iSgi.] Mackay on ' Fire-liffhthtg-.' '^AI 



doors lined with looking glass were attached to the plain glass sides, 

 thus leaving only the front uncovered. There were funnels at the 

 top to carry off the heat and smoke from the lamps. When ready 

 for use the lantern is securely fastened on the bow of a small boat. 

 The lamps are then lighted and turned low. The boatman rows 

 towards the birds he is in quest of and which may be a quarter of 

 a mile away, resting on some sand bar, or feeding along the 

 shore. Canada Geese are the birds usually pin-sued. When suf- 

 ficiently near for his purpose (it now being quite dark), he turns 

 up the lamps, and the looking glass doors are opened and kept in 

 place by a wire rod at such an angle as to focus the rays of light 

 in conjunction with the reflectors at the back. Thus there is cast 

 ahead of the boat a broad and far reaching stream of light. 

 Dark evenings are most suitable, and the water should be smooth. 

 It is desirable that the boat have smooth sides, instead of lap streaks, 

 as the water makes a noise when striking against the latter. The 

 boatman stands or sits at the stern with his gun in readiness, and 

 sculls or poles the boat according to the depth of water. 



Great care must be exercised in approaching birds, as a careless 

 knock of the oar against the boat may alarm them. After the birds 

 have come within the rays of light, they must be kept covered by 

 it initil shot at, for a change from light to darkness will cause 

 them to fly. A thorough knowledge of the surroundings, and 

 judgment in guiding the boat liy the direction of the wind, is 

 necessary to prevent getting turned around, or going to the wind- 

 ward, when the birds may scent your approach. Before starting 

 out, it is important to know the whereabouts of one or more 

 flocks of birds. I remember an afternoon, there being every in- 

 dication of a favorable evening, when twenty-five Canada Geese 

 sat on a sand bar about a mile from where we were. My boat- 

 man said, "We will go after them with the lantern toniglit." 

 While on our way to them I sat behind the lantern perfectly still 

 with cocked gun, while the boatman, standing upright in the 

 stern with his gun beside him, sculled silently along, the stream 

 of light from our lantern, with its well-defined limits, lighting 

 up for quite a distance the path in front of the boat. Presently 

 he asked in a whisper if I saw the Geese ; I replied "No," and he 

 pointed out some indistinct specks ahead of us. As the wind 

 was blowing across the boat there was no danger of oiu" being 

 scented. As we approached I did not take my eyes from the 



