268 DUCK-SHOOTING. 



land becomes meadow, and the meadow turns into 

 swamp." 



"I thought the Western lakes were growing 

 shallow, and receding yearly." 



"Not here, sir. Why, that long spit of reeds 

 beyond Grassy Point was dry land once, so that 

 you could drive a team clear over to Squaw Island ; 

 there were large trees on it, but they are all dead, 

 and the channel between it and the island is six 

 feet deep." 



" All the better for us sportsmen. Have you any 

 other valuable animals besides the rats ? " 



"A few otter; but not many. No, sir; the 

 ducks are the most valuable things we have." 



" They will soon be killed off." 



" No, sir ; as there is no shooting allowed in the 

 spring they are becoming more plentiful. They are 

 tamer, too; and some stay here all summer and 

 breed. It was the spring shooting, when they were 

 poor and thin, that killed them off or drove them 

 away." 



" How many birds can a good shot average daily 

 the season through ? " 



" I think I can kiU forty a day, but perhaps there 

 are some men who can shoot better. But now, sir, 

 if you will choose your stand, I will go a little way 

 below." 



I ensconced myself in a bunch of high weeds sur- 

 rounded by a pond of open water, and killed a few 

 mallards. The birds did not fly well, however, and 

 we moved from place to place in the hope of better 



