THE SCIENCE OF SCULLING WILD FOWL. 207 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



THE SCIENCE OF SCULLING WILD FOWL. 



To become an expert in the art of sculling wild fowl, 

 one must be thoroughly versed in it scientifically ; for 

 it is a science, and a complete knowledge of it can only 

 be obtained by hard work, constant practice and a de- 

 sire to become proficient in the science. He should never 

 get disheartened or discouraged ; nor must he for a 

 moment think of failing in his attempt to learn. He 

 should always remember, " That in the bright lexicon of 

 youth, there is no such word as/a*7." It is sorry work 

 for a beginner, and as he sits in the stern of the boat, at- 

 tempting to scull, the oar will slip from him, and obsti- 

 nately refuse to catch the water right, in spite of his most 

 careful strokes. Then, after he has faithfully and dili- 

 gently practiced for, say half an hour, pains will shoot 

 through his side, caused by his cramped position ; his 

 wrists will ache and he will be completely tired out; then, 

 after he has caught the stroke, how difficult to keep the 

 boat from rocking. To get the power, he throws the 

 weight of his body on the oar, then the boat feels it ; he 

 tries to get the motion of the boat stopped, but the more 

 he tries, the harder the boat rocks, and then its swish, 

 splash, swish, splash, as the boat rocks in the water, send- 

 ing great waves from its sides, and the only way he can 

 stop it, is to quit sculling, and let the rocking gradually 

 subside until it entirely stops. The scull-boat is, one 



