BAY-SNIPE SHOOTING. 317 



munition exhausted. Then it was no unusual thing 

 to expend twenty-five pounds of shot in a day, where 

 now the spovtsman that could use up five would be 

 fortunate. 



Of all the locations on this extent of meadow and 

 beach, no place is so famous, from its natural advan- 

 tages and its ancient reputation, as Quogue. Once 

 on a time the best pond was permanently occupied by 

 a famous Governor, a still more famous General, and 

 a notorious Colonel — although the latter was not " in 

 the bond ;" but there are other good stands, and for 

 small birds — yellow-legs, dowitchers, and robin-snipe 

 — ^it has no equal. Although many flocks pass it 

 high in air, all those that follow the coast, low down 

 to the earth, must cross the meadows that are com- 

 pressed to a narrow strip at this point, which is the 

 dividing-ground between the two great bays on the 

 south side of Long Island- 

 Unfortunately, a watering-place for the summer 

 resort of the exquisites of New York has been es- 

 tablished in the vicinity, and the consequent advan- 

 tages of comfortable beds and a good table are more 

 than overborne by the annoyance of such companion- 

 ship. If there be a flight of birds, every unfledged 

 sportsman takes out his elegant fowling-piece, and, 

 daintily dressed, proceeds to the meadow, where 

 he would be comparatively harmless, and dangerous 

 only to himself, were there room for him and his 

 fellows. But as the ground is limited, and the 

 favorable points few, he is sure to interfere ; and, while 

 killing nothing himself, ruins the prospects of those 



