with the modes in which the Canvass-backs are obtained for the
markets, I here present an account of duck-shooting on the waters of
the Chesapeake, published some years ago in the “Cabinet of Natural
History,” and of which a copy has been transmitted to me by its author,
Dr J. J. SHARPLESS, of Philadelphia, to whom, for this and other marks
of attention, I offer my best thanks.
“The Chesapeake Bay, with its tributary streams, has, from its
discovery, been known as the greatest resort of water-fowl in the
United States. This has depended on the profusion of their food, which
is accessible on the immense flats or shoals that are found near the
mouth of the Susquehanna, along the entire length of North-East and
Elk Rivers, and on the shores of the bay and connecting streams, as far
south as York and James Rivers.
“The quantity of fowl of late years has been decidedly less than in
times gone by; and I have met with persons who have assured me that the
number has decreased one-half in the last fifteen years. This change
has arisen, most probably, from the vast increase in their destruction,
from the greater number of persons who now make 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. glacialis_;
and the Ruddy or Heavy-tailed Duck, _A. 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_;
Red-head, _A. Ferina_; and the Goose, _A. Canadensis_, appear, and
rapidly distribute themselves down the bay. The Canvass-back, _A.
Valisneria_, and the Swan, _Cygnus 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, from their privation during their migration, and perhaps
preparatory arrangements, and require some days at least of undisturbed
repose, to give them that peculiar flavour for which some of them
are so celebrated. During the low tides succeeding 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 feeding, they commence their career, and pass down the bay in the
morning, and return in the evening. Most of these fowl feed on the same
grass, which grows abundantly on the shallows in the bay and adjacent
waters, and has been called duck-grass, _Valisneria Americana_. It
grows from six to eighteen inches in length, and is readily pulled
up by the root. Persons who have closely observed these ducks while
feeding, 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 Bald-pate 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 they feed on the same grass, is evident from the
similarity of flavour; and those most accustomed to the article have a
difficulty in deciding on the kind of duck from the taste. Indeed, the
Bald-pate is generally preferred by residents.
“By the middle of December, particularly if the weather has been a
little severe, the fowl of every kind have become so fat, that I have
seen 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 sets them on these
projections of the land, they are compelled to pass within shot, and
often over the land itself.
“In the Susquehanna 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 Spesutie Island and the
western shore. These narrows are about three miles in length, and from
three to five hundred yards in breadth. By the middle of November,
the Canvass-backs in particular, begin to 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, which is situated at the mouth of the Rumney, and
Abbey Island at the mouth of Bush River, which are both celebrated
for ducks, as well as swans and geese. These are the most northerly
points where large fowl are met with, and projecting out between
deep coves, where immense numbers of these birds feed, they possess
great advantages. The south point of Bush River, or Legoe’s Point,
and Robbin’s and Rickett’s Points near Gunpowder River, are fruitful
localities. Immediately at the mouth of this river is situated
Carroll’s Island, which has long been known as a great shooting ground,
and is in the rentage of a company 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 less celebrated than those I have mentioned.
Most of these 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
is followed in most cases by their forsaking those haunts, and seeking
others; hence, in the rivers leading to the bay near flying points,
they are never annoyed by boat-shooting, either by night or day, and
although the discharge of guns from the shore may arouse them for a
time, they soon return; whereas a boat or sail in chase a few times,
will make them forsake a favourite spot for days.
“From the great number of ducks that are seen in all directions, one
would suppose that there could be no doubt of success at any one of
the points in the course of flight; but whilst they have such correct
vision as to distance, and wide range of space, unless attending
circumstances are favourable, a sportsman may be days without a
promising shot. From the western side of the bay, and it is there the
best grounds are found, the southerly winds are the most favourable;
and, if a high tide is attended by a smart frost and mild south
wind, or even calm morning, the number of birds set in motion becomes
inconceivable, and they approach the points so closely, that even a
moderately good shot can procure from fifty to one hundred ducks a-day.
This has often occurred, and I have seen eight fat Canvass-backs killed
at one discharge into a flock, from a small gun.
“To a stranger visiting these waters, the innumerable ducks, feeding in
beds of thousands, or filling the air with their careering, with the
great numbers of beautiful white swans resting near the shores, like
banks of driven snow, might induce him to suppose that the facilities
for their destruction were equal to their profusion, and that with
so large an object in view, a sportsman could scarcely miss his aim.
But, when he considers the great thickness of their covering, the
velocity of their flight, the rapidity and duration of their diving,
and the great influence that circumstances of wind and weather have on
the chances of success, it becomes a matter of wonder how so many are
destroyed.
