THE BRENT GOOSE. 151 



I recommend for reasons why, too long here to set 

 forward, see my Field Sports, vol. II., p. 119 the use of 

 two single guns of 16 Ibs. weight, 42 inch barrels and 5 

 guage, in preference to any double-barrel guns on earth 

 for this shooting. They should be made without ribs, 

 pipes or ramrods a loose loading-rod, which is a clean- 

 ing-rod also, lying in the boat when in use, being adopted 

 as a substitute. This should be made with a joint at ex- 

 actly the length of the gun-barrel, so that it can be car- 

 ried within it when travelling ; the upper joint about 6 

 inches in length, screwing into the other, and fitted with 

 a knot at the top, like a pistol-charger, may be carried in 

 the pocket when in locomotion. Such a gun will carry 

 4 oz. of BB, or twenty-five buck-shot, without jar or recoil ; 

 use equal measures of shot and Curtis and Harvey's duck- 

 ing powder, to be procured of Brough, Fulton-street, 

 New York and coarse felt punched wadding, and you 

 will do your work at eighty, ay, by 'r lady ! or one hun- 

 dred yards, and you will not repent you of following my 

 counsel. 



The murderous modes, which I have so strongly repro- 

 bated, and to which I shall devote but a few words, are, 

 first, the anchoring batteries, as they are called, shallow 

 coffin-like boxes, supported by wide horizontal brims 

 lying level on the surface of the water, covered with 

 sand and shells, and exactly resembling a bit of bare shoal, 

 upon the shallows whereon the fowl feed. Decoys are 

 placed around, and an attendant waits in a skiff to secure 



