LAUGHABLE IXCEDENT. 273 



the other end is held hy the jiigarc nearest to the strand. 

 As the man and the pnnt move forward simultaneously, 

 the reeds and gi-ass are thus regularly swept, as it were ; 

 and if there be any skulkers they are sure to be driven 

 forward to the " skott-g-ator," spoken of, where the gunners 

 are stationed. Should there not be a " sufficient number 

 of sportsmen to guard the several passes, nets, somewhat 

 similar to those described for the capture of the forest 

 birds, are made to supply their places. These, however, 

 must not be set in a straight line, but zig-zag ; and in 

 such manner that one-third of the net stands above the 

 surface of the water. When all matters are properly 

 arranged, the sportsmen on shore, and in the punts, 

 and also those stationed in the several ' skott-gator,' 

 will be quite certain to get shots enough. This kind 

 of jagt, however," Ekstrom adds in conclusion, " sel- 

 dom proves very successful, unless the party be suffi- 

 ciently numerous." 



Again: — "Duck-shooting, with dogs trained for the 

 purpose," says M. Greiff, " commonly begins before the 

 greater part of the young ones are fully feathered. But it 

 is a destructive sport, and of little benefit to the larder. 

 People boast of having shot above a hundred ducks in a 

 day, but they omit to mention that at least two-thirds of 

 the number are not fit for eating." 



Accidents not unfrequently happen at these great 

 flapper-hunts ; and no wonder, when one considers the 

 inexperienced hands in which guns are often placed, and 

 the very careless manner in which, speaking generally, 

 Swedish sportsmen are accustomed to carry them. 



" Several young gentlemen," says Ekstrom, " were one 

 day engaged in a Duck-hunt, some being in punts and 

 others wading through the marsh. Tlie latter had not 

 proceeded far when the dogs found a brood of flappers 

 that at once took to the water. The youth next to the 



T 