“The usual mode of taking these birds has been, till recently, by
shooting them from the points during their flight, or from the land or
boats, on their feeding grounds, or by _toling_, as it is strangely
termed, an operation by which the ducks are sometimes induced to
approach within a few feet of the shore, from a distance often of
several hundred yards. A spot is usually selected where the birds have
not been much disturbed, and where they feed at three or four hundred
yards from, and can approach to within forty or fifty yards of the
shore, as they will never come nearer than they can swim freely. The
higher the tides, and the calmer the day, the better, for they feed
closer to the shores and see more distinctly. Most persons on these
waters have a race of small white or liver-coloured dogs, which they
familiarly call the _toler_ breed, but which appear to be the ordinary
poodle. These dogs are extremely playful, and are taught to run up
and down the shore, in sight of the ducks, either by the motion of
the hand, or by throwing chips from side to side. They soon become
perfectly acquainted with their business, and as they discover the
ducks approaching them, make their jumps less high till they almost
crawl on the ground, to prevent the birds discovering what the object
of their curiosity may be. This disposition to examine rarities
has been taken advantage of by using a red or black handkerchief by
day, and a white one by night in toling, or even by gently plashing
the water on the shore. The nearest ducks soon notice the strange
appearance, raise their heads, gaze intently for a moment, and then
push for the shore, followed by the rest. On many occasions, I have
seen thousands of them swimming in a solid mass direct to the object;
and by removing the dog farther into the grass, they have been brought
within fifteen feet of the bank. When they have approached to about
thirty or forty yards, their curiosity is generally satisfied, and
after swimming up and down for a few seconds, they retrograde to
their former station. The moment to shoot is while they present their
sides, and forty or fifty ducks have often been killed by a small gun.
The Black-heads toll the most readily, then the Red-heads, next the
Canvass-backs, and the Bald-pates rarely. This also is the ratio of
their approach to the points in flying, although, if the Canvass-back
has determined on his direction, few circumstances will change his
course. The total absence of cover or precaution against exposure to
sight, or even a large fire, will not turn these birds aside on such
occasions. In flying-shooting, the Bald-pates are a great nuisance, for
they are so shy that they not only avoid the points themselves, but by
their whistling and confusion of flight at such times, alarm others.
“Simple as it may appear to shoot with success into a solid mass of
ducks sitting on the water at forty or fifty yards’ distance, yet when
you recollect that you are placed nearly level with the surface, the
object opposed to you, even though composed of hundreds of individuals,
may be in appearance but a few feet in width. To give, therefore, the
best promise of success, old duckers recommend that the _nearest_ duck
should be in perfect relief above the sight, whatever the size of the
column, to avoid the common result of over-shooting. The correctness of
this principle I saw illustrated in an instance in which I had toled to
within a space of from forty to seventy yards off the shore, a bed of
certainly hundreds of ducks. Twenty yards beyond the outside birds of
the dense mass, were five Black-heads, one of which was alone killed
out of the whole number, by a deliberate aim into the _middle_ of the
large flock from a rest, by a heavy well-proved duck-gun.
“Before I leave the subject of _sitting-shooting_, I will mention an
occurrence that took place in Bush River, a few years since. A man
whose house was situated near the bank, on rising early one morning,
observed that the river had frozen, except an open space of ten or
twelve feet in diameter, about eighty yards from the shore, nearly
opposite his house. The spot was full of ducks, and with a heavy gun
he fired into it. Many were killed, and those that flew soon returned,
and were again and again shot at, till, fearful that he was injuring
those already his own, he ceased the massacre, and brought on shore
ninety-two ducks, most of which were Canvass-backs.
