AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



43 



hundred yards in breadth. By the middle of November, 

 the Canvass backs particularly, begin to feed in this passage, 

 and the entrance and out let, as well as many intermediate 

 spots, become very successful stations. A few miles fur- 

 ther down the western shore is Taylor's Island, which is 

 situated at the mouth of the Rumney, and Abby Island at 

 the mouth of Bush river, which are both celebrated for 

 Ducks, as well as Swans and Geese. These are the most 

 northerly points where large fowl are met with, and 

 projecting out between deep coves where immense numbers 

 of these birds feed, they possess great advantages. The 

 south point of Bush river, or Legoe's point, and Robbins' 

 and Rickett's points near Gunpowder river, are fruitful 

 localities. Immediately at the mouth of this river is situ- 

 ated Carroll's Island, which has long been known as a 

 great shooting ground, and is in the rentage of a company 

 at a high rate. Maxwell's point, as well as some others up 

 this and other rivers, and even further down the bay, are 

 good places, but less celebrated than those I have men- 

 tioned. INIost of these points are let out as shooting 

 grounds to companies and individuals, and they are es- 

 teemed so valuable, that intruders are treated severely. 



It has been ascertained, that disturbing the fowl on the 

 feeding flats, is followed in most cases, by their forsaking 

 those haunts, and seeking others ; hence, in the rivers 

 leading to the bay near flying points, they are never an- 

 noyed by boat shooting either by night or day, and al-. 

 though the discharge of guns from the shore may arouse 

 them for a time, they soon return; whereas, a boat or sail 

 in chase a few times, will make them forsake a favourite 

 spot for days. 



From the great number of Ducks that are seen in all di- 

 rections, one would suppose that there could be no doubt 

 of success at any of the points in their course of flight; 

 but whilst they have such correct vision as to distance, and 

 wide range of space, unless attending circumstances are 

 favorable, a sportsman may be days without a promising 

 shot. For the western side of the bay, and it is there the 

 best grounds are found, the southerly winds are the most 

 favourable; and, if a high tide is attended by a smart frost 

 and mild south wind, or even calm morning, the number 

 of birds set in motion becomes inconceivable, and they ap- 

 proach the points so closely, that even a moderately good 

 shot, can procure from fifty to one hundred Ducks a day. 

 This has often occurred, and the author himself has seen 

 eight fat Canvass backs killed at one discharge into a flock, 

 from a small gun. 



To a stranger visiting these waters, the innumerable 

 Ducks, feeding in beds of thousands, or filling the air with 

 their careering, with the great numbers of beautiful white 

 Swans resting near the shores, like banks of driven snow, 



he would naturally suppose the facilities for their destruc- 

 tion were equal to their profusion, and with so large an 

 object in view, a sportsman could scarcely miss his aim. 

 But when he considers the great thickness of their cover- 

 ing, the velocity of their flight, the rapidity and duration 

 of their diving, and the great influence that circumstances of 

 wind and weather have on the chances of success, it be- 

 comes a matter of wonder how so many are destroyed. 



The usual mode of taking these birds, has been, till re- 

 cently, by shooting from the points during the flight, or 

 from the land or boats on their feeding grounds, or by 

 tpling, as it is strangely termed, an operation by which the 

 Ducks are sometimes induced to approach within a few feet 

 of the shore, from a distance often of several hundred yards. 

 This process, though it has been frequently described, may 

 not be uninteresting to repeat. A spot is usually selected 

 where the birds have not been much disturbed, and where 

 they feed at three or four hundred yards from, and can ap- 

 proach to within forty or fifty yards of the shore, as they 

 will never come nearer than they can swim freely. The 

 higher the tides and calmer the day, the better, for they 

 feed closer to the shores and see more distinctly. Most 

 persons on these waters, have a race of small, white or 

 liver coloured dogs, which are familiarly called the toler 

 breed, but which appear to be the ordinary Poodle. 



These dogs are extremely playful, and are taught to run 

 up and down the shore, in sight of the ducks, either by the 

 motion of the hand or by throwing chips from side to side. 

 They soon become perfectly acquainted with their business, 

 and as they discover the Ducks approaching them, make 

 their jumps less high till they almost crawl on the ground, 

 to prevent the birds discovering what the object of their 

 curiosity may be. This disposition to examine rarities, 

 has been taken advantage of, by using a red or black 

 handkerchief by day, and white by night, in toling, or 

 even by gently splashing the water on the shore. The 

 nearest Ducks soon notice the strange appearance, what- 

 ever the plan attempted, raise their heads, gaze intent- 

 ly for a moment, then push for the shore. The rest fol- 

 low suite, and the author has, on many occasions, seen 

 thousands of them swimming in a solid mass direct to the 

 object; and by removing the dog further into the grass, 

 they have been brought within fifteen feet of the bank. 

 When they have approached to about thirty or forty yards, 

 their curiosity is generally satisfied, when they swim 

 laterally up and down for a few seconds, and then retro- 

 gade to their old spot. Whilst presenting the side view, is 

 the moment 'to shoot, and forty or fifty Ducks have often 

 been killed by a small gun. The Black heads toll the most 

 readily, then the Red heads, next the Canvass backs, and 

 the Bald pates rarely; and this, is the ratio of their approach 



