ANATINiE — THE DUCKS — yETIlYIA. g-j 



and down the Bay, from river to river, in their morning and evening fliglits, and offer 

 at certain localities great opportunities for their destruction. They pursue, even in 

 their short passages, very much the order of their migratory movements, flying in two 

 lines diverging from a centre ; and when the wind blows on the i)oints which lie in 

 their course, the sportsman has great chances of success. The birds avoid, if possi- 

 ble, an approach to the shore ; but when a strong breeze sets them in that direction, 

 they are compelled to pass near the projecting points of land within gunshot. In the 

 Susquehanna and Elk rivers there are few of these points, and success depends 

 on shooting the Ducks on their feeding-grounds. After passing the eastern point at 

 the mouth of the Susquehanna, and Turkey Point on the western side of the Elk, 

 the first place of much celebrity is the " Narrows," between Spesutic Island and the 

 western shore, about three miles in length, and from three to five hundred yards in, 

 breadth; and here the Canvas-backs feed. A few miles down the western shore is 

 Taylor's Island, at the mouth of the Rumney, and also Abby Island, at the mouth of 

 the Bush — both celebrated localities for Ducks, Geese, and Swans. The south jioint 

 of Bush River, and Robbins's and Rickett's Points, near Gunpowder, are also 

 famous. When disturbed on their feeding-grounds, the birds forsake those haunts 

 and seek others ; therefore in the rivers leading to the Bay, near shooting-points, 

 they should not be annoyed by being shot at from boats, either by night or day, as a 

 repetition of such visits would soon drive the Du.cks from their favorite haunts. 



The best grounds are found on the western side ; and there southerly winds are 

 the most favorable ones. If a high tide is attended with a smart frost and mild 

 south winds, the number of birds set in motion is inconceivable ; and they approach 

 the points so closely, that even a moderately good shot can procure from fifty to a 

 hundred Ducks in a day. This was once quite a common occurrence ; and the writer 

 quoted has known eight Canvas-backs to be killed at one discharge. The usual mode 

 of taking these Ducks was either by shooting them from the point during flight, or 

 by " toling " — an operation by which the birds are sometimes induced to approacli 

 within a few feet of the shore from a distance of several hundred yards. A favorable 

 spot is selected, where the Ducks are feeding a few hundred yards from the shore, 

 and where they can easily approach it closely by swimming. The higher the tides and 

 the calmer the day, the better the chance of success. A kind of poodle-dog, of the 

 breed familiarly known as the "toler," is trained to run along the shore in sight of 

 the Ducks. The dog soon becomes quite expert at the business, and learns, as the 

 Ducks approach, gradually to conceal himself. The nearest Ducks notice this strange 

 appearance, raise their heads, gaze intently, and approach the shore. The rest follow ; 

 and in some cases several thousand Ducks of various kinds have been seen to swim 

 in solid mass direct to the object of their curiosity. By removing the dog farther 

 into the grass they have been attracted to within fifteen feet of the bank. Black- 

 heads can be toled the most readily, then Red-heads, and next the Canvas-back. 



Another method of killing Canvas-backs, described by LeAvis, is to boat them on 

 their feeding-grounds in small skiffs, either during the daytime or at night — the 

 latter being the most destructive method. A large SAvivel, carrying several ounces of 

 powder and a pound or more of shot, is placed on the bows of a light boat, and by 

 means of muffled oars, and under cover of the darkness, this is carried into the very 

 midst of the sleeping Ducks ; and on firing into their thick columns, great numbers 

 are crippled or killed. This mode of slaughter is considered very disreputable, and 

 has been forbidden by legislative enactments. Boating Ducks on their feeding- 

 grounds, even with small guns and by daylight, will soon drive them from tlieir 

 accustomed haunts, and should be condemned by the true sportsman. 



VOL. II. — 5 



