National Republican., 1883-08-25
CUNNING FOR GAME.


ing Season, which VIII Open on the
First OF September.
Tho cunning season will soon be upon us,
and overy variety Of sportsmen, from tho
small boy with his antique and battered mus
ket to the most experienced crack shots
armed with improved breech leaders. will in
wade tho marshes which surround Washing
ton. The sharp crack of guns will resound
from early twilight until late at night, while
the gunnors win gather them !" that is
ortolans toothsome reed birds, the game and
hard -to-kill snipe, aud tho plentiful black
birds. The latter variety fall victims gen
orally to the amateur gunners and tho boys
with muskets.
The professional hunters do not pay much
heed to blackbirds, because they do not sell
Mt such fancy prices as their ordinary looking
but epicurean neighbors do. The profession
ais expect brisk season, plenty of birds, and
consequently plenty of money, and in autici-
patton thereof are painting their ski1s and
overhauling their trusty pieces.
Advices from the North Carolina and Vir-
ginia seacoasts state that English snipe are
plentiful there. Old sportsmen regard this as
a sure indication that they will also visit the
Potomac in large numbers, and will therefore
mako them speciality. They claim that the
marshes about this city afford the very bost
fact is sufficient inducement for the feath-
cred tribe to visit here early and often"
The dealers in sporting material are also
radiantly happy, and see ahead harvests of
shelSels. One dealer in East Washington has
just received o consignment of over eight
tons of shot, and powder enough to blow up
the national capital.
Wild duck shooting will of course be con-
fined to tho summer ducks until the "hy" of
canvas backs red heads, mallards, sprig tails,
and other varieties, which 1t is additionally
said does not begin until their tails have been
frostbitten at their northern summer resorts.
A REPUBLICAN reporter interviewed Mr..
Charles Morgan the former president of the
Anacostia Gun club, last evening on tho out
look. He said if the pot hunters can be kept
out of the marshes until the beginning of the
season, there will doubtless be a bonanza for
all at that time. The pot hunters arc al
ready out in force, and they try to OK
terminate every member of the bird family
that comes within range, from sparrow to a
crow.
why" said Mr.. Morgan, ''I have known
pot hunters to shoot woodcock while sitting
on their nests"
Mai. Dye should take action in this mat.
ter" said another sportsman, for two rea-
sons. First. because it is unlawful, and Sec
ondly. because they frighten the birds away,
and when the lawful season arrives the birds
are Eighty"
Mr.. William Wagner. the champion shot
said that last season birds were quite scarce
but the season before was quite prolific, and
and on the first day he killed 210 sora, while
Mr. Charles Morgan bagged 1877. This, he
thought, was q good indication, as sora fly
singly, or in pairs, and have to be shot on the
wing, double shots being quite scarce.
He also said that the list of those who hunt
in the eastern marshes on the opening day
would include the following well-known
local sportmen Messrs. Williams, Ball, Nc
Nelley, Morgan, Laird, Mills, Sousa, and
Thomas King.
"Of COURSE you will be there?" queried the
reporter.
"Certainly," he replied, "I cannot miss the
first day of the season.
The marshes will present a battle like
scene on the first of September There will
be hundreds of slSiffs, row boats and scows
afloat armed with shot guns, and it is ap-
proximated that not less than 10000 sora,
exclusive of other varieties, will we slaugh-
tered.
There will be few ducks killed until about
Sept. To- and then only blue wings and mai.
lards, as the winter ducks will not put in
their appearance until winter has touched
the lap of earth with her frosty fingers"
One dealer in sporting materials has al
ready received orders for over 5000 loaded
shells and expects q large increase before the
| first.
| The gunners will go into the marshes before
daylight and will shoot up to noon, at which
hour number, including Messrs. Wagner,
Morgan, Laird, and those mentioned above,
will assemble at the old naval magazine
where a sumptuous lunch and refreshment:
will be served After partaking of solid com
forts the party will re-enter the marshes and
blaze away until night.
A feature of the cunning season is the
"shover." A large number Of water men are
known by this title, aud support their fami
lies by showing the skitis of gunners through
the marshes. The shower" stands in the
stern and with a long pole forces the boat
through the high grass, while the gunner
crouches in the bow ready to empty his loads
of shot at any luckless birds that appear
before him. The "shover" is a luxury
as they have to be paid at the rat,
Of $3 for each tide, or $5 per day, for ex
perienced hands. OF course, as in everything
else, inferior men can be hired cheaper, bu
for good men tho above prices are not consid
cred exorbitant.
Mr.. O'Meara the avenue sporting dealer
said that tho indications for a good season
are already plentiful and large quantitie
of material are being purchased.
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