33^ DUCK SHOOTING. 



them, while if a bright moon is shining behind clouds 

 the diffused light renders the whole sky so light that 

 duck or goose can be seen quite a long way off and the 

 gunner has little difficulty in knowing just when and 

 where to shoot. 



Twenty years ago this method of shooting was prac- 

 ticed to a considerable extent in New England and with 

 not a little success. It was not very uncommon for a 

 good shot to kill in an evening two or three geese and 

 perhaps five or six ducks. We imagine that of late 

 years much less of it has been done, particularly as in 

 many States all night shooting is forbidden. 



At certain points on the South Atlantic coast, notably 

 at Carroll's Island, in the old time, overhead shooting, 

 as it is called there, has been practiced for many years. 

 This came in after the fowl, through much pursuit, had 

 become wild and no longer came to decoys at the points. 

 At first these overhead birds used to fly within range, 

 but as they were shot at more and more they took to 

 flying higher. Where at first ordinary lo-gauge guns 

 were used, 12-pound 8's presently became necessary. 

 Later, heavy 8-gauge guns, weighing from 16 to 19 

 pounds, were used, and finally single-barrel 4-gauge 

 guns, weighing from 19 to 22 pounds and shooting BB 

 or even larger shot, were fired at these flocks, which 

 looked almost like bumble bees as they passed over the 

 land. Often the sport was good, and we know of a 

 man who killed in three days 117 canvas-backs and red- 

 heads from these overhead flocks. 



