Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-09
CONTINUED from first page. I

flight is close to the surface of water.
Black ducks and spring-tails, or birds
which fly at considerable altitude, are
apt to look into battery and consequent
ly avoid it. The use of these machines is
not so harmful in large expenses of water
as in small and narrow bays. Here they
are positively fatal and should not be
tolerated. Laws are. indeed. enacted for
bidding their use, but no attention is paid
to these statutes, and they are used
Unfortunately.
The fire-lighting of geese il done, OF
course on very dark nights. On the bow
of boat lantern. similar to the head
light OF a locomotive, is rugged. The
boat is slowly propelled towards the birds
on their feeding grounds These, when
the light approaches, sit with heads and
necks erect, motionless, and paralyzed
with fear. They may be approached
within twelve feet. Moreover, the birds
in their terror huddle together, so that
when fire is opened on them the slaughter
is great. After being shot at, they rise
on the wing, and in their bewilderment
often dash directly against the lantern.
The effect Of disturbing a wary bird like
the goose after this fashion may be readi-
ly imagined. a single experience of the
Kind suffices to drive him panic stricken
finally and forever from such localities.
There is law forbidding this practice it
is seldom or never enforced.
We now come 10 the dusking of ducks.
This is likewise fatal and reckless way
OF killing fowl. The black duck, spring
tail and teal feed usually close under the
sedgy shores. During the day. so per-
sistently have they been pursued, it is diff
ficult TO eDtice them to the decovs; con-
sequently they are shot in the dusk Of the
evening. when the shades of night OBJ
scure objects which experience has taught
them to avoid. In the early evening the
fash Of a gun is visible at a great distance;
the effect on birds seeking their feeling
grounds is disastrous. Laws have been
enacted against this method Of killing
ducks. They are likewise never enforced.
On every favorable occasion the shores
are lined with gunners who dusk birds far
into the night. For DAYS the particular
locality is entirely deserted by these birds
which. when they do return, fly high in
the air. and peer cautiously about them.
To bring them within gunshot is impos-
sible.
Every season the shooting on our coasts
becomes poorer. While birds may be
plenty, they are wild, and will not ap-
prOach closely the decoys. The latter
may be placed with never so much skill ::
the birds when in sight of them set their
wings and give way rs if to rush directly
among them, but at twenty rods distant
they swirl up into the air. and dash of
terror-stricken. They have come to I'M
derstand the fatal quality of the decoy. If
proper restrictions were enforced. this
need not be the ease. In Maryland, where
the canvas-back ducA shooting is n source
of considerable revenue, the State author
tiles were aroused to protect that which
through greed was being rapidly destroy
ed. Restrictive and wise laws were en-
acted. Il patrol force created. and the wa
tiers of the State thoroughly polced. The
result is the wiId-fowl shooting of the
Chesapeake is improving instead of de-
teriorating. The same wise system might
be adopted by the State of New York for
the south shore of Long Island and the
lakes. New Jersey should adopt similar
measures for its coastline. The present
method of enforcing the game laws in
States last mentioned is certainly not eff
fectivc. They should he enforced by a
regularly organized force. or repealed en-
tirely. As they now stand, honest men
obey them. while rogucs violate them.
with impunity. Why. indeed, should not
migratory wild fowl be Protected in the
spring of the year rs well as the upland
game bird and songstero When the for
mer are mating they should not he har-
rassed or tormcnted. but should be allowed
their breeding places lIndisturbpd The
close season should be between the LIST of
February and the LIST OF September. A
law to this effect should be passed and
enforced. Then. notwithstanding the de
structiye devices in use. the autumn would
see our bays and sounds filled with birds
Every female destroyed in spring is equiv
alent to ten birds lost to us in the autumn
Hdiper's Weekly.