68 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



cult to be obtained, unless procured in the manner just men- 

 tioned, or by shooting from ' batteries' anchored in the shallow 

 part of the bay. These batteries are constructed in the follow- 

 ing manner — by making a box six feet long, two feet and a half 

 wide, one foot deep, with the sides and ends shelving, on which 

 sand is placed to imitate a bar, as well as to assist in sinking the 

 ' machine,' as it is called — so that its uppermost edges may be 

 about even with the surface of the water. The gunner, by ly- 

 ing in the box on his back, is perfectly concealed, and having a 

 large number of decoys around the battery, the deception is so 

 perfect, that the birds often ap])roach so near, as to give him an 

 opportunity of discharging with effect two double-barrelled 

 guns into a flock. Gx-eat havoc is made in this way, particu- 

 larly among young birds. This mode of shooting requires two 

 persons — one to shoot from the battery, the other to attend with 

 a boat to collect the dead birds, and drive up flocks sitting on 

 the bay. It is, however, objected to by many, they supposing 

 it to be too destructive, as well as the means of driving from the 

 bay those which escape. The Brent, especially, is a wanderer, 

 seldom remaining longer than a few days in one place, under 

 any circumstances — which induces many to suppose that they 

 have a right to secure them in any way that fancy dictates. 



" In 1838 a law was passed in this State, prohibiting the use 

 of batteries. For a short time it was respected — but the gun- 

 ners who depend on water-fowl shooting for a great part of 

 their living, considered it such an invasion of their rights, that 

 they defied it ; at first shooting with masks, at the same time 

 threatening to shoot the informer, should one be found. They 

 finally laid aside their masks, and the law became a dead letter, 

 and has since been repealed. A far greater evil is that of firing 

 from boats, while sailing on their feeding grounds. After 

 having been shot at in this way, I have seen them rise high in 

 the air, and steer for the sea. I think it would be as well if the 

 gunners generally would agree to abandon this unsportsmanlike 

 practice. 



" The Brant never dives for its food ; but when wounded, it 



