20 The Water-fowl Family 



have always been, and are now, among the most 

 famous resorts for water-fowl in the eastern 

 United States. Most of the available marshes 

 here are owned or leased by clubs. The Nar- 

 rows Island Club, in Currituck Sound, happens 

 to be the one with which I am familiar. This 

 club-house is situated on one of the islands in 

 the bay, a short sail from the mainland. I recall 

 a few pleasant days spent here not long since. Our 

 arrival was late one Saturday afternoon. Sunday 

 is one of the three days of rest provided by law 

 for the wild fowl of North Carolina. In the morn- 

 ing from the lookout on the roof of the house we 

 scanned the bay with glasses. Wherever there 

 was water there were flocks of geese and ducks. 

 Hardly half a mile from the house a bank of white 

 caught the eye, and six swan floated peacefully on 

 the quiet water. In the pond a few feet from the 

 club were a flock of fifteen or twenty mallard ; 

 until they rose it never occurred to me that they 

 were not decoys. With such impressions I looked 

 forward to the first ducking day with every antici- 

 pation. We drew first choice and took Brant 

 Pond; breakfast was served in the dark, and when 

 we reached the little sail-boat off the dock, a half- 

 moon was the only light. Our one boatman and 

 gunner stacks the decoys in the bow, and with 

 them a crate with three live ducks. He sets up 

 a small sail, and with the faint breeze of early 



