Duck-shooting 61 



over and where the current was strong, in many 

 instances, areas of open water existed. One of 

 these holes, several acres in size, was frequented 

 by a large number of broadbill, and here on several 

 occasions I had excellent shooting. It is always 

 important, in this method of gunning, not to fire 

 into the birds when all are bedded together on 

 the water. The large flocks should be allowed to 

 leave, when they quickly return in small bunches, 

 and if care is used in resting the birds, the shoot- 

 ing will continue good. When offshore, the 

 holes must be approached with care ; and for this 

 purpose white boats are used. These should be 

 decked over and light. Often a sled is useful in 

 carrying them over the ice. The blind is readily 

 made of ice and snow, and a few decoys suffice. 

 There is always a chance of accident from break- 

 ing through treacherous ice, and the surroundings 

 are not the most desirable for calamities of this 

 sort. 



SEA-DUCK SHOOTING 



Sea-duck shooting is hardly to be compared 

 for sport with other kinds of duck-hunting, and 

 yet on the New England coast the scoters and 

 old squaws are regularly killed, and to the natives 

 along the shore have a certain amount of value. 

 They are not edible in the market sense, but 

 many a Connecticut longshoreman is glad of 

 their meat and the feathers are regularly saved. 



