The New York herald., 1871-03-12
HAvRs DE GRACE, Md, Feb. Is, 1871.

Ialk when all others become 'stae, nat and un-
proftablen II never wears out and never for an
hour loses interest TO sure, he will talk poll
tics agriculture and social science but 1t easy to
see that haf hours talk on politics disgusts him.
having had more than enough OF that during the
s'onpleasantness' OF recent date. Corn and oats
are all very well In their way; but talk to him of
sporting marters-duck shooting, horse racing nsn.
ing anything that is not called work for the mind
or body-and 1t viii be readily seen how quick his
eye brghtens and his whole soul becomes en-
wrapped In the all-absorbng topic 1t must not
be inferred from the above that Marylanders are
a lazy people; on the contrary, they are about as
active in mercantile and agricultural pursuits as
other people, but the traditions Of their forefathers
and the habits OF the present day give their minds
bias In favor CT sporting They Will all tell you OF
the gorles of their ancestors; how many hounds
were kept the moonlight fishing parties, and hunt
ing expeditions by day; and the greatest delight OF
cid wooy-headed negro is TO dwell on the sports
OF his youth and early manhood. when, In company
with his young massa, he helped track the deer
through the marshes that skirt the Chesapeake or
held the hounds untn the signal for the fox chase
was heard.
1t Is not, then, matter Of wonder that among
people OF this temperament there should be found
TO devote their lives to shooting and fishing as
a OF income. IL Is estimated that there are
1000 people engaged in this business exclusively
along the shores of the bay from Havre de Grace to
Fortress Monroe, and that they have generally made
enough through the shooting season to keep them
through the winter. They generally subsist on fish
during the winter months, and more healthy and
contented lot OF people up TO the beginning OF
the late troubles it would be hard TO ind.
The principal part OF the shooting is done within
ten miles OF this place. About $50 men and half
grown boys residing at Havre de Grace and proba-
bly, 100 at Perryville do nothing but shoot and fish
from one end Of the year to the other.
DUCK SHOOTING.
as practised on the Chesapeake, Is not much OF an
art; few lessons and sure aim soon make a man
proficient. Residents OF Maryland are pronclents
long before arriving at manhood While boys IN
other parts OF the country are devoting all their
energies and spare change to organizing baseball
clubs. Havre de Gracians are keeping their eyes
peeled for chance TO ''swapi something for gun.
The next thing Is q
SINK BOAT.
ahybrtdized, q coffin shaped scow, with wings on
each side; sufficient weight ts put into the boat to
keep it level with the surface Of the water; the
wings serve to balance 1t. The gunner then lies
on his back, his mead slightly elevated,
and begins putting out his decoys; about
one hundred and fifty OF these decoys are
ioated out from the wings on each side, and
the boat Is almost imperceptlbly propelled over
the surface OF the water The unsuspecting canvas.
backs oat gracefully up to their supposed relatives
only to meet their Deaths When we reject that
gunncrs frequently shoot from $50 to 800 ducks per
day, and over 100 gunners are shooting, 1t would
seem that the supply would soon be exhausted.
Thirty thousand ducks per day 1t looks very much
like exaggeration. yet am assured on good au-
thorlty that this number was killed In one day
last ta
ANOTHER SOURCE OF INCOME
to let these Doats to sp0rtsmen from New York,
Baltimore and Philadelphia, the regular price being
800 per day. As no one was ever known to grum-
bic at the price, 1t may be inferred that 1t was not
deemed exorbitant. BUT q change came over the
spirit OF their drean-it became whispered that all
the ducks were beng killed. The authorities were
published forpiddng duck shooting from sink boats.
Tne hunters were alarmed, Indignant and cnraged.
and they utterly refused 10 obey the order
THE FEELING BECAME SO STRONG
that many people who had never followed the busi-
ness constructed sink boats and began hunting
career. The slaughter or ducks was irightful Hun
dieds were wantonly killed just to show the United
States Marshal that the inhabitants at once despsed
him and viewed his orders with contempt.
GUNBoAT WAS SENT FOR.
She appeared on the scene and the feeling became
more bitter than ever and the duck shooting Kept
on, though under the The gunbOatS crulsed
up ana down the bay and occasionally & arrested
chased some duck hunters into Havre de Grace but
they dared not land. The whole town was up and
armed ready to receive them, women running
wildly through the streets, men rushing home after
their 'snootin' irons' aud for about two hours the
quiet little village the scene Of the greatest
element. Finally the naval heroes pulled back to
the gunboat and she steamed away and Kept out Of
sight for several days; but representative OF the
law appeared In the shape OF small sloop having
cannon ON board. The story, rs told by the Havre
de Grace Republican, is as lolows:-
% .e e ew S M sns o
Sunday evening In Spesua OF soop belonging
the oyster having on board their
@ % himself IN her ' way
and with ms boats and Report
been a Jealous supporter Of the wild fow' law il so
sra,e beauties We called
asa ana e true %
$40 and his traps conhscaed another security only was
s
up The Oats opposite Lshhoas where lays
IKE the dog ~. marGer preventng al shooting
whacking.
ANOTHER CAUSE OF COMPLAINT
against the OBNOXIOUS law Is apty set forth In the
following item from the sam paper
gunnes lowed to follow their usual vocation
ssaS ss
ducks This would enable them to provide for the neces
sderaby revenues OF the town We do not believe
s be Ne sa y s snes w Sh
shot At .ros Island aa The than the
avcrite feeding grounas and where they WIN remain until
a % an %S srs Of M
bu, from full review Of the question we do not
countless numbers prolific perceptibe
effect In diminishing their numbers.
1t Will be readily that any law that operated
to keep the above sum from the pockets OF the mer-
chants each week would meet with no little oppost-
tlOn, not only from the duck hunters and merchants
but from all classes OF the community.
IN THEIR EXTREMITY
they called meeting resolutions were adopted and
a committee appointed to call on Governor Bowie
and state their grievances. lie replied To the com.
lnittee presenting the memoria-"that my very first
Official act was fake oath to the laws,
and tnat there Is but for me, that Is
TO have this particular law, like All others, executed
as best l CAM This raised their ire exceedingly;
the 10 nj press teemed with sarcastic articles Of
which. speaking OF the Governors answer t0 the
committee says
With all due Difference your Official position, Governor
think must be joking. You those laws,
Governor that passed IN the Interest OF the rich and
large money raised private
contributions assist you In their enforcement How about
the militia meeting with In collecting
the head? Are enforcing the laws against
luxurious OF interest," Perhaps not that
than E per exacted Certainly
not How about state laws relating betting cleo