Surf Scoter

Half a century ago some enterprising individuals built an hotel a quarter of a mile long on Rockaway Beach. It was unsuccessful commercially and went into bankruptcy. My old shipmate, Jim Wilkinson, "accepted a position" as watchman. Jim's attention to the time clock was less intense than his devotion to the gun. When his watch fell in the night, Jim slept and we tramped the beach next day.

Among treasure trove collected was a sixteen foot catarmaran which probably had drifted across from Coney Island where it had been used by lifeguards on the bathing beach. Running the breakers with this outfit was no trick at all and we collected (?) numbers of sea ducks and coots.

The Scoters soon learned to avoid us but newly arrived flocks often gave us a chance. Heavily feathered, tuff and swift awing, sea coots can get away with more ammunition than other ducks. Many a charge of number 2 rippled around a floating SURF SCOTER, resulting only in a flirted tail, a hoarse quack and disappearance. It was almost impossible to kill one on the water, unless hit in head or neck.

Captured birds served a useful purpose: I sketched and noted colors, then Jim sold them for fifty cents apiece! to less fortunate gunners.

Walter Rich says they are tuff customers gastronomically or in life! Cooks believe it impossible to prepare them as fit food for even starving men. The best method is: first, skin your fowl and parboil it in saleratus water for a day or until it can be dented with a sharp ax. If your courage holds, stuff and bake, being sure to put in enuf onions to remove all Coot flavor. There are two lines of retreat now open: either throw away your delicate morsel or give it to one against whom you hold a bitter grudge — on no account attempt to eat it yourself!