136 GAME SHOAL-WATER FOWL. 



stalks grow to the height of ten to fifteen feet. 

 The seeds of this cane are the favorite food of 

 mallards and other shoal-water ducks in the fall, 

 and when it grows to any great extent the ducks 

 are usually quite numerous. This pond is fed 

 chiefly by springs, and has for its outlet a small, 

 crooked, shallow stream, call Mud Creek, which 

 empties into another, known as Crow Creek, the 

 mouth of which is only a short distance from here, 

 just where you see that opening in the willows 

 on the east side of the river, perhaps a quar- 

 ter of a mile ahead. We will strike in there, 

 and try a couple of hours' shooting in the rice- 

 pond, until the morning flight is over, when we 

 will go to another place I think rather favorably 

 of for mid-day shooting. I will explain to you 

 when we get there why the shooting at that 

 time of day is better there than in the rice- 

 pond. 



Here we are at the mouth of the creek. It is 

 not wide enough to admit of rowing, so you may 

 take an oar and stand in the bow and paddle, or 

 push against the logs or bank, as you have op- 

 portunity. 1 will guide the boat with this long 

 paddle. Come forward to this seat, and sit per- 

 fectly still while I pass by you. I will look out 



