246 With Rod and Gun in New England 



CHAPTER XII. 



b^a^t a]md b^a^t shooting at 

 Chatham. Mass. 



By WRRREN HAPGOOD. 

 Ex- President Monomoy Branting Club. 



Along the shores of New England is a variety of swimming birds, 

 Natatores, which afford to the sportsmen a fair amount of pleasure. Among 

 these, the black duck, Anas obscura, while not the largest, is most eagerly 

 sought, especially for its fine edible qualities. It is regarded as a migra- 

 tory bird, but still some do linger about the estuaries and inlets of Cape 

 Cod and a few other places where they can get food and fresh water, all 

 winter. When they first arrive from the fresh-water breeding and feeding- 

 places, their flesh is pronounced equal to any other duck, — always except- 

 ing the famous canvas-back, — but in midwinter, when they are restricted 

 by the ice, in their food, to periwinkle beds, they are slaughtered in great 

 numbers, and this, too, at a time when they have rapidly lost flesh and 

 flavor and are almost worthless. 



The eider-duck, Somateria molissima, is much larger, but as its food is 

 mostly molluscous, its flesh is ranked low for table use, like that of the 

 coot. The latter, for the mere pastime of shooting, affords as fine sport as 

 any of the duck species,, but to the epicure it is of little value. The 

 Canada goose, Anscr Canadensis, is about the largest of the edible class 

 and is really fine eating, but the birds arrive late, tarry but a short time, 

 and that at uncertain periods, so as to render their pursuit a very dubious 

 business. Arrangements are made at certain ponds, where the geese 

 resort for food and rest during the long journey from their breeding-grounds 

 to their winter quarters, so that flock after flock is entirely annihilated. 

 Of all the birds that visit our coast, I presume the brant goose, Bernicla 

 brenta, is the most numerous as well as most valuable, in a culinary sense, 

 and affords good sport to those who have found time and opportunity for 

 the pastime. They pass the winter mostly in the waters of North Carolina, 

 feeding on marine vegetables, principally eel-grass (Zostera marina), and 

 barring the spicy flavor of the flesh of the canvas-back, they are, when in 

 good condition, regarded next in value to that incomparable duck. About 

 the latter end of winter or in early spring, they start along northward and 



