162 WILD-FOWL 



at ducks and geese, but the shot used to-day is smaller. 

 Nos. 6 to 4 for ducks and 4 to 2 for brant and geese are 

 best. The smaller shot makes a better pattern and the 

 chances for striking the game in a vital place are in- 

 creased. From 31^ to 3^ drams of powder is used in 

 the 12 gauge, and as much more as the gun will burn 

 to advantage in the 10. This may be ascertained by 

 firing the gun over snow, when the unburned powder 

 can be seen after the discharge. I prefer No. 5 or 6 

 shot to No. 4 for sea-ducks and often shoot No. 7 at 

 the river ducks, and have done good work with 8 early 

 in the autumn when the shots were at close range. 



Sea-duck shooting calls for warm flannels, heavy 

 corduroy, and water-proofs, since the weather is often 

 extremely cold and windy and the sportsman must face 

 the storms of snow and sleet. Both clothes and hat 

 must resemble the marsh grass in color. By no means 

 wear a black hat or coat. Suits are for sale in the 

 stores made entirely of the marsh grass. 



There are four principal methods of capturing sea- 

 fowl : (i) shooting over decoys from the shore; (2) 

 shooting over decoys from batteries or sink-boxes on 

 the water; (3) point shooting or flight shooting at 

 passing birds, and (4) shooting in a line of boats on 

 the open water. To these may be added the tolling 

 of the birds with small dogs, an interesting method of 

 pursuit practised on the Chesapeake and perhaps else- 

 where. 



Sailing after brant and ducks is another method 

 used on some of the bays of Long Island and else- 

 where, but this has been found to drive the birds 

 away. 



