The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-01-22
PIGEONS AND PIGEON Peppers
Trainins the Birds to Fly ZiEsax-The Cruel
Practice OF FtEGfnR.

Trainips the Birds to Fly Zisnae-Tho Cruel
Practice Of FiEsins.
There is a larger demand for live pigeons
for trap-shooting purposes in this country than
ever before known. In this vicinity thousands
are killed every week. Many men brood the
common pigeon for no other purpose. They
sell them at their homes In large quantities for
prices varying from twenty to forty cents n
pair. These are unframed birds, and are re-
tailed to the shooters at TWENTY-FIVE cents each.
When a match or sweepstake takes place the
shooters buy tickets, which they deliver up at
the score prior to the pulling OF the traps.
When largo shoots occur, like that at
Dunellen, N. j., about two months ago.
or the coming one which Phil DAILY
is getting up at Long Branch. the demand is
anticipated. Collectors are sent through the
country and every purchasable pigeon is got
and put in large coops, built for the purpose.
and tho birds are fed and watered until they
are needed. The majority OF these birds be-
long to farmers and are OF mongrel breeds,
having been allowed to mate and pair at their
own sweet will. Often. however. people who
have made pigeons n study see well-brsd fancy
birds and homers mixed with the common
t1sppins n h aas Ssssa. soi fn9s on shPHT AZ PIs fnas ilil ths
other day 2 twenty-five cent ticket bird fdr that
".O w 70 pIobOhts AZ
lish carrier. belonging IN this city. and had ifs
S Sinss. It Pf hnd bs sna t aappssS i s1f Baltfmo Ge an nd
shtpped on with a lot Of common birds:
the In n snis %yblGI r 8 , the H Epb, Wes sr0nnas th Rsn %si
e Pelham, and 1Sarterst Cur CLUB grounds at
matches are constantly being shot on them by
such VEL tp q clHb men 7 To rs Pierre IT, L xtnn tSs
sId /; JaiIrsy: ths knsppss. Charles d; Watson
William Hoev. there Is. as much care taken to
keep these meetings private as II they were old ~
The open club Sronnds. which are patronized
Sihers. On long island. back Of Brookiy1n.
there are several clubs who shoot at live birds.
6 tms1s 1s shsss k ses t asa eaE SD q Glnb ep Fou G g
Gun Club, and Unknown Cur Club. The most
Staten island there srs the Asuakensa Gun
s SlaDI 9liI.O ENC Cup 6, Club III LIt' k}o S0ve Gu Go Club;
Gun Club. The members Of those clubs can
eat moro oyster stews, drink lager. and have q
island, and Ed Buried ] Is the great 1. s., be-
ce Tss h %e osss SHOT q H zeal Gun Club sboota
regularly at Fort Washington, and there are
come few clubs in Westchester county. New
t tsrs; sho aaSsvsE rh Is te oni EFe Cubic fiitys sroan pIf in t fGs
vicinity, where, birds are always on hand for
those who wish TO practise or try their Skill! Is
on the Bloomfield road, near Newark. 1t ID
we'll appointed and under the management Of
John Erb. a veteran Of the cinder path, There
Il Biz m sTse or s Les tfiheo on ss sssFz asy e Ct bF1ssdi
shoots Ssso s come % 9I s6sss. and it. i e - AZ ssi Tie %ses.
from ali over the country in big hampers.
clubs in Newark are the South Side Gun Club.
T West N sSHHts v Wo s'az Rss s e N hna sdE0T0s ran the
has a good one. The Elizabeth Gun CLUB has
been heard from this season as shooting 1t clay
Gun Club has become prominent from having
Another active club is the Jersey City Heights,
Erb's grounds there ia more shooting. going on
there the e, thar n a e yHRa la;Ss near Eth this s CITY pnw ] lii ss Of
supplies the birds and the best part Of the Fun.
For some reason or other fully half the men
who shoot either live or clay pigeons around
are in business, shoot under aliases. There are
some Of them who seem to be ashamed to let
ment. Others say It hurts their business to let
1t be known that they shoot, while there is
another class who make a renorter's life a bur-
den. desiring their own names published when
ttbsy have shot badly. III impossible TO satisfy
cricket and tennis fields. For this reason there
are some people who are only read OF. in their
own names. as doing well.
matches are shot under modified Hprlineham
using guns Of u IA gauge uss't or under d s or oonfin se
the weight to * pounds. Over on Long Isl
and, hSweyer. some Of the meetings are goMy-
f 1hssa s saa i ss'!' a ind;srS sps sS Sdrisii aPa m M y g
hasi fas the Birds Before putting them san' IN the Hs
handle kind. Tho birds are now put In the
traps Just 40 they are taken from the crates.
eyes, the feathers pulled out, pins stuck in
few men were adopts by these means in the
art Of making q pigeon fly the way they wanted
they had been lot alone.
tb The ,,g great is % sissson1 pPprvsyo e Of R The Gou3try Ct
Of America. Some time ago old Jack Evans OF
Newark PVT In 2 claim orth he same post Of hon,
made a figuring on this statement. having first
ton OF the boys to. his calculations that Jack
had trapped, exactly two pigeons and four.
fSsn WAS O. So 2 p'sTf2Rni s f fnosks ssc ont E staGs sh ela ANY
often now. Miles. on the other hand, is at every
prominent match. He Is now busy getting the
birds for the big tournament al. Long Branch
who knows how to train pigeons, to fly faster
birds, strong, wsil-mado ones. with good wings
Toward evening $50 they will fly home at once
he takes thom out and puts one after another
In a. trap. The moment, the trap is sprung
he shoos them out with a broom or towel. This
Is to make them accustomed, to start quick.
II he. wants them to. be, right ,Iuarterers he
goes for them from the left side. and 80 on.
The birds are all marked and trained over and
like game cooks, to- give them toughness, wind,
and speed. When he wants . bird to fy cork
screw"--that is. go zigzag like a snipe-he shoots
salt at II from a close range. This gives the
birds all the known curves. While. as said
cents, trained ones Tor big money matches brinG
81 each. while imported blue rocks are fire..
quently sold to the swell shooters for twice
that money. There are Q couple OF men In
New Jersey who are now breeding blue rocks
on the quiet, Some day they will make theiI
appearance In some big money match. Stakes
from $500 10 $4,000 II side are not uncommon
events In these days. There are thousands OF
trap shooters around New York, and a vasI
amount Of money Is spent In birds, ammuni,
ton. and the accessories OF the sport.