of the decoys or some two hundred yards 

 off, to be drifted on to the stool when opportunity 

 offers. Early in the season the ducks do not ob- 

 ject to the presence of the skag in the decoys, 

 and this is generally the first method of shooting. 

 But canvas-back quickly become wild and soon 

 shy the boat, even when well surrounded with 

 stool. Drifting on to the birds, when done as it 

 always is by one man, requires no little skill. 

 The skag is anchored some distance to the wind- 

 ward of the decoys, and a buoy fastened to the 

 anchor line. The gunner, provided with a short 

 paddle, lies full-length in the boat. The stools 

 are so set that there is a small area of open water 

 in their midst, and a hundred or more are thrown 

 out. Both canvas-back and red-head have the 

 habit of swimming together after stooling, and it 

 is the theory of gunners, that if open water is left 

 in the centre of the mass of decoys the ducks will 

 swim into this instead of away from the stool. 

 The birds of necessity are allowed to light ; then 

 the gunner without raising himself detaches the 

 buoy, tips the skag gently by leaning to one side, 

 and thus makes a more effectual cover. The 



