73o 



Canvas-Back and Terrapin. 



OUR QUARTERS. 



me a personal experience of one of the best "shores" in Maryland. 

 Seated in a good, serviceable wagon, our party of three left Balti- 

 more in the afternoon, and a brisk trot of two hours and a half 

 over roads for the most part in excellent condition brought us to 

 the ducking-shore on Bush River. The last mile or so was through 

 the "woods" over a comparatively new road with water on each side 

 of it, the surrounding ground being evidently in a marshy condition. 

 The undergrowth was very thick and young, as if it were taking the 

 place of a forest recently destroyed by fire. There were, however, 

 plenty of tall gum-trees, chestnuts, and pines, and it was, as B. enthu- 

 siastically described it, while pointing to the track of an animal in 

 the road, a splendid spot for 'coons and 'possums. We drew out 

 shortly into a clearing, on the other side of which was a house and 

 some out-buildings, the only habitation in sight or within a consider- 

 able distance. The barking of innumerable dogs welcomed our 

 approach, and as we pulled up in front of the door, the river, about 

 four hundred yards in width, came into view just in the rear. It 

 was evidently the establishment of a plain, comfortable farmer, whose 

 guardianship of the ducking and fishing doubtless greatly diminished 

 the annual rental to the owner. Our "traps" were soon inside and 

 the horses stabled. We had one large room containing six small 

 and well-kept beds, and at one end a capacious fire-place, on which 

 a great pile of hickory logs was burning and diffusing a genial glow 

 and the not disagreeable odor of a wood fire. On the ceiling were 



