JAPANESE CUSTOMS AND HABITS. 201 



Wild duck were regularly fed in these canals, and from 

 never being fired at or frightened by noises, they very 

 soon took regularly to them. Towards evening the 

 sportsman sallied out, armed with a large silken landing- 

 net about two feet in diameter, mounted on a long, 

 light bamboo pole, the whole thing being very light, 

 so as to be handled and wielded quickly. Two or three 

 attendants of course accompanied the sportsman to 

 carry his game, when caught, and point out where the 

 birds are, which was easily done by looking carefully 

 through peep-holes. The exact position of a flock of 

 ducks being marked, the now eager netter walked 

 quickly but noiselessly along under cover of the grassy 

 bank until he knew he had reached where the ducks 

 were. Then suddenly springing to the top of the bank, 

 he endeavoured, and generally successfully, to catch a 

 bird in his net as they rose from the water. Quickness 

 and decision were both necessary for this kind of sport. 

 The object in having the canals so winding was to 

 prevent the birds in one bend being disturbed by what 

 was going on in the next one. 



