WILD DUCKS. 279 



novice who enters a sink-box for the first time is certain 

 to render a poor account of himself, as ho is^ure to niis- 

 calcuhite the distance and to tliink the birds are quite 

 near wlien they are far beyond range. If he bags twenty 

 in a morning he may consider himself fortunate, yet his 

 experienced co-laborer may score five times that number. 

 The best shooting, so far as making a big bag is con- 

 cerned, is obtained in the earlier part of the season, as 

 the birds become more shy and wary after the slaughter- 

 ing commences. A person may depend on securing a 

 larger number on Monday than any other day in the week, 

 owing to the fact that they are not molested during the 

 two preceding days, and are, as a result, more con- 

 fiding. After the first of January, however, this ad- 

 vantage ceases, as men are allowed to shoot each Saturday 

 also, until the season closes. 



Sportsmen find their position in the sink-boxes exceed- 

 ingly disagreeable, especially if the day is very cold, as 

 they have to lie perfectly still on the back or side, and 

 listen and watch until their ears and eyes become painful 

 from the intensity of their efforts. The only opportunity 

 they have' of moving is when they lift themselves up to 

 fire at the birds, or when they signal to the sloop to send 

 over the row boat and some men to pick up the dead and 

 kill the crijiples. The crew are generally ready to relieve 

 gentlemen whenever they get tired of their cold work and 

 cramped position, yet any contract made with them 

 should contain clauses specifying that they must promi)tly 

 answer all signals from the sink-boxes; that they must 

 commence work at the proper time in the morning, and 

 continue until after sunset; that they must supply proper 

 provisions aboard the vessel; and that one of the crew 

 must have a gun with which to kill the wounded. 



Those who wish to "bushwack" ducks will find that 

 system much cheaper than to hire a sloop and sink-boxes. 

 Bushwacking simply means sculling towards a paddling 



