THE RAIL. 231 



forty more than ever was bagged by one shooter on our river, if we 

 except, perhaps, the shooting-match that took place many years 

 ago between Mr. Hubbell and a friend, at which time, we believe, 

 the former gentleman got one hundred and seventy-five rails. The 

 birds were very numerous, as we may suppose, on this day, and the 

 tide very high, insomuch that the rails were obliged to seek 

 shelter on the meadows, a very uncommon circumstance. Mr. 

 Eyre lives in Chester, and is considered one of the very best of 

 shots on rail, and is ever on the spot ready to avail himself of all 

 the high tides that make up our river during the rail-season.* 

 The most indifferent shot may often kill from thirty to forty 

 rails on a good tide, and fair shots always calculate on sixty or 

 eighty. 



SHOOTING RAILS IN VIRGINIA. 



Although soras are generally killed in the way we have endea- 

 vored to describe above, they are taken along the shores of the 

 James River, in Virginia, in much greater numbers, by a very 

 singular process, with which, however, we are not practically ac- 

 quainted, but will lay it before our readers in the words of Wilson. 

 The operation of this method is the same as the "fire-hunting of 

 woodcock" in Louisiana: "A kind of iron grate is fixed on the 

 top of a short pole, which is placed like a mast in a light canoe, 

 and filled with fire. The darker the night the more successful is 

 the sport. The person who manages the canoe is provided with 

 a light paddle ten or twelve feet in length, and, about an hour 

 before high-water, proceeds through among the reeds, which lie 

 broken and floating on the surface. The whole space for a con- 

 siderable way round the canoe is completely enlightened : the birds 

 stare with astonishment, and, as they appear, are knocked on the 

 head with a paddle and thrown into the canoe. In this manner, 



* During the season of 1849, rails were very abundant, and great numbers were 

 killed ; over one thousand were brought into Chester alone during one day of a 

 very good tide. 



