Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-17
THE REEpBrRD SEASON.
It Opens on the LIST Of sepfember-Indica-
tons Favor . Big Season.

II Opens on the LIST Of sepfember-Indica
lions Favor . Big season.
Last night there was q fight Of reedbirds
and the sweet, gamey morsels took up theil
abode in the marshes about the city. They die
not find themselves alone when they awoke thil
morning, for the blackbird was on hand t.
keep them company In fact, the latter have
been in the marshes nearly a month, and if the
advance guard goes for anything tho late
arrivals will come in numbers.
Reedbird shooting is the only sport the local
gunners can find about the city at this season
Of the year. As the season progresses and the
cool autumn breezes come laden with frost the
reedbirds depart ard the Wild ducks make
their appearance; but the latter get scarce,
every year and are going farther south before
resting.
Years ago the duck shooting on the Potomac
was world famed, and the old hunters tell
wondrous stories Of the game they used to
bag. But the advent Of the steamboat, the
dredging machines and the increased shipping
has scared them pretty thoroughly, and when
they do hnger 1t is only for q night.
GOOD OMEN.
The early fight Of reedbirds is considered q
good omen. The crop Of wild oats which grow
in the marshes Is frst-class this season. and II
constitutes the chief food of the BIRDS 1t is GER
tain they viii Enger. The season does not open
until the first day Of September and lasts about
two weeks. There are 80 many hunters and
they are 20 persistent that the birds are soon
driven away. The police, however, are keep
ing q sharp lookout and any one caught with q
reedbird in his possession before the season
opens viii be fined o. for each bird. It Is
enforced In this particular. There are several
ways to hunt reedbirds, the most common, per-
haps, being the wading method.
THE wADINa METHOD.
A man provides himself with light. strong
pair Of trousers, q pair Of soft shoes, cap with
big visor and coat that combines strength
with lightness in weight. 1t should have nu-
merous pockets and the shells should be evenly
distributed. After securing the trousers
tightly about the ankles to keep out the saw
grass the hunter 10 ready to enter the marsh.
1t il not absolutely necessary to have retriever
although many q bird that otherwise would be
lost will 60 into the bag by having one along.
trained eye, however, is an indispensable
requisite to the wader. for it enables him to To-
cate where bird has fallen. A sod eye, how
ever, is a rare thing, and thousands Of birds are
lost every season by hunters who mark the birds
wrongly. The great trouble is in tho appear
ance of the marsh. 1t all looks alike and unless
you 60 at once to the spot where you have
marked the fallen bird the chances are you will
never find him. Black snakes abound in the
marshes and they reap rich harvest of the
lost birds
But wading is dangerous and none but expe-
rienced men shouldattempt il. In the first place
II requires quite knack to know how to walk
what places to avoid and how to creep on the
game. A good wader never enters the mar sh
without a couple Of big ripe tomatoes. They
are indispensable in quenching thirst and ap-
peasing hunger.
WHEN THE eAME Is SIGHTED.
Whom the hunter sights the game he assumes
q crouching attitude and looks about him for
the best route-that is, the route furnishing the
greatest Governor the little fellows are scary
and take wing easily. When within range the
gun is carefully brought to the shoulder and
the shot are sent on their deadly mission. II
black powder is used it Is we'll to drop after the
shot to avoid, the smoke, and thereby see II the
bird has fallen or II he has been missed. When
smokeless powder is used of course this is I'M
necessary. When the day Is over the hunter
should take bath, for the marsh abounds with
poisonous weeds.
II il well to have another suit Of clothes near
by, as it insures comfort, especially il home ID
far away. Now, shooting from skif is much
easier, although the results not as satisfac-
tory. Then, again, it is expensive, for boat
must be hired as well as a man TO propel it. The
hunter sits in the bow and shoots from that po-
sition when the game presents itself. One OBJ
jeotion to this mode Of shooting is that 1t can
only be practiced during high tide.
Land shooting is another, and, perhaps. the
most scientific. The hunter secretes himself
on strip Of land between two marshes and
shoots as the birds pass over.