Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-09-14
RAIL SHOOTING.


To those whose vcnatic instincts arc too strong
to permit their waiting for the opening of the
regular fall shooting over the stubblcs to the AN
bilious Cockney whose nerves are unstrung by The
1uttering rush Of a covcy Of quail, but above all
to tho epicure and the pot hunter, who shoots for
the market, the coming of this, the most juicy
and toothsomc of all the Birds is pleasant even!
Those of our readers who are willing to risk
bilious fever in padding over malarous marshes
in this the most malarious month in the year had
better 60 at once to where they will find most
birds and encounter the least competition. ~!
that is on the marshes OF the Upper Chesapeake
the Pautuxent the Potomac, tho Rappahaunuck
and the James River, all of which can b. comyrr.
iently reached by railway. We know that the rail
shooting OIL the Delaware has long been lam";i-,
but the number OF shoorers there is SO great this;
he who joins them does so at the imminent risk
of being peppercd from head to heel with 10. :
shot, and the same objection though to 4 less DE-
gree, applies to the shooting abont Washington
city. We have shot rail, or, rs they are called III
Maryland, ortolan, and in Virginia sora, on all
the above named localities but on the whole.
incline to give the preference to tho marshc, "t
the Pautuxent above Nottingham and below
Marlboro in Prince Georges county, Mary land
not only account OF the supcrabundancc al
birds and the absence of competition. but also
because of the blue-wng ducks that are flushed
which, from the number and facility Of the Shot
sometimes grows monotonous. We remember
one occasion having nine blue.wings while push
ing over the Marlboro marshes for rail but that
was late in September, mt the first coming Of the
ducks which are not sufficiently numerous TO-
make them special object of pursuit until the
middle or end of October. Weeks after tho III
have turned to frogs. all the darkics and soma
of the white people OH tde-water firmly BELIEF.
In no variety of shooting arc the advantages Of
the breech.loader so clearly apparent as on these
marshes, where the game rises faster than the
old fashion gun can be loaded, and in no sort Of
shooting is the sportsman more liable to that
most vexatious incident, the failure ofammunit"r.
TO enjoy this sport in perfection, provide
breech loader of the smallest calibre and IN in
exhaustible supply of cartridges loaded with
about half the quantity Of powder and dust Shot
requisite for quail, and if possible, choose timr
when the wind has been in the East for 4 day ur
two, for then you will be sure to have shade fro;
the clouds and high tide to float you comfor'
ably over the Marshes which, of course, are i'm
practicable at low water.
But more important than all these condition is
an experienced pushcr, for be you as unerringa
shot as Mr.. Carroll Walsh, or our correspondent
"Canonicus," the weight Of your bag will depend
mainly on the man who pushes your boat ana
marks down the stricken birds, and this last far
ulty of retrieving dead birds from flat, mon"i"-
nous marsh covered with tall recd-likc praS,rs.
and without bush or troo as n guide to the eye.
is as rare as it is marvellous. 1t may be said o!
such men rs of poets. "Nascitur, non fit
But, after all, the best Of the rail, ortolan ~
sora is in the eating thereof and to prepare ior
tho table. the gridiron alone should be resort!
to. The bird should be broiIed and served OH
toast, and he who cooks it otherwisc is barla.
rian who deserves to suffer all the horrors Of
dyspepsia. Let any OF readers, who happen
to be in Washington in September, 90 down to
Alexandria by boat and order an o.tolsn dinner at
the Tontine; there he will get the delicious bin!
cooked in that perfection which it so richly de
serves and experience a gastronomic delight 10
be remembered for the remainder of his days
Mem York Turf Field and Farm.