The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-28

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BEAUFORT HARBoR, A.
Near Coast. n. c., April 9th, 1868.
| I wrote you last from the strip Of land that
runs along our coast; it is long and narrow
sand bar, a kind Of break-water between the uu-
merogs and Ene sheets of water that lie inside,
and the old ocean itself
Beaufort Harbor is one of the finest bodies Of
water on tho Atlantic coast. 1t is large enough
aud deep enough for feet. 1t win aceonnlo-
date vessels of Is feet DRAFT Old TCpsail Inlet,
which connects it.sith the ocean is IL feet deep.
Z is Ca So niles from the ocean aud IS
4.i1, r. or. s<ace sx:sty inside. the skip hnds
Itself ON p,acid bay, two or tlsree miles square.
The town Of Beaufort. Morehead City and
Fort Macon, lie at the points of the triangle, and
about two miles distant from each other, on three
sides OF the harbor. In front is Old Topsail In
let To the left stretches Core Sound, to the
right Bogue Sound Calico Greek is to these
large waters what the rat terrier is TO several
large dogs. 1t comes round from the left OF
Morehead, as you face the sea. To the right
again is Newport River. =. 3 sssasa
Beaufort Harbor lies in the midst of these
surroundings, as placid as a lake, much of Gths
time. SIS ( .z15.<avkg
Never was there place that offered fner
sport in the amusement of sail boating. The
stIl DbdVs kutlIsciNCs arc sdDuHuduty dita rtoh
easily be hired, with boatmen who know how to
manage boat, as well as an up-countryman un-
derstands wheelbarrow. The route is almost
endless, to the Fort, to the banks, around Har-
kers Island, ETC., etc. . -as- n sas.t are.
The duck tribes are most abundantly repre-
sented in this Harbor and the surrounding sounds
and marshes. Fa f N -
The highest priced duck is the Mallard, o
large fne-lookipe fowl Il has dark colorcd
feathers. -@''tt
The Raft. or Red Head Duck comes next to
the Mallard in quality, perhaps. 1t is large, and
the meat fine.
The Black Head Duck is abundant A parcel
Of corn is deposited, convenient to the ranges Of
the Black Head and in a few days focks of them
gather at the spot, when they are shot; invite
him to dine, then dine on him.
The Spoon Bill Duck has beak almost exactly
like the bowl part of tea spoon. .... ...r
But it would be impossible, in a letter like
this to give you details Of all the Ducks in these
waters, There is the little Sprie-Ta Duck, the
Dye-Dipper. the Black Brandt, Eel Pot, and some
twenty or thirty varieties in all. --..,.f s..8.
For the most part they are obtained by means
Of powder and shot Ducks sleep on the water
at night. A bright light is placed in canoe,
and the duckers row out into places frequented
them The hunters FIRE into the focks, and So
cure good number. They can get but one shot
at each flock however, as the birds take to their
wings at the first FIRE. II is rather calculated to
interrupt the slumbers of the duck family .thus
to fire upon them. but it is admirably calculated
to give part of the human family a good break
fast next morning.
These ducks are divided into two habits. the
grass feeding, and the fsh-fecding The former
are far more palatable. The flesh of the fish
duck il impregnated with the fish taste, and dis
liked by many, but there is fine grass at the
bottom of the waters which is an elegant pasture
for these fowls The ducks like the grass, and
the people like the ducks, SO it works well all
around. s--se.-,.s 90 ...l. ... t +.'f
There are many other members Of the feathered
tribes here. The Long Bill Curlew is a noble
bird and fine for food. Willcts, Snipes, Sea
Chickens and Strikers abound and afford fine
sport for the summer visitor. The Narsh Hen
is of the most abundant fowls of the vicinity.
1t is web footed and makes poor job Of walking.
1t seeks the marshes to lay its eggs and hatch it's
young often "a in number at one setting. They
are easily caught provided you do not mind wet
feet and muddy boots. .sH @i :"
All through this country, there are what are
| called marshes. They are islands in the salt
water They are not always above water, when
the tide IS IN, they sFe submerged. w hen the
tide is ont they slightly above water. enough
50 as to afford a foot hold They are composed
Of sand oysters grass and mud. the latter rather
abundant The Marsh Heu selects the highest
spots. snch as are never overfowed. They are
hid from the view of boatIDen and ID is only by
! going into the marsh that they are found they
are heard. however, in passing. They have
note something like guisea chicken and make
good use of their cackIing faculties But think
this is the case with most females. I Substitute
some other word for czekliBg, however, when i
come to the human females, especially in their
presence. *~ @.s f..~ - 's 9 a.s'
The Gull is one of the most abundant birds of
the coast II lives mostly on the wing. It
| floats over the water, and fixing its eyelupon
fish, it peises over few seconds then folding its
wings, it drops upon the victim The Gull is
mostly white but not unfrequently they are found
mixed with white and black They viii follow
vessels for miles, to pick up the refuse from the
cooks department. 4# l1@s7sys9.
There are two Herrons here. the white and
the blue. If there were red species, il would
be right loyal set They remarkable for
their long legs. The body is small in proportion
to their height. 1t is a good fisher. II stands
| in shallow water. and keeps sharp lockout for
FISH, which it has not only liking for but faculty
for catching. The bill Just suits and, likely,
the heron thinks he has pocket that also just
suits. @ 2as.sss-' ~ ~'
More about the harbor next week
-s:as ITIsERAST
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