MID-DAY MALLARD SHOOTING FALL. 163 



to try evening shooting, which we would have to 

 go to a feeding-pond again to enjoy ; so we 

 paddle directly home, where we arrive in time for 

 a nice warm supper with " the folks." 



The game-strap, an exceedingly useful part of 

 the duck-shooter's outfit, consists of a piece 

 of sole or heavy harness-leather, three inches 

 broad by six inches in length, to each end 

 of which is attached a narrow strip of bridle - 

 leather, about two feet in length, punched at 

 intervals of half an inch to receive the tongue 

 of a buckle, which is fastened one at each end of 

 the broad strip. One-half the ducks to be carried 

 are bunched heads together, one strap buckled 

 tightly around their necks, and the remainder 

 being buckled to the other side, they are thrown 

 across the shoulders, and in this way may be 

 carried a long distance. Twenty mallards on 

 each side make a good strapful. 



