Small Game Shooting 293 



other varieties of duck, — spoonbills (very poor eat- 

 ing), wood-ducks, and butter-balls, — but the first- 

 named gave us the finest sport. 



We imported a Berthon boat, which would fold 

 up and lie easily in the bed of an ordinary spring- 

 waggon. The boat held two persons and proved 

 most useful, although very easily upset. As a 

 rule we stood in high rushes, wearing long " gum- 

 boots," with decoys spread out upon the water 

 in front. You crawled into your "stand" before 

 daybreak, and mighty cold work it was, turning 

 out of warm blankets into half -freezing water. As 

 retrievers for ducks we found nothing better than 

 spaniels : most of them are slow, but they keep 

 warm and are easily trained. In the East, I am 

 told, they employ trained ducks as decoys, but I 

 have never seen them in the West. Some of the 

 market-hunters use duck-calls, but the note must 

 be faithfully reproduced or the ducks will take no 

 notice of it. And every variety of duck has a 

 different quack. 



I shall never forget those early mornings in the 

 marshes : skies and water of the colour of amber, 

 the marshes russet, with here and there a patch of 

 emerald, — the bright green moss of some quagmire. 

 Peering out of the tall " tules " we could see the 

 duck approaching. The widgeon were innumer- 

 able — lines and lines of them. As they saw the 

 glint of our barrels they would soar up, and the 

 morning's light would blaze on their breasts. Com- 

 ing straight over your head you wait till the bird is 

 lost at the end of the swinging gun ; then — pull, 

 and down he comes — stone dead — with a mighty 



