FOWL SHOOTING. 145 



small hatches cut in the gunwale. This method of shooting is, 

 however, so little used in America, that this brief mention of it 

 will probably be found sufficient. Those persons, moreover, 

 who are desirous of gaining fuller information on the subject, 

 will find everything that can be said concerning it, even to the 

 minutest directions for the building of the boat, in Hawker's 

 work on shooting. 



In working to birds, it is always desirable to go to them up- 

 wind, as the birds are very ready at taking the alarm, whether 

 from their discovering the approach of danger, as some believe,, 

 by their sense of smelling, or, what I rather believe to be the 

 case, by the wind carrying the sound to their ears, in case of 

 your attempting to work to them from the windward. 



The best color both for the gunning boat, and for the gunner's 

 clothing, is white at all times, especially on starlight nights, or 

 in snow, unless the sun or moon are shining very bright, when 

 white will shine too much, and drab, both for the dress and boat, 

 is preferable. A black hat must on no account be worn, but a 

 cap of the same colf)r with the dress. 



It is desirable to carry a common light gun in the boat, for 

 shooting ci-ippled and wing-broke fowl, which will save much 

 time and trouble ; and a large-meshed light landing-net, will 

 greatly facilitate the bagging the dead birds. 



Fog, snow, or hazy weather, is very bad for sea shooting, as 

 it makes every object on the water loom large and black, and 

 causes the birds rapidly to take alarm, except in the case of 

 Geese, especially Brent, which apparently become confused, 

 and will often lie quiet till the boat is paddled almost upon 

 them. 



These directions will probably prove sufficient to enable any 

 person, who desires to try this very killing and destructive me- 

 thod, to meet with success after a little practice ; but certainly 

 if he be bent on practising it to the utmost, he should not be 

 without Porter's edition of Hawker, who is the prince of autho- 

 rities on this topic. And this brings me to a nobler division o£ 

 my subject — the Wild Sports of the Wilderness. 

 10 



