The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-18
THE SUMNER DUCK
GUNNERs FIND THEM BAsILy Dis
POSED OF AT GOOD PRICES.

| GONH u rs FIND IhhM ID AoAbA DAST
POSED OF AT GOOD PRICES.
Ward Allen Tells OF the Habits OF the
Water Fowl That Frequent These
Waters and Points Out the Aosurcity
| OF the Present Game Law So Far es
| They are Concerned.
Until the flocks of water fowl begin to
come down from the north with the ap-
proach of>cold weather the summer duck is
about the only desirable game left upon the
river to attract the attention Of the sport
men.
| Large numbers OF summer ducks have
been killed in the netghborhood OF Savan-
nah this season. The summer duck is q
delicacy. however. and in such demand
that outside Of the hunters and
their patrons, the hotel men, few have an
| opportunity to test its quality as food.
| Very little ia known OF the character and
habits OF these birds. Mr.. Ward Allen.
who Is authority on all game resorting to
| the waters around Savannah in speaking
of them yesterday said:
"Unquestionably the most choice, deli
cate and palatable epiourean dish, as far as
| aquatic fowls are concerned, are young
summer ducks killed in August and Septem-
Der. Like everything that is rich aud
choice they are hard TO get. At this season
they do not take to the creeks and rivers
whore they can readily be got at, but in
habit the old abandoned rioe fields that
| In most cases are almost tmpen-
etrable for man and dog. These fields are
full OF 'wampus,' commonly called wan
pee thick flag leaf vegetation, on the
| tender roots and bulbs of which the young
ducks feed. This imparts to them rich,
| delicious flavor that, together with the
tender age OF the ducks, makes them in
deed choice morsel.
'tThere have been Il great many ducks
| killed up the river since July l, both by
| protessio lal aud amateur gunuers. who
have been banging them unceasinRlY till
they have become pretty we'll scattered.
HOW THY ARE SHOT.
"The mode OF shooting them at this sea-
son is entirely different from that followed
during the fall, winter and spring. Al
though have as perfect and complete an
outfit as ever practical hunter had, II is OF
no service to me at this ssason- ANY
amateur who has gun and
dog, can shoot little Bit
and has the nerve and constitution to tackle
briers, bitches. brsmbles, poison vines mud.
| water spiders, moccasins, and hot, swelt-
ering August sun, has as good q show
| ing as l have With all my costly
| rigging aud equipments. All he has got to
|
and shoot them singly, and as they fly by
within gunshot, during their morning and
| evening flights, which lasts about one hour.
| 1t Is not so, however, in the fall. winter and
| spring, when you hardly ever have occasion
| to get out OF your boat You can then
huns in comfort, and with satisfaction, and
can drive a large body of ducks that uss in
accessible places up in u bunch and bang
| into them with a 6, 8 and 10-gauge gun,
and clean out pretty much the whole busi-
ness. Yet ali the boys seem to
enjoy the sport at this season,
despite its trials aud hardships and hot
| weather A bag of from twenty to forty
ducks in a morning and evenings shooting
for man is fair average, provided he is
a good shot and better hustler. They
find ready market at this season at 81 to
81 so per pair. Almost any number eau
readily be disposed Of at those figures.
SIT really seems q sin, though, to shoot
summer ducks before they have their full
Dlumege, which Is about the last of Ocro-
Der, for then the drake Is worth twice It's
regular price, on account Of a dozen feath-
era which lie under the wings and are used
for the manufacture of fishing flies, especI-
ally for salmon.
LAW THAT NEEDS CHANGING.
"There is a law in existence, believe, in
| regard to summer ducks, together with the
numerous migratory species, but its proYis-
| lOub bT6 81 AuCObhlovohb WAbu tuo an WE OA
nature that it is not enforced by the
authorities or recognized by sportsmen.
Summer ducks pair of and breed two
months before the various migratory species
begin TO leave the South Atlantic coast and
seek their breeding shores above tho grea.
lakes. Yet the present law shows no dis
elimination Whatever in regard to different
ducks whose habits are as different as those
| of deer and coon.
THE open season by the present law Is, !
believe, for ducks from Oct. l to April /.
Two months before April l summer ducks
have mated aud their young are dying
around with the various northern ducks
which do not leave here before the middle
Of April or May |. There ought to be a
special clause as regards summer ducks.
They ought not to be shot after Feb. 10 and
the season FOR them ought to legitimately
open July l. In regard 10 the mi
gratory species, they can be shot
whenever and wherever found In
this section, for before they leave
here in the spring they have not mated and
when they show up in the fall they are big
and ugly, and old enough to look out for
themselves. for they have Travelled thou
sands OF miles on their own responsibility.
II is unnecessary TO make game laws for a
section that the game does not breed 10, for
there is none there 10 shoot out OF season.
l may add that the present unreasonable
provision of ths law, permitting the shoot
Ing Of summer ducks up 70 April l. is of
little or no consequence, aoin February and
March there Is none killed, as when they
pair off they fly up and nest in the most in
penetrable places. They almost entirely
disappear from view, eud are seldom IL
ever molested by man. Their enemies at
that season are the coon wild cat, eagle aud
alligator. Gsorgia's bright legislators need
not bother themselves making game laws
for the protection OF our water fowl
When the birds are here they are In season,
and when they are out of season they are
not here"
The "5ome School" For Young Ladies'.
One Of the best home schools for young
IL -. IA