“To prevent the dogs, whilst toling, from running in, they are not
allowed to go into the water to bring out the ducks, but another
breed of large dogs of the Newfoundland and water-spaniel mixture
are employed. These animals, whilst toling is in progression, or at a
point, take apparently as much interest in success as the sportsman
himself. During a flight, their eyes are incessantly occupied
in watching the direction from whence the birds come; and I have
frequently seen them indicate by their manner, the approach of a flock
so distant that the human eye would have overlooked it. As the ducks
come on, the dog lies down, but still closely observing them, and the
moment the discharge occurs, jumps up to see the effect. If a duck
falls dead, they plunge to bring it; but many of them wait to see _how_
he falls, and whither he swims, and they seem to be as aware as the
gunner, of the improbability of capture, and will not make the attempt,
knowing from experience that a bird merely winged will generally save
himself by swimming and diving. These dogs usually bring one duck at
a time out of the water; but a real Newfoundland, who was with me and
my company this autumn, was seen on several occasions to swim twenty
yards further, and take a second in the mouth to carry on shore. The
indefatigability and ambition of these animals are remarkable, and a
gentleman informed me he had known his dog bring, in the space of one
hour, twenty Canvass-backs and three Swans from the water, when the
weather was so severe that the animal was covered with icicles, and
to prevent his freezing be took his great-coat to envelope him. Some
dogs will dive a considerable distance after a duck, but a crippled
Canvass-back or Black-head, will swim so far under the water, that
they can rarely be caught by the dog; and it often has been observed,
that the moment one of these ducks, if merely winged, reaches the
surface, he passes under, and however calm, cannot be seen again. To
give an idea of the extreme rapidity with which a duck can dive, I will
relate an occurrence which was noticed by myself, and a similar one was
observed by another of the party the same day. A male South-southerly
was shot at in the water by a percussion-gun, and after escaping the
shot by diving, commenced his flight. When about forty yards from the
boat, he had acquired an elevation of a foot or more from the surface.
A second percussion-gun was discharged, and he dived from the wing at
the flash, and though the spot of entrance was covered by the shot,
soon rose unharmed and flew.
“Canvass-backs, when wounded on the streams near the bay, instantly
direct their course for it, and there nestle among the grass on the
shores till cured, or destroyed by eagles, hawks, gulls, foxes, or
other vermin, that are constantly on the search. If a dead Canvass-back
be not soon secured, it becomes a prey to the gulls, which rarely touch
any other kind. I have seen severe contests take place between crippled
Canvass-backs and Gulls; and although a pounce or two generally
prevents further resistance, sometimes they are driven off. If the bird
is remarkably savoury, the gull makes such a noise, that others are
soon collected, when possession is determined by courage or strength.
“Another mode of taking Ducks consists in placing gilling-nets under
water on the feeding-grounds, and when they dive for food, their head
and wings become entangled in the meshes, and they are drowned. This
plan, though successful at first, soon drives the bird from these
places; and in some cases, a few applications have entirely prevented
their return for some weeks. Paddling upon them in the night or day
produces the same effect, and although practised to some extent on
Bush River is highly disapproved of by persons shooting from points.
For the last three years a man has been occupied on this stream with
a gun of great size, fixed on a swivel in a boat, and the destruction
of game on their feeding-flats has been immense; but so unpopular is
the plan, that many schemes have been privately proposed of destroying
his boat and gun, and he has been fired at with balls so often that his
expeditions are at present confined to the night. Sailing with a stiff
breeze upon the geese and swans, or throwing rifle-balls from the shore
into their beds, is sometimes successful.
“Moonlight shooting has not been a general practice, but as these birds
are in motion during light nights, they could readily be brought within
range by “honking” them when flying. This sound is very perfectly
imitated at Egg Harbour; and I have seen geese drawn at a right angle
from their course by this note. They can indeed be made to hover over
the spot, and if a captive bird was employed, the success would become
certain.
“Notwithstanding the apparent facilities that are offered of success,
the amusement of duck-shooting is probably one of the most exposing to
cold and wet, and those who undertake its enjoyment without a courage
“screwed to the sticking-point”, will soon discover that “to one good
a thousand ills oppose.” It is indeed no parlour sport, for after
creeping through mud and mire, often for hundreds of yards, to be at
last disappointed, and stand exposed on points to the “pelting rain
or more than freezing cold,” for hours, without even the promise of a
shot, would try the patience of even FRANKLIN’s “glorious nibbler.”
It is, however, replete with excitement and charm, and to one who
can enter on the pleasure, with a system formed for polar cold, and a
spirit to endure “the weary toil of many a stormy day,” it will yield
a harvest of health and delight, that the “roamer of the woods” can
rarely enjoy.”
Although this far-famed bird was named by its discoverer after the
plant _Valisneria Americana_, on which it partially feeds when on
fresh-water, its subsistence is by no means dependent upon that
species, which indeed is not extensively distributed, but is chiefly
derived from the grass-wrack or Eel-grass, _Zostera marina_, which is
very abundant on the shallows and flats along the whole sea-coast. Its
flesh seems to me not generally much superior to that of the Pochard or
Red-head, which often mingles in the same flocks; and both species are
very frequently promiscuously sold in the markets as Canvass-backs.
In the Plate are represented two Males and a Female. In the back ground
is a view of Baltimore, which I have had great pleasure in introducing,
on account of the hospitality which I have there experienced, and the
generosity of its inhabitants, who, on the occasion of a quantity of my
plates having been destroyed by the mob during an outburst of political
feeling, indemnified me for the loss.
