The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-10-02
Correspondence Of The Cecil Wing.
Letter from Ysavre de Grace.

Correspondence Of The Cecil Wing.
Letter from Ysavre de Grace.
HAvRE DE GRACE SEPT. 80 80.
The Ducking Business-G Cunning Sta
tistics--Prospect for Ducks-The Lo-
cofoeo Meeting # last Solurday, &c.
Mr.. EprroR:-Those of our citizens
who make a business of cunning during
the ducking season, are making eXten.
s,ve preparations for the advent of the
feathered tribe. 1t has been quite
source of profit to our town, there being
several thousand dollars invested in out
fits, such as Boats, Decovs, &c. The
boats have temporary cabins in them to
protect the gunners from the weather
They generally shoot from boat which
is called ''Cofin;" box sufficiently
large for man to lie at full length,
with large wings on each side, to keep
it ahoat. 1t is then sunk, by weights,
level with the water and placed at
suitable distance from the decoys. AS
soon as the ducks make dart at the
decoys the person in the box raises up
and lets loose his artillery on them, gem
orally doing good execution.
To give your readers an idea of the
ammunition used during the cunning
season, | will give YOU a statement CIV
en- me by one of the gunners. The
season generally begins about the LIST of
October and ends in March; during this
time they consume some $3.50 lbs Of
powder, 1880 lbs. of shot, and use
some 5000 decoy ducks.
The "Biue Wings" have made their
appearance in large numbers, ard the
gunners are giving them a warm recep-
ton. 1t Is generally thought that ducks
will be abundant this year; their prin-
cipal feeding grounds, the "f7ats," be.
ing covered with grass When once
they get taste of the grass, it is difii-
cult matter to drive them away.
The Democratic mass meeting, for
this District, called by order of the State
Committee, took place here on Satur-
day last. A stand for the Speakers was
erected on the porch, in the yard ad-
joining the L. S. Hotel. There was not
more than 100 persons present at any
one time during the speaking, one third
of rhom mere Wings. The speaking
commenced about 1 o'clock, Messrs
McLane, Humphreys and Cox, address,
ed the meeting up to the departure Of
the cars for Baltimore, when an ad joun-
ment tc O; place until I o'clock.
The speeches We're pretty much all Of
the same caste, being noted for nothing
but abuse and ridicnle of the Wing cam
didate for President. One of the speak
ers, McLane, asserted that Gen. Scott
never expressed himself IN favor of the
Compromise before or after his nomina-
ton. A gentleman present denied the
assertion, and asked him to say to the
persons present whether or not Gen.
Scott made speech at Castle Garden
n. Y, in favor of the Compromise; he
: admitted the fact, but tried to evade the
answer, by saving he did not mention
the Fugitive slure lar.
After supper the Elector for this dis
trict harangued the people for an hour
The Wings expected to hear him ad-
vance some of the qualifications of Gen
Pierce for the Presidency, Gas none OF
the other Speakers had done so,) bat h
told them he hnd not time to tell them Of
Pierce; his speech was repetition Of
!. the same old song; that of Gen. Scott
being the candidate of the Abolition
party. He forgot TO tell the people that
Mr. Pierce was supported by such abol,
tionis,S as the Van Burens, Buffers, Viii
mot, and host of others of the samt
stripe. He could not conclude his speech
without mentioning the Gorsuch muir
der, he would not have considered it a
finished, as it seems most of their speak
ers, make grand flourish over it
His party Were Disguised with hi
speech; some of them exposed them
selves so. Yrs sc SKIMPoLE.