The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-01-04

hour or two, and, IT they arc particularly
stubborn, the goslings should be thrown
again. These, swimming to the shore,
give confidence to their wilder relatives,
and sometimes the whole flock comes 10
with them. Then it is that the skill and
nerve Of the hunter are put to the test, for
he would not kill one of his goslings for
twenty focks. After little chattering
among themselves, however, and fishing
the bottom for grass and gravel, the Cos
lings start for the deftly.shaken grain
within the stand. l have seen on several
occasions wild geese follow the gosliugs to
the very edge Of the blind and engage in
a bitter wing-pounding fight, humping
against the boards on the other side Of
which was watching But it is the flock
and not the single ones We want.
Fresh caps arc carefully put upon the
heavy double-barrelled fowling pieces, and
upon the lighter guns, which are set near
by, ready cooked, for shooting down the
getaways after the first volley. There
are four Of us in the stand. The flock,
ten, twenty, or maybe four times that num-
Der, is only six rods away, some pluming
their feathers while standing in the shoal
water, others fishing for the coveted gray
el, all unmindful Of their danger. The
muzzles of the guns are placed carefully
through the twigs Of the blind. II any
thing is to be said it is spoken in a low
tone Of voice, as a whisper is more Likely
to attract the attention Of the fowl.
The inexperienced hunter finds his
heart throbbing with excitement and his
nerves trembling as he views the grand
array in front Of him, for the fowl at six
yards distance in the water look large and
noble. A dry twig is snapped to bunch
the flock, aud by neyer-varying rule the
right-hand man covers with his gun as
many as he can Of the necks of the right
of the flock, and so on down the line
Waiting until the geese are most favorably
punched together, he counts "0ne, two,
three, and at the last word the large,
deadly shot from both barrels of the guns
crash into the flock. There is cracking
of bones, like the breaking of little fag-
gots, wild, confused cries Of amazement
aud pain, and a Topping of wings, as the
killed and fatally wounded spread out on
the water. There is no time to lose, The
gunners jump to their feet, seize the other
fowling pieces as the remnant of the flock
rises, and more of them are brought down.
Here is the test of good craftsmanship,
and the writer knows offs countryman who
prides himself on shooting singly two dou-
ble-barrelled guns after firing at the flock
in the water, aud bringing his bird down
at every shot. Then to the boats for the
cripples that are making for the swamp.
The trained retriever that has lain still
throughout all the racket is now at his
post for his part Of the sport He knows
his duty, and hardly ever fails to perform
it by finding the "stowaway," which, being
wing broken or SO badly wounded that il
cannot fly, has crawled into the bushes on
the impossible bog. If not hurt too badly
the fowl is kept for service as a decoy, and
for breeding purposes.
During the best of the fight it some
times happens that the greater parts Of
several large aocks are captured in day
as many as thirty or even more being killed
at the first shot when large number oI
gunners are in the stand.
Custom has made imperative the rule:
for dividing the game, for it is very com
mon occurrence and an annoying one
when geese are flying, for the stands tC
be filled with amateur sportsmen and far.
mers sons. If they are steady of nerve
and careful they are allowed to shoot
First, one-third Of the game goes to tn,
man who owns the decoys, and then it i.
share aud share alike with the remainder
But hopeless fellow he who finds that hi:
piece has missed fire. No goose for him
Although Monpousett Pond, Halifax
to which this description more particularly
refers, is the best Of all the ponds, because
Of the wild swamps which to large ex
tent surround it, there are many others at
which the same system of shooting is fol
lowed with success; among them Silver
Lake, noted for the regattas which have beer
rowed there; and at goldman" "Indian
Head "Great Sandy" Little Sandy,
"Qunhan," Diamond Lake" and somt
Others within radius of a dozen miles
there is at the right season good shooting