DUCK-SHOOTING. 221 



a tiny two-pronged pitchfork, on the end, to catch 

 against the reeds in poling. A place is made to rest 

 the gun on upon one of the thwarts ; an ammunition- 

 box, containing separate compartments for shot of 

 several sizes, wads, and caps, is stowed away in the 

 bottom, and a heavy loading-stick, in addition to 

 the ramrod, is carried. Two guns are an absolute 

 necessity, unless the sportsman has a breech-loader ; 

 for many birds are crippled and require a second 

 shpt before they escape into the thick weeds, where 

 they are hopelessly lost; and when the flight is 

 rapid, he requires, at least, four barrels, and would 

 be thankful if he could manage more. 



The bay, which stretches in vast extent, is filled 

 with high reeds and wild rice, and rarely exceeds 

 a few feet in depth except where open passages 

 mark the deeper channels. It is a matter of no lit- 

 tle intricacy for a stranger to find his way, and 

 after nightfall the oldest habitue will often become 

 bewildered, as the various bunches of weeds, 

 tufts of rice, or stretches of pond lilies look alike, 

 and when a southerly wind is blowing the water 

 falls and leaves all but the deep channels nearly or 

 quite bare. If a man under such circumstances once 

 loses his course he may as well make up his mind to 

 pass the night in his boat ; though he work himself 

 almost to death trying to pole over bare spots, he 

 will but travel in a circle and grow momentarily 

 more bewildered. 



I landed at the wharf in the middle of October, 

 of a year ever famous for the immense numbers of 



