68 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
cult to be obtained, unless procured in the manner just men 
tioned, or by shooting from ‘ batteries’ anchored in the shallow 
part of the bay. These batteries are constructed in the follow¬ 
ing manner—by making a box six feet long, two feet and a half 
wide, one foot deep, with the sides and ends shelving, on which 
sand is placed to imitate a bar, as well as to assist in sinking the 
‘ machine,’ as it is called—so that its uppermost edges may be 
about even with the surface of the water. The gunner, by ly¬ 
ing in the box on his back, is perfectly concealed, and having a 
large number of decoys around the battery, the deception is so 
perfect, that the birds often approach so near, as to give him an 
opportunity of discharging with effect two double-barrelled 
guns into a flock. Great havoc is made in this way, particu¬ 
larly among young birds. This mode of shooting requires two 
persons—one to shoot from the battery, the other to attend with 
a boat to collect the dead birds, and drive up flocks sitting on 
the bay. It is, however, objected to by many, they supposing 
it to be too destructive, as well as the means of driving from the 
bay those which escape. The Brent, especially, is a wanderer, 
seldom remaining longer than a few days in one place, under 
any circumstances—which induces many to suppose that they 
have a right to secure them in any way that fancy dictates. 
“ In 1838 a law was passed in this State, prohibiting the use 
of batteries. For a short time it was respected—but the gun¬ 
ners who depend on water-fowl shooting for a great part of 
their living, considered it such an invasion of their rights, that 
they defied it; at first shooting with masks, at the same time 
threatening to shoot the informer, should one be found. They 
finally laid aside their masks, and the law became a dead letter, 
and has since been repealed. A far greater evil is that of firing 
from boats, while sailing on their feeding grounds. After 
having been shot at in this way, I have seen them rise high in 
the air, and steer for the sea. I think it would be as well if the 
gunners generally would agree to abandon this unsportsmanlike 
practice. 
u The Brant never dives for its food ; but when wounded, it 
