Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-06-12
SOUTH BAY DUCK SHOOTING.
A Day In a Battery" with Gun In Hand.
Suspicious Birds.

battery, though n more cramped and I'M
comfortable position cannot be found
than that required by the gunner The
battery consists Of a box about eighteen
inches deep and long enough to admit
the outstretched body of a man. A rub
Der coat is the substitute for a mattress
and a sandbag serves for the pillow.
From the box extends on each side a fiat,
raftlike screen composed of wood and
and brown canvas, which serves TO float
the box and break the force of the waves
as they dash up against it. By means Of
weights the box is sunk in the water and
iron decoy ducks hold it in place. A
hundred decoys are scattered about the
box in a natural manner. The gunner
then lies down flat in the box, with his
shells OF one side and his gun on the
other, With a parting instruction to be
sure and keep the head well down the
battery mar sails away, leaving the gun
ner alone on the sea.
To the man first trying the sport the
situation is peculiar one, and the sensa-
ton the same. All alone, surrounded by
the little flock Of decoys, and the waves
pounding up with a swash against the
guards 10 the box, he feels somewhat in
secure. AS he lies flat in the box his
body and head are below the level of the
water, Sometimes, If the wind is blow
ing pretty strong, a wave will break over
into the box, tickling his face with briny
drops and sending cold streams of LIQUID
down his back. II he is n sportsman he
will only laugh at this and take a pull at
his whisky flask to prevent catching
cold Sometimes the waves run so high
that the gunner is compelled 10 bail out
his box or II will become a fish pond in
the sea. The sun beating down on his
face will redden it in about ten minutes.
Meanwhile the sail boat is lacking across
the bay to stir up the ducks A bunch Of
them is aroused, ald as the birds go
skimming along the water they spy the
decoys, and. thinking they are a flock Of
brethren PEACEFUL, feeding, shape their
course toward them. AS they sail up &c
the decoys they spon perceive they are
deceived and wheel away. Just as they
come about is n GOOD time 10 fire, and If
the gunner is expert while they are get
ting away he has time to slip in another
shell and ill the back of the rear duck
with cold lead II any of the ducks fall
the gunner stands up in The battery,
which is a signal for the sailboat men to
come up and gather in the fowls that
have been shot
Then the gunner stretches himself cut
again and waits for another flock. II
the ducks are thick and not in a suspi.
cious mood he will not have 10 remain so
long before another set will be along and
more blazing away is in order. Some
favorable morning there is a constant
booming OF guns on the bay, and big
boatloads Of ducks are brought in. 1t
is not uncommon in the autumn for one
man 70 shoot fifty to eighty ducks from
a battery. The next day he may not get
five.
In the season about five batteries a
day start out from Patchogue. The skip
per always has a man 10 help him sail
his catDoat, and Il is a race 10 secure the
best ground Often in making the best
u across the bay the ''cap'n' only gets
in first TO find the ground already seized
by the ambitious huntsman who has gone
out the night before, slept in the catboat
and al sunrise is ready in his battery.
The early morning is the best time. as at
dawn The ducks begin to feed and are
out In great numbers. Every sailboat
man is 'eap'n" and must sc%rupulously
be addresgs! a. such His assistant is
the mate. Ilrrc is no crew. The South
bay bastmeG are honest. good hearted
men, always ready 10 get as much as
they can out q raa sportsmcn. but work.
ing hard TO drgG up the game for him.
He will charge S.U 4 day for the use If
the battery, and wIt throw in the meals.
In the cabin OF the catD0at the mate
cooks ham and egg. steak. potatoes and
coffee, and serves it bot Ii tine sports
man likes oysters, be- will throw over his
rake and bring up half a uI,Iol 10 open
on the spot II u l. not having much
success with the ducks il is q uapl Ilau
20 allow the ''Cap'n" TO lie IL the bat
terry for a time, for he is invariably 70
crack shot and will ill up the quota
needed IN shou order.
Brant and h~ruadbills are the mot
abundant ~ tie family in the Great
South hay IN spring. The broadbiils Ere
a plump duck, with short bills. They
are swift FLYERS, and il is like shooting at
a humble bee to draw on one as he comes
by. In the fall black ducks and red
heads come in the bay. Shell ducks are
also plentiful Shell ducks and coots are
good shooting, but not worth eating.
The broadbills are great divers, and
often, when wounded. will lead the skip
pers a long chase, On diving they are
pretty SURE TO come mp to the windward.
and a good distance off. Often the ducks
come in the bay in great quantities, and
set up in the water like big rows Of ten
pins. When started they rise with the
noise of a whirlwind in the forest. The
boobies are "a small species Of duck that
sometimes come in the bay. They get
their name from their aptness al losing
their heads. A shot into a flock Of bUo-
bies will sometimes 80 disconcert them
that they will fly around in a circle and
allow the gunner to take his time in
shooting them down. They are great
chatterers, and keep the bay noisy with
their cries. New York Times.
"Cycles' for Army Use.
The recent experiments in employment
a.