128 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



and inlets, forms an excellent feeding ground throughout its 

 whole extent, for almost every species of the Duck tribe wliich 

 is in the habit of visiting our shores. To the mode of shooting, 

 then, on the island, we shall first direct our attention, as it is 

 practised, with such slight variations as the nature of the waters 

 and the habits of the fowl may require, in almost every pail of the 

 United States. That most murderous mode of destroying Geese, 

 Brant, &c., from a hatter y, has, as it certainly ought to be, been 

 abolished by an act of the legislature of the State ; for though a 

 greater number of birds may be iiilled by this method than any 

 other, yet as the batteries were anchored on almost every flat 

 where there was a possibility of their feed ng, it had the effect 

 of driving them from their usual haunts, and compelling them 

 to seek for refuge in some place less securely fortified. The 

 battery is formed of a deal-box, about seven feet long, three 

 wide, and two deep; from the rim of this a platform of board 

 runs off' at right angles, about six feet on every side, and the 

 interior is caulked to render it water-tigl.t. This is moored on 

 some shoal where the birds are observed to be in the habit of 

 resorting, and ballasted with stones until the platform merely 

 floats on the surface of the water ; this flat surface is then lightly 

 covered with sedge, so that at a very short distance nothing but 

 a small quantity of apparently floating weed is discernible. 

 Before the first faint streaks of light mark the approach of day, 

 the shooter, in a light skiff, which can be easily paddled by one 

 man, makes his appearance on the ground, and at once prepares 

 for action. The stool-birds are first placed about twenty yards 

 from the battery ; these are Ducks, Brant, or Geese, as he may ex- 

 pect the particular species to fly, though the three different kinds 

 are all frequently represented. However, we do not think that 

 Ducks will ' come up' to the stool with the same confidence 

 when this is the case. The stools are made of wood, and painted 

 so as really to pass as very respectable personifications of the 

 various feathered bipeds they are intended to represent, and are 

 retained in their positions by a string with a stone tird to the 

 other end. When two or three dozen of ihirje decoys are kept 



