Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-19
The Dusking Season.
FiVst Days Shooting on the susquehenna
 Flats.

E1aLSs
 (CerreapoRdence of the Baltimore Bun
 HAvRE DE GRACE, Md, Nov. e.-Judge Gilderslseve, of New York, was stretched out in sink-bost on the SuEquehanna flats last Friday. Every time he bobbed up in a sit- ting posture and raised his gun duck fell. Sometimes one shot would bring down Gev- eral. The Judge is leading member of the American rife team. He is fond of duck shooting, and always comes to Maryland in November to take part in the first days sport on the Susquehanna.
 The opening day was not so disastrous to the ducks as it was last year. About 5000 were killed then. This season the aggregate WAS somewhere between two and three thou sand. Although the birds were plentiful, the weather was too cold and clear and windy for fine sport. 4 cloudsd sky and 6 good breeze, not inclined to be fitful and bolster ous, are needed to enjoy duck-shooting at its best.
 Gunners were getting of at Hav!e de Grace all day Thureday. There was hardly g train from Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, that did not have sportsman aboard. Most of them were dressed in cor duroys, knit jackets, caps and boots. Some of the outfits were so stylish that It would probably never occur to the awed and admir- ing spectator that the owner of all this sport ing splendor would bang away from morning till night without hitting a duck. And it's @ mighty poor shot who can't exhibit at least 8 pair of ducks. In the evening 8 crowd gathered round a bright fire in the sitting room at genial Frank Boyd's hotel and lis tened to each others experience in past sea- sons. The reason they did not assemble in the bar-room was because the safe of liquor is prohibited in Hartford county. But when the gunners put their hands in their jacket pockets the recollection of this law made them smile. Frequent smiling lsd to hearty con- vitality. Each newcomer was chesriiy wei oomed and then questioned on the probability of She weather for the morrow. There was 8 wide diversity of opinion. Three or four thought the wind would stop blowing. and that calm would set ip, but the majority said it would be squally. The younger sportsmen evidently preferred calm to stiff blow, and their comfort was not in creased when Rn old Havre de Grace gunner said he remembered 'fFlshy nor Tester of nine or ten year ago which capsized several boats and played the devil generally" The old fellow spoke again, just ss he was leaving. He said: ''Duoks was ducks in them days, gentlemen. They was never scarce then, but since these fancy sports have been a-comin' here the birds has got skeared. " He slammed tho door as he went out. 4 young man from Philadelphia said to a companion 'I did not know my flask was empty when handed 1t to that old fellow" At 9 o'clock Col. Boyd informed fresh arrivals that ell his rooms were taken but that accommodations could be had at few of the private residences. Only the tyros went to bed. The others got aboard their scows and staid up all night playing poker.
 No boat is allowed to cross the line of the flats before o'clock in the morning. The object of this is to prevent the birds from being disturbed while feeding. The penalty for a violation of this provision of the law is S25. Eighteen boats violated 1t Friday. They did it deliberately, paying the fine so as to get good berth and be in readiness at the break of day. After crossing the line they selected positions and marked them with lights attached to poles. This done, they waited until o'clock and then put out their sink boats and decoys. At the first approach of daylight the shooting began, and never ceased until dark
 AS general thing the boats are owned by Havre de Grace qunners. These gunners formerly made liring by killing ducks for the city markets, but so many sportsmen have focked to Hsvre de Grace in recent years that professional shooting is rapidly be- coming thing of the past, because more money can be made by hiring the boats to the amateurs. scow, with sink-boat, de- coys batteau and crew, will fetch from $50 to $1OO day. The acows are rigged with sails and fitted up with cabin and sleeping and cooking apartments. Tho bstseeus are used to bring in the drifting game. When party hires scow they divide the expense and take turns in thU sink-boat. The Boow is anchored quarter of mile to windward. From to 500 dseoys accompany a sink.
 The snsRk-boats are cheaper. They are ordinary battoaus, painted white, and cur tained from bow to midship with canvas about foot and,a half high. The decoys for g snsak-boat are far enough off to keep the ducks from noticing the boat. When the birds aIieht among the decoys the sneak is sculled forward until very close to the decoys. Then the gunner rises above the canvas cur tain and blazas into them. In sneak boats, as well as in sink-boats, the gunner has two double-barreled guns. Some of the sink boats are double.
 Besides the hired craft number of sloops and yachts were on the flats They are owned by New Workers and Phiiadelphians. The queen of the squadron was the Susquehanna. She belongs to Mr. Richard k. hainss or New York, and cost $6,ooo. His cabin is finished entirely in mahogany. Standing beds. a bath room, and otker accommodations are included in her list of comforts. MT. John Ws:meugh, of Philadelphia, WAS out in the Carrie, trim little yacht. Her name sake, owned by the same gentleman, blew up in the Baltimore harbor two or three years ago and killed four men. Judge Gildersleeve and party of friends made the yacht Wid- seon their headquarters. Mir. Louis Gil Hams, of Philadelphia, was on the Twilight Mr. Charles Osmond, of New York, on the Restless Messrs. Hancock and Roberts, of Philadelphia, on the John l.. Williams, and Mr. Joseph Stickney, of Philadelphia, on the steam yacht Mignon. The Mignon was the largest yacht on the flats. The yachts stay at Havre de Grace and are manned by crew kept in regular wages the year round.
 Though professional shooting IS not so large 8 business as 1t was, there is one old gunner who still holds his own. William Dobson is his name. He has the reputation of heinz the best duck shot in the United States He was born and raised in Hayre de Grace. He is said to have begun guuning when he was so yonng that he had to carry something along to support his gun while taking aim. He has lived on the water for 50 odd years, gunning in season and spending inc rest of the time making decoys. He knows the habit of ducks, can initiate their whistles, and can always bunch them by mo- tions of his arms or feet peculiar to himself. Not only townsfolk, but also strangers, say