THE WILD FOWL OF THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER. 357 



Landing his sportsmen at a suitable point, the boatman rowed away, so that 

 the sport might not be disturbed by his presence, and yet be where a signal 

 to return could easily be seen. In a little time the firing began, and soon grew 

 fast and furious. Afterward, the old boatman, who was a veteran of the Civil 

 War, said, while indulging in a brief reminiscence of the occurrence, that "from 

 the sound of the firing he thought that his men had formed a skirmish line and 

 opened fire on the Canadian garrison at Kingston." 



However, they soon made the signal agreed upon, and taking them on board he 

 rowed away for the hotel. They were elated with their success. Their game bags 

 were filled to repletion, and they had several brace each, besides. They were 

 elated with their wonderful success ; even the eyes of the panting retriever sparkled 

 with pleasure. Their success had been phenomenal, and not caring to dim its 

 brightness by any chance of future failure, they concluded to take themselves 

 and trophies home on the evening train. 



A dinner, such as mine host Fox always provided, with perhaps certain 

 accompaniments usually printed on the back of the bill of fare, only added to 

 their elation. They repeated again and again to a circle of envious admirers just 

 how they did it, the pith of which, as told by the chief narrator, was: "A big 

 flock of these mallards — that's what they call 'em, isn't it? — came swimming 

 around the point and we let them have it right and left ; and, by George, 

 gentlemen, we got all but one; all but one, gentlemen, for a fact." 



Just then, an old farmer and his son and hired man, who lived over on the 

 island, came in and after complying with an invitation to share in the liquids, 

 turned to inspect the game. But why prolong the painful scene ? The hunters, 

 now become the hunted, paid for the mallards, and something over, and were 

 allowed to retain them. The old farmer remarked suggestively that he thought 

 likely he could have another flock ready by next year. Full of newly acquired 

 knowledge and other things, those hunters went home on the next train; and 

 whether or not their friends ever learned their mistake as to mallards, the deponent 

 saith not. 



This is not the only case of the kind by any means, and similar mistakes are 

 liable to occur again. 



The common method employed here for shooting mallards is over decoys ; and 

 among all the species which frequent this region the mallard is undoubtedly 

 the favorite with a great majority of hunters. 



Another incident, related to me by Mr. James E. Stanley, shows what mav be 

 accomplished by an amateur hunter whose knowledge of the game he seeks is 

 practically "nil." 



