FORMA TION OF PIPE. 85 



net. The foot of each hoop on the opposite side 

 of the ditch from the screens may be placed as 

 close to the water's edge as the posts can be firmly 

 fixed. On the side next the screens they may be 

 1 8 inches or 2 feet from the bank. The net on 

 the edge of the ditch furthest from the screens 

 must touch the ground, and be secured from lifting 

 by means of strong split or notched pegs. On the 

 screen side of the ditch the net must not reach the 

 ground ; the space left open allows the fowl, as they 

 swim up the ditch, to view the attractive antics of 

 the dog plainer than if they saw him through the 

 meshes. The distance between the lower edge of 

 the net and the ground on this side of the pipe may 

 begin at 2\ feet at its mouth, a few yards further 

 2 feet, then a foot, and when opposite the last 

 screen but two, the net may be gradually lowered 

 till it reaches the ground, as it does on the opposite 

 side all the way along. When swimming or flying 

 up the pipe, fowl never attempt to escape by this 

 opening, but hustle to the opposite bank, where the 

 net touches the ground. 



The ditch thus arched over may be 18 inches in 

 depth, but were it much deeper ducks rarely dive, 

 however much alarmed, unless wounded. The 

 ditch and pipe, of course, narrow together from the 

 entrance to the tail-end. The ditch is cut to where 

 the fixed portion of the pipe terminates, the tunnel- 

 net being on dry land. 



The round smooth banks that skirt the entrance 

 of each pipe to right and left are to tempt the fowl 

 to remain conveniently near to their respective 

 mouths for the purposes of decoying. On these 



