A very successful method of arranging a stool 

 for mixed shooting is to use a stool composed of 

 both diving and surface ducks. The mallard or 

 teal decoys should be placed along shore, among 

 the lilypads, or grasses, while the canvas-back stool 

 should be placed in a compact flock in open water. 

 I have on one or two occasions had excellent shoot- 

 ing over a canvas-back stool arranged in the form 

 of a V ; but whether my success was due to this 

 particular formation, 1 am unable to say. 



In early morning shooting it is a good plan to 

 spread the stool, placing some of the decoys in shal- 

 low water as if they were feeding. In the middle 

 of the day there is not much shooting as a rule, and 

 a big stool in open water can be seen further, and 

 often bring in a few birds. In putting out a stool, 

 always put it up v^and from your blind, as in alight- 

 ing, all ducks fly against the wind, and in swinging 

 the stool they will pass close to your blind. 



FITTING OUT A STOOL 



In fitting out a stool it is necessary to know 

 where you are going to use them, as the anchors 

 and string must be heavy and long enough for any 

 conditions. The best method of making the anchor 

 fast, is to take enough fish-line (about half the size 

 of cod-line) and make it fast to one decoy with a 

 loop of leather. The leather should be neuled on 



47 



