CANADA GOOSE-SHOOTING. 289 



The geese, fifteen in number, stand silently on the 

 ice-covered bar, some asleep, with heads under their 

 wings, some standing like statues in the clear light, 

 others moving slowly to and fro, while the old gander 

 occasionally gives a reassuring honk, as if to tell them 

 that " all's Avell." Suddenly and quickly he turns and 

 looks inquiringly and intently at the-ice covered boat. 

 No quicker was he than the sculler, for instantaneously 

 the sculler's hand is still, and two cool eyes look stead- 

 ily through the thick blind at the flock. The gander 

 gives a low honk of warning ; at once heads are drawn 

 from beneath their wings ; the walking is stopped ; and 

 they all turn toward the approaching object and look at 

 it with suspicion. How the sculler reads their thoughts ! 

 He knows that there is no danger of flight, until some 

 greater uneasiness than this is shown, until they have 

 chattered in consultation, or have walked inquiringly 

 around for a closer examination. They seem reassured 

 and relapse into their former state of inactivity. The boat 

 is now near enough for the hunters to shoSt. The 

 sculler softly but sharply whistles. Quick as lightning 

 fifteen black necks are stretched in air ; they begin to 

 honk, to gather themselves for flight. A swift move- 

 ment of the sculling oar veers the boat, and from bow to 

 stern the guns roar, followed by the honking of the 

 frightened and escaping birds. The boat is forced up 

 on the bar, cripples secured, dead picked up, and we 

 count seven Canada geese in the boat. 



Shooting geese on sand-bars is done with or without 

 decoys ; the latter being the most successful way. 

 Many old hunters go on year after year not profiting 

 by the experience of their fellow craft, and shoot these 

 birds on sand-bars as they come in at night, depending 



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