THE OPEN SEA IN WINTER. 79 



an hour is a fair average, but one local shooter is said to have bagged over 

 sixty in the day. In fact, the attraction of the decoys appears quite irresistible 

 both to the Ducks and others or rather, another, for it happened in this wise. 



We were lying one day the middle boat of three, and D , an old college 



friend, was out at sea driving. The man on the left winged a Scoter, which 

 dived and tempted him to pursue it, leaving his decoys at anchor. Meanwhile 

 D - had grown tired of driving, and started in to suggest a change. On 

 the way he espied the wanderer's decoys, easied promptly, and in another 

 moment had solemnly begun to stalk them. We saw him crouch lower in 

 the boat, while the oars dipped more slowly, more cautiously at every 

 stroke. 



He was now within fifty yards, and raised his gun ; another stroke, and 

 we could picture the grim look of triumph as he reckoned that he was 

 bound to get a shot. Of course we ought to have shouted ; we ought, but 

 we didn't we watched. It would doubtless also have been more sporting 

 of D if he had waited to let them rise; but no there was a bang; 

 the two nearest bobbed hurriedly beneath the surface, rose again, one of 

 them minus its head, and mocked the astounded gunner to his face ; while 

 D 's boatman, grasping the situation in a twinkling, wheeled round 

 with a fiendish chuckle, and made straight off for the open sea. Here they 

 confined their efforts to driving for the remainder of the day. We solaced 

 D - afterwards by telling him how, when the device was first introduced, 

 the real birds would often settle down amongst the sham ones. And this 

 is true, though one can hardly credit it, as the decoys are for the most part 

 roughly shaped lumps of wood or cork, painted black, and leaded to keep 

 them upright, and then tied at intervals along a strong piece of cord. 



Most people continue shooting until three o'clock, when it is time to 

 renew the chase of the cripples. They will be found collected on the out- 

 skirts of a largish flock towards the open sea. It is best to stand upright, 

 with the gun ready at the shoulder, for they come up in such unexpected 

 places, and dive again so rapidly, that it is quite a difficult matter to get 

 a fair shot at them, and many a cartridge will be wasted in the attempt. 

 At last, however, they have all turned breast upwards, and we direct our 

 boat towards the shore, for evening is closing in, and we have no desire 

 to pass the night upon a sandbank. 



Unfortunately, the Scoter will never provide a dish for the gourmand. 

 The natives, however, receive them gladly, and say that, if skinned and 

 soaked in salt water they are well worth eating. You probably try them 

 once. There is a meaning smile on your landlady's face as she lifts the 



