FOWL SHUOTING. 



137 



rapidity and duration of their diving, and the great influence 

 that circumstances of wind and weather have on the chances of 

 success, it becomes a matter of wonder how so many are 

 destroyed. 



" The usual mode of taking these birds has been, till recently, 

 by shooting them from the points during their flight, or fronl 

 the land or boats, on their feeding grounds, or by toling, as it is 

 strangely termed, an operation by which the Ducks are someiimes 

 induced to approach within a few feet of the shore, from a dis- 

 tance often of several hundred yards. A spot is usually selected 

 where the birds have not been much disturbed, and where they 

 feed at from three to four hundred yards from, and can ap- 

 proach to within forty or fifty yards of the shore, as they will 

 never come nearer than they can swim freely. The higher the 

 tides, and the calmer the day, the better, for they feed closer to 

 the shores and see more distinctly. Most persons on these 

 waters have a race of small white or liver-colored dogs, which 

 they familiarly call the toler breed, but which appear to be the 

 ordinary poodle. These dogs are extremely playful, and are 

 taught to run up and down the shore, in sight of the Ducks, 

 either by the motion of the hand, or by throwing chips from side 

 to side. They soon become perfectly acquainted with their 

 business, and as they discover the Ducks approaching them, 

 make their jumps less high till they almost crawl upon the 

 ground, to prevent the birds discovering what the object of 

 their curiosity may be. This disposition to examine rarities has 

 been taken advantage of by using a red or black handkerchief 

 by day, and a white one by night in toling, or even by gently 

 splashing the water on the shore. The nearest ducks soon 

 notice the strange appearance, raise their heads, gaze intently 

 for a moment, and then push for the shore, followed by the 

 rest. On many occasions I have seen thousands of them swim- 

 ming in a solid mass direct for the object ; and by removing the 

 dogs farther into the grass, they have been broug^it within fif- 

 teen feet of the bank. When they have approached to within 

 thirty or forty yards their curiosity is generally satisfied, and 



