4 CANVASS-BACK DUCK.
stniction, from the greater number of persons who now mate a business
or pleasure of this sport,, as well as the constant 'disturbance they
meet with on many of their feeding grounds, which induces them to
distribute themselves more widely, and forsake their usual haunts
" As early as the first and second weeks in October, the , smaller
ducks, as the Buffel-head, Anas Albeola; South-southerly, A. glaáaüs;
and the Ruddy or Heavy-tailed I)uck, 'yl. rubidus, begin to shew themselves
in the upper part of the bay ; and by the last of the month, the
Black-head,. A. Marila; Widgeon or Bald-pate, A. Americana ; Redhead,
A. Ferina; and the Groóse, A. Canadensis, appear, and rapidly
distribute themselves down the bay. • The Canvass-back, A. Valimeria,
and the Swan, Gygnus Americanus, rarely, unless the weather to the
north has been severe, appear in quantities: till the middle of November.
All these fowl, when first arrived', are thin and tasteless, froih
their privation during their migration, and perhaps preparatory arrangements,
and require some days at least of undisturbed reposé, ta
give them that peculiar flavour for which some of them are so celebrated.
During the low tif ¿^uc&eding their arrival, the birds sit on
the flats far from the shores, and rarely rise to the wing; unless'','disturbed;
but when the spring-tides render the water too deep for fo'eding,
they commence their' career, aid 'jiass down the bay in the morning,
and return in the évening. Most of thes'e fowl food on the ssim'é
grass, which grows abundantly on the shallows in the bay and adjacent
waters, and has been called duck-grass,8 Valimeria Americana. It grows
from six to eighteen inches in length, and is readily pulled up by the
root. Persons who have closely observed thes'é; "ducks while feédingy
say that the Canvass-back and Black-head dive and pull the grass from
the ground, and feed on the roots, and that the Red-head and Baldpate
then consume the leaves. Indeed, although the "Bald-pate is a
much smaller bird than the Canvass-back, it has been seen to rob the
latter, immediately on its return from under the water; of all its spoil.
' " All these larger ducks are found together'when feeding, but separate
when on the wing. That th'e'y feed on the samé 'grass, is evident
from the similarity of flavour; and those most accustomed to the
article have a difficulty in deciding oh the kind of duck from the tasté.
Indeed, the Bt&L-pate is generally preferred by residents.'
" Bv the middle of December, particularly if the weather has been
a little severe, the fowl qf every kind have become so fat, that I have
CANVASS-BACK DUCK. 5
soon Canvass-backs burst open in the breast in falling on the water ;
and spending less time in feeding, they pass up and down the bay from
river to river, in their morning and evening flights, giving, at certain
localities, great opportunities for destruction. They pursue, even in
their short passages, very much the order of their migratory movements,
flying in a line, or baseless triangle ; and when the wind blows on the
points which may lie on their course, the sportsman has great chances of
success. These points or courses of the ducks are materially affected
by the winds, for they avoid, if possible, an approach to the shore ; but
when a strong breeze sgts;them on these projections of the land, they
are compelled to pass within shot, and often over the land itself.
" I n thsfusquehanna and Elk rivers, there are few of these points for
shooting, and there success depends on approaching them while on their
feeding grounds., After leaving the eastern point, at the mouth of the
Susquehanna and Turkey Point, the western side of the. Elk River,
which are both moderately good for flying shooting, the first place of
much celebrity is,,the Narrows, between Spesutic Island and the western
shor$. These narrows are about thr,ee; miles .in length, and from thrpe
to"five hundred yards in breadth. , By,the middle of November, the
Canvass-backs in particular, bpgiptq feed, in,this passage, and the entrance
and outlet, as well as many intermediate spots,, become very
successful stations, A few miles further down the western shore is
Taylor's Island, whi,eh. is,,situated at the; ¡mouth of the Rumney, and
Abbey Island at the mputh pf liusli River,; which are both celebrated
fpr,ducks, ».s.iwell ,as0g\y;ans 9»d gpese.,,. These are the .most northerly
points where larg^, fowl are met with, and projecting out between
deep coves, where inimense numbers of these, birds feed, they possess
great advantages,..«TJ^spjith point pf Bush River, or Lego.e's. Point,
and Robbin's-and. Rifiketfs's! Points near Gunpowder River, are fruitful
localities. . Immediately at the mouth of this river is, situated Carroll's
Island,, which has. leng.be,en. known,31s » „great shooting ground, and is
in the rentage of a.epmpany at a, high rate. Maxwell's Point, as well
as some others up this and other rivers, and even further down the bay,
are good places,,-but le§%..celebrated than those I have mentioned.
Most of thgse points are let out as shooting grounds to companies and
individuals, and they are esteemed so valuable that intruders are severely
treated.
" It has been ascertained that disturbing the fowl on the feeding flats