The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-11-22

several dorles and batteries, Theyfurnlah
guides and helpers who do oil Of tho
work, Some Of these baymen own por-
tioHa Of the shooting grounds and have
rigs that are very elaborate, They charge
90 high ~ $50 per day 10 take out u party
Of halt Is dozen sp0rtamen, hut the regus
lar price for guides II from a 70 tlO per
day,
Tho best shootlngl at 10 DO had early In tho
Gay, aud parties usually get Into position
before hunrlto, Battery shooting Ii one
OF the most ftvorlto methods, A battery
IL floating box, shaped likea coffin, and
las wooden or canvas wings extending
outward from tho TOP, These are for tho
purpose Of preventing the wash from COM
Ing over the low sides Of the battery, Tho
whole affair II nearly level with the sur
face Of the water, Sea weeds and bushes
nro attached to tho Sides 10 conceal tho
battery ~ much ~ possible, The battery
with several mon In II II anchored In n
spot convenient 70 the feeding grounds
which tho ducks are known TO frequent
Then the guldea take out the deooya and
place them In groups within range Of tho
hunters, From 90 20 $50 doooya are used,
10 the eye Of u duck on the wing they
have the appearance Of a flock Of birds on
tho feeding grounds, The guides pole
their d0rlen OIL u quarter OF u mile 10 tho
locword aud await developments. Tho
hunters lio lat on their faces aud without
moving u muscle wait for the birds, ltis
seldom long before they put In an appear
Rnoe, Sometimes there are only u dozen
ttfagglcrs, and again there may ben flock
containing thouRRndaof birds. unauapoot-
ingly they Fwo0p down aud allght on tho
water near the deooya, Tho time for action
has arrived, There IN n slight motion In
The battery The guns speak aud with u
whirr OF Wings tho flock rlaoe leaving
dogeuROf their number on the water Tho
guun speak again and more victims fall
before the flock II out OF range, A hat IN
waved from tho battery, the guides
advance, and gather up tho dead birds.
Then tho guidoa got out Of range, and tho
parry waits for the next flock. Shore bat
terics ar constructed on narrow neoks Of
land between two bays and shooting Ia
conducted In the same manner, Conaid.
cradle shooting ~ done from boats which
are polod along cautiously through tho
weeds and tail graSaoa near the shore
until q number Of ducks are surprised
while feeding, or occasionally u flock m
the wing seen approaching aud shot down
while passing overhead, Quito n number
Of Wild geese nro shot every acason IN
Chesapeake Bay. In the vicinity Of Havro
dc Gracc, whore the Wild celery %abounda,
tho finest favored oanyaabaoka are shot.
Tho shooting IN Chesapeake Bay along
the Carolina and Georgia coasts and In
Florida lnsta all winter, but few ducks
aro TO be found north Of Maryland after
the 0rato November, Some Of the cnthu.
slastio duck shooters Of Washington have
guns costing several hundreds Of dollars
mud equipments that aro elaborate and
very expensive, but for practical work n
complete OUTFIT including good service
able gun and 700 cartridges, ear bo pur.
caused for Sl00, With n rig OF this kind,
u trip 10 any Of thegood duokinggrouDdS
" certain 10 result IN excellent sport,