Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-21
The Eastern ShOs.
GAME, OYSTERS, PONIES,
~ ETC

The Eastern Shos.
| eHINCoTEA0uE-ITs GAME, OYSTERS PONIES,
| AZ III ETC.
| Correspondence II the Philadelphia Star.
| CHINCorEAGtE ISLAND, VA, Dec. 1S.-Chinco-
| league has long had q high reputation IS
! sporting point. For many years it has been a
| favorite resort for those who delight in ducking
| or in taking fish after the anglers fashion. OF
| the latter sport there Is usually, In season, a
| great variety hare. Immediately opposite the
| room In which j am writing, and not more than
200 yards distant. there is during nearly the en-
tire season, from the early part of June-some-
| times as soon as the middle Of May excellent
| fishing. Weak fish. tailor fish, sea bass, spots
and other of the ordinary but less plentiful or
| desirable kinds abound. Hard and soft crabs
are caught in the Immediate vicinity in any de-
| sired quantity for bait or table consumption.
IL large fish are wanted, such as Sleeps
| head. they are found in moderate num-
| bers In the channel at and near the
| inlet. about two miles below Chinco-
league waters are not favorite resorts for these
| much-sOught fish. Chrisfed affording much bet
| ter sport to the sheepshead angler. On the
| ocean beach. about two miles distant great
| many drum-fsh are taken in season. One Of
| the merits of Chincoteague is the moderate rate
| of hotel fare and the reasonable charges Of the
| boatmen.
| The wonder is that city sportsmen do not
more frequently visit Chincoteague. for in addi-
ton to its fishing attractions there are few bet
| ter points within convenient reach for gunners.
| IN the early spring and. to considerable eX-
tent, through the winter, the beaches and
Islands within ten OF fifteen miles of this place
are alive with choice game birds, such as willet.
! curlew, robins and English snipe, yellow legs,
etc. Men who thoroughly understand this bust
ness can be had for a reasonable price, and ex
! pert gunners may confidently calculate upon
| plenty of birds and tirst-class sport.
DUCKS, GEESE AND BRANT.
| The waters along the entire Atlantic coast,
from Cape Henelope to Cape Henry, abound In
wild fowl, embracing all the leading varieties
except the famous canvas-back, of which only
occasional stragglers find their way there. A
few are sometimes shot in the fresh water
ponds in the vicinity of Rehoboth, but the head
waters OF the Chesapeake, especially at the
mouth of the Susquehanna are the tavorite
haunts of these ducks.
The varieties of ducks which frequent the
waters of Chncoteague are the black duck,
bald-crown, red-necks. fiap-duck, dipper, teal
and mallard The brant or brand goose is
found here in great abundance and is highly es-
teemed by the inhabitants, most Of them prefer
ring this species Of fowl to the ducks. In size
1t Is larger than the largest ducks. and smaller
than the wild goose. 1t affords fine sport for
guDners.
l had an opportunity of conversing with one
OF the proprietors of the beach ponies that are
found on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands,
principally the latter. The right to place ponies
on Assatsague Island or beach was purchased
by a citizen Of the main land, who sublet his
right to some eight or ten others. all Of whom
have greater or less number Of these rugged
little beasts there The ponies the year round
{cIn
and although continually exposed to the ele-
ments. few of them die.
Nature provides them with coating of hair
that is almost fmperviOus to water. bucket
OF water, OF two or three of them, dashed over
their bodies fails to penetrate to the skin. They
live on the natural grass of this land and are
never fed until taken under mans care for do
mestlcatlOn. For the first three or four days
after their capture they do not relish hay oats
or corn. but soon become fond Of it, and there
after thrive nicely upon it, The thick coating
OF hair disappears when they are housed during
the winter, and they become sleek and fat. They
nave wonderful powers of endurance, being
| good travellers as well as good draught beasts
where the service expected of them is not. dis
| prOpOrtiOnate to their size. When the ground
Is covered with snow, they use their front feet
to clear it away, and by that means reach the
grass.
In August Of each year they have what is
called pony drive" which means that the
branded either on the jaw or hip with the marks
OF their respective owners This ownership is
determined by watching the colts and noting
the mothers that nurse them, all of the mothers
being branded.
The price Of ponies varies from $50 to $50 ac-
corning TO size. symmetry and action. A match
pair. of fine shape. color and good movement,
Will bring 800, but these are only exceptional
cases.
great many cattle are also raised on this
island, after the same manner as the ponies
They. too, are branded. in the spring of the
year, COWS that have calves are taken to the
main land with their offspring aud kept there
for three or four months. when they are re-
turned to the island to take their chances
These animals appear to thrive as well as the
ponies, getting very fat during the fall and
early winter. pair of beach oxen will COM
mand as much as 500. There are more cattle
than ponies.
Assateague island is about 80 miles in length
and the ponies and cattle have the whole range
OF 1t. A few years ago, during very severe
storm. the ocean swept over nearly the entire
Island. drowning large number of the animals
Since then the owners do notcare to allow their
stock to multiply largely; at least that was the
reason given by my informant for not increasing
his.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
The soil of considerable portion of Chinco-
league island is productive. Fine potatoes are
grown, and in larger quantity than is needed
for the supply of the inhabitants, though the en-
tire population exceeds 1000 The surplus is
sent to market, and as this esculent natures
two weeks earlier than those in the same lati-
tude on the mainland, remunerative prices are
realized
OYSTERS AND FISH.
But the mainstays of Chincoteague are oysters
and fish, especially the former. The Chinco-
league oyster is a celebrity, though not a native
to its waters. The seed oysters are procured
from the Potomac and planted in the shallow
waters of the bay, where they are permitted to
remain two years, when they are taken up and
marketed. reason given for not allowing
them to remain longer is the fact that, after
that time they are attacked by little animal
which the eystermen term "screw- driver"
This pest bores through the shell of the oyster
and causes its death.
This season the oysters from this section are
not in nearly as good condition as usual. They
have lost none Of the flavor that causes them to
be held in such high esteem. but the unusually
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