148 ON THE WING. 



ing, the season for this sport continues very late, as the 

 fowl are seldom or never disturbed upon their feeding- 

 grounds far out in the stream, where they take imme- 

 diate refuge after being fired at and remain in perfect 

 security .till enticed again within gunshot; and this 

 may be accomplished several times during the same 

 day, and the slaughter consequently is often enormous. 

 This method of killing ducks is less injurious in its 

 effects upon the movements of wild fowl than any kind 

 of boat-shooting that can be practised, as it never dis- 

 turbs them on their feeding-grounds, but attacks them 

 only when foolishly wandering away from their usual 

 secure haunts. 



" The proper and most destructive moment to shoot 

 ducks, when they have been toled, is when they pre- 

 sent a side view. 



" Duck-dogs, when behind the blinds along the bay- 

 shore, mark the flight of wild fowl as anxiously as the 

 sportsman himself, and often by their manner give 

 evidence of the approach of ducks before they are 

 observed by those on the watch for them. 



BOATING DUCKS. 



f " Another method of killing canvas-backs is that of 

 boating them on their feeding-grounds in small skiffs, 

 either in the daytime or during the still hour of night. 

 The latter plan, of course, is the most destructive and 

 terrifying to the fowl. 



" A larg^swivel, carrying several ounces of powder 

 and a pound .or more of shot, is placed on the bow of 



