232
Lake Umbagog.
1898.
September 15  
  Clear and warm with fresh S.E. breeze in P.M.
  Spent the night at Lakeside. Mr. & Mrs. Melvin and
Mr. Baker arrived by the evening stage and Will Stone
left for Bethel this morning. The rest of us took the
morning boat for Pine Point. The day was spent
in getting our things in order.
[margin]Will Stone
departs &
the Melvins 
arrive[/margin]
  About an hour before sunset, Melvin and I got out
our guns and went to Moose Point. I have seen a 
few Ducks alight there at evening of late and have heard
others quacking after dark but I did not suppose
that any number were resorting there and expecting
at the most only two or three shots I took but six shells
shells # 4 shot & two of #8. I went in the
old sailing canoe, Melvin taking a guide & the big boat.
Scarcely had we reached the marsh when the Ducks began
arriving and for the next hour or so they came thick
and fast, singly, in pairs or threes, and in small
flocks. I have not seen such an evening flight before
for over twenty years although I have often seen as
many or even more birds arrive in two or three
large flocks. Had our guns [been] well placed & concealed
and abundantly supplied with shells we might
easily have killed twenty five or thirty birds. They
came in boldly and low down evidently suspecting 
no danger. Many birds passed me within a few yards
& several alighted very near me. I fired six shots
and bagged a Black Duck, a Wood Duck and a 
Hooded Merganser. Melvin got a Wood Duck &
a Coot (Fulica) 
[margin]Evening at
Moose Point[/margin]
[margin]Arrival of
the Ducks[/margin]
[margin]I shoot
three Ducks[/margin]