22 GAME AND ITS PROTECTION. 



At the South, where the sportsman shoots from 

 behind a blind, and calls to his aid the courage and 

 intelligence of his faithful "retriever" to recover his 

 game, the walk to and from the stand warms his 

 blood, and he can move around at will. In the 

 "West, where duck-shooting is to be had in perfec- 

 tion, the sportsman pushes his light and narrow 

 boat through the weeds and lilies of the marshes, 

 and has many a long chase after wounded birds 

 that will bring into play his muscles, and send the 

 circulation through his veins. Even in shooting 

 through the " sneak boxes" of Barnegat Bay, there 

 is much exercise and a certain amount of liberty of 

 motion ; but in the battery, a man is a mere death- 

 dealing machine, expected to mind neither cold nor 

 cramp, and to demand neither comfort nor pleasure. 



One of the most necessary reforms in the game- 

 laws would be the absolute prohibition of the use 

 of a battery. At the South this was done by the 

 good sense of the people ; and many a stranger from 

 Long Island, who was unaware of the customs of 

 the countiy, and had brought with him his battery 

 to teach the natives " New Yoi-k tricks," has been 

 warned to move his quarters by the whistle of a 

 rifle-ball skipping across the water. It is surprising 

 that the gunners of the great South Bay did not 

 long ago discover that their interest lay in dis- 

 continuing the use of this machine. For the first 

 few years, perhaps, after its prohibition, they might 

 not have as good success; but in time the birds 

 would resume their old habits and renew their 



