Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-11-02

fair supply. The varieties taken on our
river are the maliard, canvass back, red
sss SIaee Se:. sss S,1s wing
the most sought for, AZ they are OF the best
flavor, large and fat. Captain David Davis,
the veteran hunter OF South Washington.
who has followed
DUCK HUNTING
for over forty years, always lays for this
kind, as they bring ne best prices in market
feeding on wild celery. This species Of Wild
duck which not many years ago were so
plentiful are nov . scarce In this river; Capt.
feen them 20 plentiful when they would rise
as TO obscure the sun from the vision, and
MI. james skidmore, the we'll known game
and send them to Europe, where they were
entirely unknown. Their scarcity II owing
10 their being so much hunted. The other
Davis has probably furnished more duck to
our markets In the last forty years than any
dozen funters together. He is now fitting
mp bis traps for fall and winter tour down
the river. He uses the same gun be COM
menoed with. and Notwithstanding the
boosted improvements In ire arms he finds
no use In changing, as his keen and unerring
sight never fails TO bring down his game.
His stock In trade is his boat, gun, tent, and
decoy ducks. His game 10 all consigned to
MI. James Skidmore, who disposes OF it all.
specially hereabouis may be MENTIONED
Capt George A. sheckell, Captain De Alley,
John Joy, Dennis Farrell, and the Johnson
brothers, of Alexandria.
WILD GEESE.
Captain Davis occasionally sends q wild
goose, which he drops down on the Crsney
their migratory flight. These birds are not
the best OF Wild game. They are apt to be
tough, and poor at that, although occasion
ally tender bird is dropped.
WILD TURKEYS
ere big game, and are mostly taken In Vir-
gtnia. They are not coming in much as yet.
The season for them comes on about the mid
Ole OF NOvem Der and continues up to jan
uary. There's nothing better than q fat
young gobbler roasted with plenty of stuff
Ing; cranberry sauce is Indispensable; celery
OF course; The large game In our market Is
supplied largely from North Carolina, Ten
nessee, and the northwestern States, espe-
c1ally for grouse and turkeys.
SMALL GAME.
Partridges and pheasants come on with
November, and as yet but few have made
their appear here. The latter are said
TO be scarce this year.
which is thought by sportsmen TO be the big
run made on them last fall. They sell for
$3.50 to &5 per dozen now. There are other
sma, PITTS IN supplied through the
THE TIME FOR oRToLAN AND REED BIRDS
has passed for the present year. The season
for these birds IL from the middle of August
to the last OF September. OrtOlan are never
seen after the first frost appears, and reed
birds disappear with the harvest season.
The habits OF the former are mystery to
sportsmen, as no one appears to know where
they come from, nor where they 60, and as
they are never seen to fly in hOcks like other
migratory birds, the belief prevails that
they travel in the night time, following
through the marshes and low grounds bor-
oerfng on rivers and streams, toward q
warmer climate. In the southern states they
waters as the Grail" They somewhat re-
semble the crow duck, in form, but are much
smaller. Their flesh, In season, is fat, tender
and delicious, and for this reason they are
much sought after, and In consequence are
becoming scarce In our marshes. They bring
In our markets from 81 TO 81 per dozen very
readily.
Reed birds appear about the same time
with the OrtOlan. They are q gralniferous
bird and fatten on the seed of the wild oats
on our river fats, and the seed OF other
and disappear with the harvest season.
They travel in immense focks; thousands
are shot annually in our marshes, and dur
ing the season they are usually very plenti-
full In our markets. The price for them
early sometimes is as high as 80 per dozen,
creases to 80 cents or even less. When seed
Is plentiful they become very fat, sometimes
bursting the skin when they drop to the
ground at the crack of the huntsman's gun.
The doubl G. barrel gun with small bird shot
10 generally used in this sport, as, when
they rise in dense fiocks, the nuntsnsn has
q reserve shot for them, which Is generally
the best one. The popular manner of cook
Ing Is by brOfling, and they are served on
toast Another excellent way OF cooking
them is In pot pie-celery accompaniment,
OF course-and when they are well seasoned
and cooked make q dish ut for king. The
reed bird is thought TO be the rice bird OF the
south and the bobOliuk of the north.