FULIGULA VALISNERIA, _Bonap._ Synops. of Birds of the United
States, p. 392.
ANAS VALISNERIA, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith., vol. viii. p. 103.
pl. 70. fig. 5.
FULIGULA VALISNERIA, _Richards. and Swains._ Fauna Bor. Amer.
iv. Part II. p. 450.
CANVASS-BACKED DUCK, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 430.
Adult Male. Plate CCCI. Fig. 1, 2.
Bill as long as the head, deeper than broad at the base, the margins
parallel, slightly dilated towards the end, which is rounded, the
frontal angles rather narrow and pointed. Upper mandible with the
dorsal line at first straight and declinate, then slightly concave,
direct for a short space near the tip, where it is incurved, the ridge
broad and concave at the base, narrowed at the middle, enlarged and
convex at the end, the sides nearly erect and concave at the base,
becoming anteriorly more and more declinate and convex, the edges
curved upwards, with about 50 lamellæ, the unguis small and oblong.
Nostrils submedial, linear-oblong, rather large, pervious, near the
ridge, in an oblong depression covered with soft membrane. Lower
mandible flattened, being but slightly convex, with the angle very
long and rather narrow, the dorsal line very short and straight, the
erect edges with about 55 inferior and 105 superior lamellæ, the unguis
obovato-elliptical.
Head rather large, compressed, convex above. Eyes small. Neck of
moderate length, rather thick. Body full, depressed. Wings small.
Feet very short, strong, placed rather far behind; tarsus very short,
compressed, anteriorly with narrow scutella continuous with those of
the middle toe, and having another series commencing half-way down
and continuous with those of the outer toe, the rest reticulated with
angular scales. Hind toe small, with an inner expanded margin or web;
middle toe nearly double the length of the tarsus, outer a little
shorter. Claws small, compressed, that of the first toe very small and
curved, of the third toe larger and more expanded than the rest.
Plumage dense, soft, blended. Feathers of the upper part of the head
small and rather compact, of the rest of the head and neck small,
blended, and glossy. Wings shortish, narrow, pointed; primary quills
strong, tapering, the first longest, the second almost as long, the
rest rapidly diminishing; secondary quills broad and rounded, the inner
elongated and tapering. Tail very short, much rounded, or wedge-shaped,
of fourteen feathers.
Bill black, with a tinge of green. Iris bright carmine. Upper part
of the head, and a space along the base of the bill dusky; a small
transverse band of white on what is called the chin; the rest of the
head, and the neck all round, for more than half its length, of a rich
brownish-red. A broad belt of brownish-black occupies the lower part of
the neck, and the fore part of the body, of which the posterior part
is of the same colour, more extended on the back than under the tail.
Back and scapulars white or greyish-white, very minutely traversed
by undulating black lines; wing-coverts similar but darker. Alular
feathers greyish-brown. Primary quills brownish-black, tinged with grey
towards the base; the shaft brown. Secondaries ash-grey, whitish, and
undulated with dark grey towards the end; five of them also having a
narrow stripe of black along their outer margin. Tail brownish-grey,
towards the end ash-grey. The lower parts white, the sides and abdomen
marked with fine undulating grey lines, of which there are faint traces
on most of the other feathers. The feet are greyish-blue tinged with
yellow.
Length to end of tail 22 inches, to end of wings 20, to end of claws
25; extent of wings 33; wing, from flexure, 9-3/4; tail 2-10/12; bill
along the back, measured from the tip of the frontal process to the end
of the unguis, 3; lower mandible along the edge 2-7/12; tarsus 1-3/4;
first toe 6/12, its claw 5/12; middle toe 2-10/12, its claw 5/12; outer
toe scarcely shorter; inner, 7/12 shorter. Weight 3-3/4 lb.
Adult Female. Plate CCCI. Fig. 2.
The Female has the bill coloured as in the male; the iris
reddish-brown; the feet lead-grey; the upper parts greyish-brown; the
top of the head darker, its anterior part light reddish; the chin
whitish; the neck greyish-brown, as are the sides and abdomen; the
breast white; wing-coverts brownish-grey; primary quills greyish-brown,
dusky at the end; secondary quills ash-grey, five of the inner
with an external black margin, the innermost greyish-brown like the
back, and with some of the scapulars faintly undulated with darker.
Tail greyish-brown, paler at the end; axillars and smaller under
wing-coverts white, as in the male.
Length to end of tail, 20-1/4 inches, to end of wings 18-1/2, to end of
claws, 23-1/4; extent of wings, 30-3/4: wing from flexure, 9-1/4. Weigh
2-3/4 lb.