The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-04-03
For The Egis and Intelllgencer.

This question is so frequently asked and not
satisfactorily answered, that 1t is now called the
great duck puzzle. Many are Interested III THIS
matter and il has caused the State thousands OF
dollars for the protection of ducks that visit our
waters Yet we are compelled to say that our duck
laws are very little respected Sports and pot
hunters have to pay license for the privilege of
cunning, which is handed over 10 the duck police,
appointed by our Governor IKE all other State
officers, through the recommendation of a lot of
political bosses.
feel safe in saying have accidentally learned
the answer to the puzzle. learned it in this way
One day while on a visit to SpeSutia Island.
where was born and raised, and the dearest spot
on earth to me- took stroll around the beach,
and looking out on the Susquehanna saw several
focks of ducks. Feeling tired sat down to rest
and soon fell asleep, While asleep l had a re-
markable dream. dreamed that one of our ma
tive ducks, called Blackjack. came near where
was sitting and asked me if lived on the island
No" said l, but was born and raised here. y
He said he had often heard his family speak of
five brothers who occupied the whole of the island
in 1872, when John Bulls fleet came and anchored
near here, and stole all the chickens, turkeys and
geese on the island.
told Mr.. Blackjack this was true-they were
my ancestors. Then he said, you are all right
was afraid you were Havre de Grace bird.'-
He then gave me an invitation to attend duck
representatiyes of some of the most noted families
OF ducks that visit these waters The invitation
was remarkable that accepted it promptly and
was escorted to the meeting, where L was intro
dueed as friend of the ducks.
The ducks Topped in and were soon ready for
business. l saw my old friend CanVaSback was
boss. He called the meeting to order and made
some sensible remarks. He said that as the time
was drawing near when the duck families would
90 to their native homes they had determined to
stop here few days to see the great performance
on the Susquehanna flats, which had been played
for several years, and also hold little experience
meeting. Seeing me on the beach with book in
my hand they concluded was a newspaper re-
porter and had sent one OF our Southern birds to
/ told Mr.. Canvasbaek felt much f1attered by
the invitation and was glad to see the duck fami-
"Yes," he said. ''for few days only, for as soon
as your sports and pothunters see us sitting around
their navy will be ordered out and the great thea
trical performance will commence"
| interrupted him to ask what he meant. He
said:
Il am astonished that you should ask the ques-
ton. Have you not heard that your Susquehan-
ma flats are and have been for many years under
the control of large flock of birds called sports and
pothunters, who have changed the programme and
now have a great dramatic company or variety
cunning season you have lost the best leaf OF the
history Of your life They don't play any Of Mr.
Shakespeares pieces but their scenery and COS
tunes are certainly grand.
Mr.. Canvasback then gave me programme of
the play and said that before you will be admitted
procure season ticket box ticket will cost YOU
$50, but you get second class whacker ticket
for So. No reserved seats, as this is grab game |
The fellows who can say the most pad words
generally get the best seats. Your programme will
tell you to be sure to be on the feeding and roost-
ing grounds at A. NJ, when you will see grand |
sight. As if by magic hundreds of lights spring up
in every direction and you will conclude you have
made mistake and have alighted in the centre |
of large city. At six O'Clock the lights are ex-
tingushed which is signal for the show to be- |
the tree-tops old Bulls mountain, you will see |
the greatest navy that ever toated on top of the
celery beds of the SuSquehanna flats. Boats of all
sizes, from floating palace to a common le-foot |
fiat boat, and sports and pothunters of all classes
and eolors. from the city millionaire to second,
from 100 to 500 of those hateful wooden images |
called decOy ducks; bat not man can be seen-all |
are hidden in the boxes and whack boats where |
/
Mr. Canyasback said some of the actors had /
been trying for years to learn the duck language,
call his family.
and said they had often been fooled by these sports
and pothunters with whistle;
Mr.. CanvaSback said all this was rough on the
ducks but the pot-hunters with sneak-boats,
that can be found every calm night, cruising all |
over the feeding and roosting grounds, are worse.
the duck families by hundreds. When one of these
big guns is discharged its roar can be heard for
to cry, Lindsay, Lindsay, why don't you come and
see us again?. If you have handed in your checks
and your spirit come that will stop the biggun
pot,6unters." Lindsay was a strange bird that
made his appearance in these waters, some years
ago, and after getting very sociabe with the big
with two more birds out of his flock and gobbled
up the whole flock of big gun pothunters with their
Mr.. Canvasback said some people thought he
ought to teel proud that his name and that OF
fellow called Ierrapln headed the llSt ar all the
great dinners, and that members of his family.
even when dead had been sold in the markets at
Sl25 pound. He was not proud, he said and was
willing to leave all such vanitieS to other duck
lings.
He then introduced Mr.. Redhead, who told
about the manner of warfare carried Oh in the
lower rivers and creeks. He said there was no
navy in those waters, but all the shores rent
ed or owned by large flock of sports who live in
the cities, and that on every point is masked bat
terry with from 400 to 500 decOy ducks in front of it.
This battery resembles large birds nest as 1t is
built of marsh grass, and Is just large enough TO
two men. a Chesapeake bay dog, a Jug
of water and bottle of old rye. Here the sports
spend the entire day, reminding you of land
terrapin, for when they see duck they draw their
heads into the nest, and you can see nothing but
their eyes. but If any of the duck family go near
these innocentl looking nests you will hear it thun
der out of the clear sky.
Mr.. Redhead told good joke about one of these
nests OH BENCHES Point, where he saw strange
looking bird peepng out, and offered to bet no one
could tell what it was said it was an American
eagle. YOu came within one bird of it, said he
They call him Bennyharrison, and said he was the
biggest bird in Uncle Samuels flock.
This remark came very near causing row and
the noise woke me up before any other members OF
other duck families had chance to give their eX-
perence But there was grim reality in all that
heard. and yet people ask. What has become OF
all the ducks?'' Z. b. G.
Hd0re de Grace, March 81.