DUCK SHOOTING 271 



moulters are unable to fly, and remain so for 

 about four weeks. Previous to this they accumu- 

 late to the number of many thousands together, 

 near some good feeding grounds and remain 

 there, unless driven off, till the first week in Sep- 

 tember, when they begin to fly again. When in 

 their half moulted condition the Indians and 

 sometimes others, too chase them for food, and 

 strange to say these strong diving birds are 

 then easily drowned. The time selected for such 

 a purpose is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when the 

 birds have finished feeding. They then huddle to- 

 gether in a big bunch and sit quietly on the wat- 

 er. Calm and foggy weather is the most suitable, 

 and it is noticed that they will drown much 

 quicker in proportion to the density of the fog. 

 Five or six canoes being ready they all start out, 

 keeping as close a line as possible. As soon as 

 the birds begin to show alarm and move out, 

 which they do at first by flapping the water, the 

 canoes are urged forward, gradually separating 

 more widely, and two canoes getting on the flanks, 

 the idea being to keep them in a mass as long as 

 practicable. The birds soon tire of flapping, 

 and the wings being almost featherless, their 

 progress is slow. Then they begin to dive and 

 disperse, if the canoes are not too close, or else 

 they turn around and dive back to get behind. 

 To add to their terror, the men begin to shoot, 

 at ducks if they can see them, though if none are 



