The morning call., 1891-12-06
GUN AND DOG.
Good Weather for Ducks-An Experience
of Dude Hunters.

of Dude Hunters.
A dispatch from Bakersfield states that
George Il. Alender, the g-trainer, arrived
there on the Sd inst. with splendid string
of dogs, which he will train for the coming
field trials.
A sportsman writes that he has a valu-
able setter dog troubled with deafness and
asks for advice. There may probably be an
accumulation of wax, which can be removed
by the aid of soap and warm water, but il
the cause is organic there is possibly no help
Tor the dog. Better consult some good
veterinarian.
The rain, the welcome downpour which
sportsmen have been anXiously expecting,
has come at last, and the prospects of good
sport in upland and marsh shooting now
look very good. Too much water Will de-
stroy the duck-hunters' pleasure, ms the
water-fowls will not remain any longer on
the salt marshes than they can help. At
the present time marsh shooting should be
in its prime, as there has been just enough
rain to ill the dry ponds on the marshes
where sprig and widgeon delight to stay
during stormy weather When st0 rms ar
rive the birds will bid a long adieu TO the
"salted" preserves for the inland green
fields, consequently local spOrtsmen should
make the best Of the present condition of
affairs and enjoy the pleasures of good duck
shooting while it lasts.
Point Reyes marshes have often proven
very favorable location for good shooting
in canvasbackS. 1t requires, however, a
good storm TO drive the birds from the bay
TO the shelter of the marshes. During the
week Frank Haffling and Al Wilson bagged
a goodly number of sprig and widgeUn II
the weather should prove stormy to-day any
hunter who happens on these marshes Will
procure more birds than he can con-
veniently carry, sas there have been during
the week thousands OF birds congreg tied ON
the bay within few hundred yards of the
shore. The snlpe grounds on the Country
Clubs preserve, near Olema, have been
shot over with tiattering results during the
month. On the Alviso marshes the shoot
ing this seas has been very back ward
compared with other years. Occasionally q
good days shooting has been reported. but
generally speaking the sport Is not up to the
expectations of those who make 1.-THE
bridges" their headquarters.
The SOnOma marshes are lined with
'shauties' this year and the sounds of the
many reports at early Sunday morn prove
that the webiOOters are not allowed much
solace on the Sabbath day. Sunday proved
to be one OF the good days Of the season for
duck shooting. just as the Streaks of day
light were visible in the east the thunder Of
the several breechloaders proclaimed the
death of many a cunning bird In the
vicinity of Black Point the constant
popping of the number los contin-
silent as the birds had vacated the
marshes for little quiet rest
on the bay. On the marshes above Black
Point the cannonade was something ter
rife. 1t reminded the old duck-hunters of
the palmy shooting days on the old Ala
media marshes, when thirty birds to gun
was considered only fair days shoot. In
the hunters car on the home Journey il was
a novel sight to look at the several good
bags OF birds piled uD at the feet of the
lucky sportsmen. Few canyasback were
the mimi prS killed Tha baus
composed principally of sprig, widgeon,
teal and a few mallard. From Shellvil!e
came few very handsome strings of En-
glish snipe and quail. This evening hunters
who will defy the elements should return
with excellent bags, as there has been just
enough rain 10 make duck-shootiDg on the
marshes tirst-c!aSS.
Frank Jones, the ex-pugilistic sport and
vocalist, and three friends named Jacobs
Crowley and Kennedy chartered the YACHT
Nellie on Friday one week ago, and sailed
for Benicia on duck-hunting expedition,
under command of Mickey Williams, the
Chinese pirate. The good ship arrived off
Army Point just in time to catch the storm
which ragged on Thursday. With the ex-
ceptlon OF number of empty beer bottles.
which the hunters had corked and retained
for liie-preservers in case of emergency,
they had not a thing on board that would
float an oyster. Everything was soaking
wet, even Jones' musical voice was damp
ened by the storm, and the beautiful
strains of "Rocked in the Cradle OF the
Deep" were drowned in the noise of the
falling tears which the crew reluctantly
shed when the angry waters washed the
colOrng from their noses. After desper-
ate effort, which taxed the fullest energies
of the gallant crew, Miss Nellie brought her
head TO windward and was run into
slough, which afforded temporary relief to
the beSoaked and muchly frightened hunt
ers, who longed for nome and daisies dear.
A tramp through the slickens of mile or
more landed to would-be hunters on terra
frma, and it is hardly necessary to say that
after having their garments thoroughly
painted in mud-colored brown, they imme-
diately sought a Benicia friend, named Pro-
lessor Run, who took full charge of the
men until such time as the overland train
arrived, which conveyed the quasi sports
men to their palaces in Frisco. The yacht
Nellie can now be had for a song.