Billy Watson's Croker Sack: Essays

When he first saw a wild moose, the author was struck by its peaceable quality; it did not seem to belong in a world of predator and prey. Burroughs, who teaches English at Bowdoin College, goes on to discuss the moose-hunting controversy in Maine. In another essay, a snapping turtle on the highway reminds him of an eerie incident during his childhood in South Carolina. In these captivating tales Burroughs expatiates as well on fishing and duck-hunting. His ``daddy'' taught him to fish--a serious business during which it was important not to have a good time. He contrasts his fishing experiences with those of Nick Adams in Hemingway's ``Big Two-Hearted River.'' On duck-hunting, Burroughs conveys in vivid detail the allure of the sport, from decoys to the chill mornings in a blind. His most sensitive piece describes putting down the old family dog, Jacob. A pleasure to read, these essays contemplate the connections between humans and nature. Illustrated. (Feb.)