FOWL SHOOTING. 143 



of large flocks, or beds of Ducks, whilst they are feeding, and 

 with a tremendous piece, mounted on a swivel in the bow, 

 slaughter immense numbers, often killing eighty or an hundred 

 at a shot. This mode of destroying them is restricted by legis- 

 lative acts, under sevez'e penalties; but the difficulty of captur- 

 ing or convicting these poachers is such, that most of them 

 escape the penalties of the law, and pursue their unhallowed 

 avocation, notwithstanding the greatest efforts to apprehend 

 them ; and their only punishment is the repeated anathemas and 

 just indignation of all true sportsmen. 



" There is another mode that is sometimes practised, which, 

 though not quite so objectionable as the last, is seldom resorted 

 to by gentlemen that shoot for pleasure, and is not permitted on 

 grounds belonging to clubs. It is called ' toling.' A small dog, 

 about the size and color of a Red Fox, is made to gambol upon 

 the shore, playing with sticks or stones that are tossed towards 

 him from the gunners, who are lying concealed by a blind. 

 The attention of a flock of Ducks that may be feeding within 

 the distance of one hundred, or two hundred yards, is soon ar- 

 rested, and they are simultaneously attracted by the antics of 

 the dog, and with one accord swim rapidly toward the shore, as 

 if charmed." 



The only kind of wild fowl shooting which now remains to 

 be described, is one very little practised in this country. I 

 mean what is usually called punt-shooting, with a stanchion or 

 swivel-gun of enormous size. This mode has been adopted on 

 the Chesapeake, but the use of the large gun is so unpopular, 

 that it has been necessarily abandoned. On the Hudson, a gun- 

 ning punt of this kind is used by one gentleman, who kills im- 

 mense quantities of Ducks, with perfect success. 



The best dimensions for a gun of this kind are stated by 

 Colonel Hawker — with whom this is, of all others, the favorite 

 kind of shooting — to be, length of barrel from seven to nine 

 feet; bore from one inch and a quarter, to one inc^li and a half ; 

 weight from seventy to eighty pounds. The barrel should not 



