Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-06-14

congregate on the lakes. The ma
tives hold organized parties through
out the winter TO shoot these wild
fowl. Each party is called ''sed."
The plan of campaign at sed is
most novel and remarkable, says
P. H. Lamb in the London Field, and
it is in the number of guns more
than the sum total of the bag that
the record consists. On the given
morning al sunrise some 20 natives,
all armed with guns. breech or muzzle
leaders, meet at some prearranged
place on the bank of the lake. The
small party of Europeans, of which
have more than once been a member
turn up in small punts, each capable
of accommodating two guns. Each
punt is ably piloted by a fellah, who
pushes from behind as he wades
along in the water. There are us
ually few natives out in similar
craft, but these they navigate by
means of thin bamboo rods, which
they work, one in each hand.
When all are ready this huge regi-
ment spreads out in the form of a
long chain across an arm of the lake.
There is no attempt to keep at reg
ular spaced distances of, say, SO
yards, for If this were done the guns
would often sweep stretch of near
ly six miles. This, however, is quite
unnecessary, for every man has, as a
rule, as much shooting as he can well
manage when the guns are much
more concentrated. The awful army
covers width of about two miles
and the drive is usually about three
miles long, occupying some four
hours. During this time firing is
practically continuous.
The natives do not mind the water
in the least, but wade along quite
comfortable for hours together, IN
water varying in depth from the knee,
to the chest. What is more, they
manage under these conditions to
keep their cartridges or powder dry,
and those with muzzle leaders seem
Needless to say, these do not fire I'M
less there is every probability of an
addition to the bag; but those witt
cartridges are surprisingly lavish
with them, and do not hesitate to take
very sporty shots. Here one can see
shooting of every class.
The drive consists in merely ad.
vancing in line down the selected arm
of the lake. All along in front the
surface of the lake Is seen black
wildfowl. They do not seem to trouble
themselves much, but slowly retreat
as the line advances. Presently, how.
ever, they begin to realize that they
are being inclosed, and then they rise
in small detachments. They might
now easily escape by making circuit
over the land. for the banks are as a
rule quite unguarded; but this they
seldom attempt to do.
They seem, like the stag and the
otter, to rely mainly upon the water
for safety-a sorry safeguard, indeed,
Neither do they seem to learn wisdom
| by experience, for the natives have a
shoot of the kind twice weekly, and yet
when pressed the birds always rise
and come straight back over ,ne
guns. AS soon as theflight begins, enor-
nous charges of black powder det-
onate on every side and the whole
heaven resounds. The noise of this
| terrific cannonade can be heard dis
tinctly at a distance Of four miles
through clear air. The barrels OF
ones gun soon become uncomfortably
| hot. The whole atmosphere sinks
of powder. Birds are seen dropping
in all directions, while spent shot
rattles ON the water around one.
Though the number of guns 10
quite phenomenal, the bag also is not
inconsiderate, amounting, as it usu-
ally does, to between 1000 and 5000
birds all told. The coot as well as
the ducks afford very good eating, and
those which the natives do not re-
quire for their own use they can
readily sell at from Sd to Cd each.
RENOND