62 EQUIPMENT. 



Mown to leeward many yards, occasioning hard 

 pulling to bring back again, besides the confu- 

 sion it has made. 



A favorite way of making decoys with some of 

 the old sea-coast " gunners " of my acquaintance 

 (though I never thought much of it and have never 

 seen such used in the Western country) was simply 

 to cut them * in outline of inch 'boards. These 

 were fastened one at either end to short boards, 

 termed floaters, about two feet long and six 

 inches in width, by pins inserted in holes bored 

 in the under edges of the decoys, which, being 

 loose, left them free to turn sidewise with the 

 action of the wind and waves. The anchor-line 

 was fastened to the centre of the floater; and 

 when not in use the decoys could be lifted 

 from the pins and be packed in compara- 

 tively little space. They seemed to work first- 

 rate, especially in coot-shooting, though I should 

 much prefer the full-sized hollow decoy, notwith- 

 standing the additional packing-room required. 

 One special advantage they undoubtedly pos- 

 sessed — that of being easily and quickly made. 



Another, and perhaps the best decoy for coot- 

 shooting, is made as follows: A piece of pine- 

 board, or cork is better if procurable, is shaped 



