WILD GEESE. 259 
for two hundred dollars. A first-class caller will bring 
down skeins that might circle around dozens of other 
decoys without paying them the least attention, for if it 
is an experienced bird, few of its kindred will pass it by 
unnoticed. When the honker espies a string of its con- 
geners overhead, it commences to cree-aunk, cree-aunk, 
in the most vociferous manner. Its companions soon join 
in the cry, and the air then resounds with their cronking 
melody. Those in the sky answer them, as a gencral 
rule, before they think of descending, but if they are 
coy, the decoys recommence their calling with redoubled 
vigor, and seem to say: ‘‘Oh! come down here; you'll 
have lots of fun and plenty to eat. Do pay us a visit; 
we're dying to see you.” 
When the wild-fowlers bring down the visitors with a 
load of shot, the lures actually appear to enjoy it, for 
they shake themselves, preen their feathers, and cackle 
their sense of satisfaction. They become such adepts at 
deceiving after awhile that nothing seems to give them 
greater pleasure than to see the leaden hail dealing death 
among their kindred. Such is the condition to which 
man will reduce the most innocent creatures when he 
employs them for his own selfish purposes! Next to the 
decoys, the most necessary accessory for a good day’s 
sport is a good ‘swimmer ” of geese. The ‘‘ swimmer” 
is the man who sails down on birds that are bedded on 
the water, some distance away, and attempts, by careful 
maneuvring, to drive them within call of the honkers. 
His aim is to make them swim towards the blinds, if 
possible, as the chance of making a big bag is greater by 
that means than it would be if they were put on the 
wing and made to fly over the point, or even to settle 
among the decoys. An able ‘‘ swimmer” has an instinc- 
tive talent for his business, and the manner in which he 
can handle his craft and geese is an interesting sight to 
those who care about such matters. 
