Democratic messenger., 1881-09-10
Bee Hunting.
How THE SHORTS OF GUMBoRo GET
THEIR LIVING -CAPTURING THE In
sEcTs AND EXTRACTING

How THE SHORTS OF GUMBORo GET
THEIR LIVING G-CAPrURING THE In
sEcTs AND EXTRACTING
THE HONEY.
Bee hunting in Sussex county is
something more than q pastime; it is a
business in which cents aud dollars are
the object, to obtain which. much time,
labor and some danger arc involved.
Probably the best known and most ex-
pert hunters are the Short brothers,
Isaac. Myers and Shadrach. They live
in Gumboro. Their daily toll aud in
TERMS Of amusement are spent amid the
shadows of Cypress Swamp. Every
tree aud tussock, every creek and rivu-
let are as familiar to their eyes as the
great book of nature TO Omuipotence.
They can tell within q foot the exact
depth of the best shingls giving cedar.
and the tedium of their labor is relieved
by stories and traditions Of the gloomy
place. A life time in its underground
has brought them experiences expert
ences which their native mother wit has
turned 10 good account.
In their hunt for honey trees their
mode of operation is simple. They
start out early in the morning for some
dense tbicket. taking with .hem a small
particle of honey in a box. Looking
about for favorable spot they fix their
bait, aud soon Struggling bees begin to
collect about the box. After the insect
has eaten his Gil his instinct leads him
in direct line for his tree. The bunt-
ers. with senses alert. follow the insect
eagerly. putting into their limbs their
full power. Over bushes, through
brake aud brier, jumping from one OBJ
stac!e to another at the risk of life and
liiRb. the chase goes possibly for miles
If luck is good the bee will be one of a
big swarm, aud its bive will be collect
ed in . gum tree of a large cavity.
When the tree is found it is marked
generally with an X, SO that struggling
way farers know that BY right of discov-
cry the tree is private property. Some
times other hunters drop around acci-
IDENTIFY, and although the oppo rtunity Of
piliering the tree is at hand the occur
rences are very rare where this kind of
robbery is committed. Among profess
sional bee hunters nothing in their eyes
is meauer or more despicable than
theft of this kind, and where exceptions
occur they are generally followed by
prompt and effective retribution. Ii Is
we'll for the marauder that this is SO for
the Short family is bad family to buck
against. Whatever may be the mis-
fortunes of other hunters the trees OF
the Shorts are never disturbed They
are left 10 security until fall time when
preparations are made to hive the bees
When the bees are thus disposed of the
tree is cut down aud the work of taking
out tie honey begins. The delicious
store is carefully gathered. To one
unscquainted with the operation the
amount of honey extracted frou one
tree is simply marvellous. The honey
is then taken home aud put up in re-
quired quantities, and shipped to New
York. where good prices are obtained.
The bees are also transferred to the
home of the Shorts where they Oau buzz
in unison with other numerous swarms.
The Shorts take pride in the number Of
their trophies. Regularly marked end
we'll cared for the hives sit about the
yard as numerous as scaips ia the lodss
of an sboiiginc.