St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-01-18

Al kills right and left with precision
and certainty that is marvellous. What
scores those faultless shots, trained TO
shoot in their fashion, might make in
one of our tournaments at clay pigeons
AS to the woodcock, theg are ut the sea-
son when found in Louisiana full grown,
vigorous specimens, the admiration of
the sportsman and the delight Of the
epicure. Large yellow legs abound. and
ia August is found the famous papa
botte, one of the most delicious OF all
birds, whose food is the Spanish fly.
This incisive diet lmparts to tho flesh
of that bird pungent quality noted for
it's reiuvenating effect on persons adj
yanced in years. Its arrival is looked
forward to by such as marking the ex-
pansion Of an horizon which, during the
other months of the year is one OF very
limited radius. In Claiborne, Webster,
Union, MorehOuse, Ouaebita and Cald-
we'll parishes there is an abundance of
quail, deer, &c. The shooting of quail
on those sections free from thickets,
sNamps, and woodland is done by send
ing the dogs into the hedges, the sole
refuge of the birds when flushed. Sports
men walk on either side OF those bar
riers When the birds are driven out
they offer the fairest possible shot
Pointe Coupee,. known as the Fausse
River district, is the haunt during the
winter of a vast number Of dncks.
East Of New Orleans, on the Louis
! silIe ;snd Nashville railroad, are several
famous wild fowl localities, such as
Chef Menteur, English Lookout, &c.
Az Lake Catharine, in St Tammany
parish, is a great ground for quail, wild
turkey. bear, &c. Deer may be killed
in the season. from Oct to March 1,
anywhere within forty miles OF New
Orleans. Since the closing of the Bonnie
Care creVasse, which permitted the
waler of the Mississippi to flow into
and fresllen that of Lake P0nchartrain,
the latter has been restored to it's form
or value as q fishing ground. Here is
found the croaker, delicious fish which
appears to be n species peculiar TO the
Locality. Weakfsh are also taken there
of very large size. In the fresh water
bayous black bass, frequently OF five
pounds weight, ale found in profusion.
New Orleans, from the number OF game
fish which may be taken with the rod
and reel in its vicinity, contains a body
Of anglers who, from inoessant practice,
which unbounded opportunities afford,
are not excelled by those in any other
portion of the Union. On and about
the Chandaleur Islands, extending West-
ward to Sabine Pass, the fishing is SUI
perlativeiy good. Spanish mackerel.
pompano, sheepshead, red fish, red snap
i,br, tarpoH, gropper. drumfsh, and devil
fish t.r octopus are found, On the small
OUTLYING keys there is an immense num-
her OF raecoons and OF green turtle in
the season.
Amid such ad abundance of fish and
ranlo sight must not be lost of the vicis-
STUDIES which the sportsman has to en-
counter in order to avail hlmaeif OF it.
Probably the country roads in lower
Louisiana during the Finter season
reach the highest realization OF the de-
iirium tremens of. loGamotion. The rich
ailuvial soil Of the State lends itself
readily to this accomplishment. The
vehicle in use Ia called Laek with two
seats. AT times the structure actually
floats upon sea OF mud. On either
side Of some Of the roads are bitches
offer SO much better facility OF progress
that IT is not m infreauent sight to see
mounted men actually riding through
them, with the water breast high to
their horses, In preference III attacking
the horrors Of tho highway. The writer,
on the occasion OF 5onrney from New
Iberia to plantation some twenty three
miles distant, was from s. d. M. to 10 p. i
m. accomplishing Tint distance with
two horses and d couple OF mules at
faclled ia the hack. The depression atg
tendant upon such snaii-like ioeomo-
ton. with fIle accompaniment of tor |
rents Of rain aud landscape nonoto- |
nous I'M the extreme, ia R sufficient ex-
cuse fer the readiness with which the
natives resort To firearms for The getlle-
ment of trivial dispute. Death, and
travel aud environment, can only be I
regarded Ms .a long felt want 70 hunt /
ii Louisiana under these circumstances
requires TINT the sportsman shall pos