284 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



can hardly distinguish them from the living fowl, as they ride 

 gently on the surface and appear to be employed in feeding, owing 

 to the constant motion of their heads and body imparted to them 

 by the quiet rippling of the water. 



The construction of this skiff is such that when anchored out, 

 loaded with the shooter, his ammunition, and the necessary ballast, 

 the water is on a level with the deck of the box ; and when re- 

 clining, the occupant and all his paraphernalia are entirely con- 

 cealed from observation, insomuch that it is next to impossible to 

 distinguish any portion of this curious ambush, even when within 

 a few hundred feet of it. We have often been amazed when gazing 

 on the water in the direction of the flats, to see a black figure rise 

 up suddenly, as if from the deep, and blaze forth a destructive 

 volley into a flock of ducks about to alight, and then immediately 

 sink again from view. The shooter, having delivered his well- 

 directed fire, quickly reloads his gun or guns, and throwing 

 himself again on his back, awaits another opportunity to repeat 

 the sport, which almost immediately follows, provided the day be 

 favorable for the flying of wild fowl. It is better, in fact usual, to 

 have two or more double-barrelled guns in the sink, as a great 

 many ducks are only winged at the first discharge, and need re- 

 shooting to secure them. 



Thus, in rapid succession, immense numbers of canvas-backs, as 

 well as other wild fowl, are killed, and the water for a hundred 

 feet or more is crimsoned with the rich blood and covered with the 

 mangled bodies of this far-famed duck. Those engaged in this 

 profitable way of killing canvas-backs are always accompanied by 

 a companion in a light sail or row boat, who keeps at a respectful 

 distance, for the purpose of watching over the safety of his associate 

 as well as running down upon the adjacent feeding-grounds and 

 putting the ducks to flight, so that they may chance to join the 

 decoys that are set to allure them as they pass up and down the 

 feeding-shoals. On the flats in the coves near to Havre de Grace 

 and Spesutia Island, where this method of shooting ducks has been 

 more particularly practised during the last three seasons, there is 



