30 SAFE AND ATTRACTIVE PRESERVES 



birds know well where they are safe. The intruder in 

 forcing his way through heavy cover must make enough 

 noise to warn them of his approach. 



One or more small islands in a pond are especially 

 attractive. They can be made easily in shallow waters 

 and should be planted with willows or bushes to afford 

 shade and cover. A low wire netting, such as is shown 

 in the illustrations of young mallards on the rearing 

 ponds, is used to turn predaceous animals, and traps 

 can be placed to advantage just outside of it. 



The cost of making the ponds safe and attractive is 

 inconsiderable. The ground suitable for ducks can be 

 purchased or rented cheaply, and where clubs, or syn- 

 dicates, of sportsmen are formed to share the expense 

 of a gamekeeper to properly look after the fowl good 

 shooting can be had at a very low price per gun within 

 the year after the club is formed. Some of the ducks 

 can be trapped and held to insure a breeding stock for 

 the following season or the birds may be shot closely 

 and a new start made the following season with birds 

 or eggs purchased from a game farmer. 



If some of the ducks and eggs be sold for propagation 

 or as food they should pay a good part of the cost of 

 production. 



