292 SHORE BIRDS 



grouse, partridges, woodcock, snipe and other splen- 

 did game birds, the pectoral sandpiper, peep, and oxeye 

 do not suit my gun. 



A retrieving spaniel under good command is useful 

 and ornamental in bay bird shooting. He should be 

 under excellent control and lie close in the blind, not 

 winking an eye until ordered out to retrieve. The 

 dogs used for duck-shooting will do very well. I have 

 used setters. The gun should be the 12 gauge; 

 shot No. 8, with a few loads of No. 7 or 6, for the 

 largest birds or any long-range shots. A light sleeve- 

 less coat of gray or brown canvas, a hat of the same 

 color and light shoes make up a suitable costume, since 

 the weather is warm. A heavier coat and rain-coat 

 may be left in the boat. A well-filled lunch basket, 

 with a bottle of beer or wine, if you will, and plenty of 

 water and ice, add to the pleasures of the noon-hour, 

 and the ice may save the game on a very hot day. 



Forester's advice is to use two heavy guns — 10- or 

 i2-pounders — loaded with coarse powder and No. 5 

 shot. It is needless to say the advice is not heeded 

 by sportsmen. A few such guns may be found to- 

 day at some of the duck clubs, but they are not fired 

 at peeps. 



Difficult shots are sometimes presented at wild pass- 

 ing birds, when the gun should be held well ahead of 

 the mark, as in duck-shooting. 



A piece of netting over the hat will keep off some 

 of the mosquitoes and gnats, which are marvellously 

 abundant on good bay bird grounds, and, unless you 

 are pretty thoroughly acclimated, as Forester says, 

 they " will probably use you up to about as great a 



