THE WILD GOOSE. 327 



"profiles," made from sheet-iron, and painted to resemble 

 a Canada goose. The necks and supports are fastened to 

 the bodies by rivets, and the decoys can be folded up to 

 occupy a small space. A dozen of them are enough for 

 one pit or blind. If two are shooting, it is better to have 

 a couple of dozen, one lot for each, as better shooting can 

 be had, as a rule, by locating either in separate fields or 

 on two different spots in the same field. 



In searching about for a place to go when determined 

 upon a fortnight' s goose-shooting, it is a good idea to 

 have a bag of salt beside you figuratively speaking 

 when the answers to your numerous inquiries come in by 

 mail. You will need a few grains for each letter usually 

 and you will not be so disappointed then when you reach 

 the hunting-grounds; for, on the best of grounds, and 

 in the most likely territory, goose-shooting is very 

 uncertain sport, and is becoming more so every year; but 

 if you are bent upon having a little experience with the 

 geese, let me suggest that you make your trial trip upon 

 paper with me. It may save you a needless amount of 

 time and expense, and it would be strange were not your 

 total of geese larger. 



You must come with the expectation of roughing it 

 if necessary, and prepared to at any time exchange the 

 fairly comfortable quarters of the country hotel for the 

 humble lodging of a Bohemian cabin, or a night' s roost 

 in his barn depending somewhat upon the size of the fam- 

 ily. " Thought you said goose-shooting was deliciously 

 lazy sport," did I hear you say ? Well, yes, er, er I did 

 sometimes. That was a few years ago I had reference 

 to. It isn't quite so " deliciously lazy " nowadays. The 

 birds are scarcer and wilder, and we may have to do 

 considerable traveling and roughing to find them. 



I want you to bring the decoys, as previously men- 

 tioned, a hunting-suit of dead grass color, and hat to 



