554 DUCK SHOOTING. 



runs out, and to this a stone is attached for a foot an- 

 chor. This is thrown overboard after the head anchor 

 rope is taut, and this holds the battery head and foot. 

 The foot anchor is within reach of the gunner occupy- 

 ing the box, and the stone is used because it can 

 easily be hauled up, while often an anchor could not be 

 lifted. In case of a change of wind, this arrangement 

 enables the gunner to trip the foot anchor and let the 

 battery swing with the wind. He can then throw out 

 his foot anchor again, and still have his battery prop- 

 erly adjusted to the wind. 



If, however, there should be a decided change in the 

 direction of the wind, both battery anchors must be 

 lifted, and the battery towed around to a new position 

 and the decoys rearranged to suit the change. 



When the battery is on board the sloop, the head 

 fender is rolled up and rests on the battery's deck, 

 being secured by a stop at each end. 



A boat-hook is a necessary implement with a battery. 

 It should be light but strong, and it is a good plan to 

 mark the staff, from the point of the hook up the pole, 

 with a scale in feet and half feet, so that it can be used 

 as a sounding rod to ascertain the proper depth of 

 water to rig in on the flat. This depth rarely exceeds 

 six feet, the average being perhaps four and a half 

 feet. The boat-hook is kept in the stool boat, but it is 

 a great convenience to have in the box a rod just short 

 enough to lie in the box, and armed with a hook at 

 one end. Such a rod is very convenient in hauling up 

 the tail stone, or pulling in the side fenders, or regulat- 



