WILD-FOWLING IN AMERICA. 379 



Such are the proceedings connected with the American method 

 of fowling- with the scow and sunken battery.* 



The manner of punting, as practised on the Delaware and some 

 other parts of America, has already been alluded to, in a note, at 

 pages 149 and 150. The American punt is loaded with stones, in 

 order to bring the gunwales down, nearly upon a level with the sur- 

 face of the water; and, with a projecting frame-work, on which 

 several painted wooden ducks are fixed, the laden craft is sculled 

 ahead by the Yankee punter, with a small oar. When employed by 

 daylight, this system of punting is not objected to ; but when pur- 

 sued by night, it is considered so destructive, that strong attempts 

 have been made to put it down. On the Chesapeake, the use of the 

 swivel-gun became so unpopular, a few years ago, that it was neces- 

 sarily abandoned ;f but, notwithstanding, there are some parts where 

 the punter enjoys uninterruptedly his sport, and, invariably with very 

 great success. 



Excellent flight-shooting (slaking) may be had in many parts of 

 America, more especially in Susquehanna and in the rivers and 

 creeks which flow into the Chesapeake. Spesutia Island is also a 

 noted spot for wild-fowl shooting, as indeed are many other parts of 

 both Americas. 



Pochards, and such other fowl as obtain their food at night by 

 diving, are captured, in some parts of America, by means of gilling- 

 nets j these are placed under water, in the evening, in the feeding- 

 haunts of the birds ; so that, when they dive for their food, their 

 heads, feet, or wings become entangled in the net, and they are 

 drowned. The fowler, having judiciously placed his nets over-night, 

 on taking them up next morning, frequently finds several pairs of 

 pochards entangled in his snare. 



* The amateur fowler who wishes to pursue the subject farther, may consult 

 " Krider's Sporting Anecdotes, by H. M. Klapp," 1853, and " Field Sports of the 

 United States," by Frank Forester," 2 vols. : 1848. 



f " Paddling upon them, by night or day, drives the birds from their places of 

 resort, and, although practised to some extent on Bush River, is highly disapproved 

 of by persons shooting from points. For the last three years, a man has been occu- 

 pied on this stream, with a gun of great size, fixed on a swivel in a boat ; and the 

 destruction of game on their feeding flats has been immense : but so unpopular is 

 the plan, that many schemes have been privately proposed of destroying his boat 

 and gun ; and he has been fired at with balls so often, that his expeditions are at 

 present confined to the night." Field Sports in the United States; by Frank 

 Forester: 1848. 



