260 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



people will flock to the secluded haunts of the wild fowl much 

 more generally than they do at present. When a fondness for 

 this kind of sport is once awakened among us, we may expect 

 to see our shooters excel those of any other portion of the world, 

 owing to the great abundance of this kind of game, the freedom 

 with which they can pursue it, and the enthusiasm with which they 

 will take it up. This sport, at present, is almost entirely confined 

 to the hands of those who follow the occupation of killing wild 

 fowl not from motives of pleasure or healthful recreation, but as a 

 means of subsistence for themselves and families ; and the tables 

 of our epicures are generally supplied from this source. 



Some few of the New York sportsmen occasionally sally forth 

 during the ducking season to spend a few days in shooting upon 

 the neighboring shores, but the sport is not considered sufficiently 

 enticing to carry them very often on such expeditions. We also 

 have a few amateurs in Philadelphia who are fond of visiting the 

 wild-fowl regions, but none that are very enthusiastic on the sub- 

 ject, like Colonel Hawker and many other Englishmen, who have 

 devoted so much time and talent to the perfecting of this branch 

 of sport. 



Duck-shooting, to-be-sure, is no child's play ; but, on the con- 

 trary, is often attended with many mishaps, great hardships, and 

 constant exposure to the elements, and withal frequently results 

 in fisherman's luck, so often quoted. No true lover of sport, 

 however, should be intimidated, or, in fact, object to these petty 

 inconveniences, as it is these very circumstances that afford the 

 chief enjoyment and give a keener relish to this pursuit, which 

 will in time inure him both in body and mind for the accomplish- 

 ment of greater and more lasting benefits than the mere destruc- 

 tion of game. We cannot expect to arrive at perfection in any 

 employment without a becoming share of labor and perseverance ; 

 and in the pursuit of ducks the shooter will find a wide field open 

 for the exercise of both these virtues, as well as many other qua- 

 lifications alike necessary for the attainment of nobler deeds. It 

 is indeed necessary for a sportsman, to enjoy this kind of amuse- 



