The morning call., 1893-10-15

the sun has fairly begun TO smile upon the
earth will satisfy large number of local
hunters that IL is not all sport that is to be
had in quail-shoOtlDg when the hillsides
are as slippery as ice aud catch-as-catch-
can falls are numerous. So far there have
been some very excellent bags made by
men who shot over lands bordering the
coast. Last Sunday party of hunters
who returned from San Pedro stated that
heavy fog swept in from the ocean dur
ing the afternoon which turned daylight
into dark. The fog was so dense that the
spOrtsmen with much difficulty found
their way to the main road. Previous to
the arrival of the smoke of the sea they
had grand sport, and greatly enjoyed
watching their dogs work on birds which
have not yet become wild.
Duck shooting during the past week
has been very Door. Reports from Byron
and Suisun have been very unsatisfactory
to those who were contemplating a good
shoot TODAY in those places. Bouldin
Island hunters have had better luck, be-
cause birds which have been raised in that
section Of the country still cling to their
birthplaces, and consequently afford sports
men tolerably good shooting.
Migratory birds have not, as yet, put in
an appearance IN anything like good num-
bers, but according to the heavy storms up
north ii is reasonable TO expect some good
shooting before the month is out.
A few days rain is all that is necessary
to satisfy the wishes of duck hunters. The
ponds and sloughs. which are now minus
sweet water, have no charms for the
quacking family. and until the opening
storm arrives duck need not ex-
pect what might be called satisfactory
sport. Those who have prepared for the
opening fusi!lade can rest assured, how
ever, that The shooting will be good this
year until the heavy storms arrive, when
Il strrv tni aIn,N
for the more solitary retreats OF the south
ern country.
Michigan has been added to the small
band OF States in which the trap-shooting
Of pigeons Is forbidden by statute. The
last Legislature adopted a law prohibiting
the keeping of any birds for target pur-
poses except English sparrows.
The following letter from member of
the Sportsmen's Protective Association
will, no doubt, be read with much interest
by representatives Of that body. 1t speaks
for itself:
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9, 1898.
Sporting Editor (dlI-SIR: Owing TO an
article In small weekly paper. which. on the
editors part. Is unwisely scurrous, l deem ii
necessary In the interest OF manly sportsman
ship. to make a clear statement OF the facts, as
the article Is devoid of truth In every partlc
ular.
On the opening OF the quail season the
writer and young friend were the guests of a
gentleman near SebastOpol. SOnOma County
A certain individual from San Francisco-an
ex-professtonal hunter-chanced to be at
Sebastopol at the same time, and, Surmising
that we were likely to shoot on the same
ground as himself sought out n stepbrother
of the owner of the land and induced him to
be on the ground on our arrival there in the
morning to prevent us from shoOting-this
without the knowledg. of the owner.
The party met as planned and plainly In
formed us that we could not shoot there that
day. Imagining that he was authorized to
10 our host and stated the case. This gentle
man understanding the situation proceeded d.
rect TO his ueighbor's house. the owner OF the
land, who promptly Informed him that no man
had authority 10 order guests OF his Off that
land; 10 60 on and shoot and If anybody OBJ
jeced to refer them 10 him.
We Immediately returned TO the place. in.
formed the party who had already ordered US
of that we came back to shoot. and il he had
anything to say. to go and see his brother.
AS II relieved of disagreeable compact. he
said he had olhing to say, as he guessed there
was room enough for all.
Our dog-in-t the-manger would-5e sportsman
| from this city looked blue indeed "a he arrived
on the ground with three chartered Guuners,
whose services he had secured To aid him in
making big bag, which he could show 10 his
! friends as the result OF his proves
II would be well when this gentleman-"a
tailor made gentleman" - again prompts
thougbtless writer 10 indte such tissue of
fasehoods as that OF the article referred to, To
consider the contemptib- position In which he
places him, especially with the respectable
sportsmepof the city. who are bound 10 become
familiar with the particulars.
The party who Is the primary cause of
this selfish act Is we'll known 10 the
sportsmen of San francisco, especially. on
the line OF The North Pacific Coast
Railway, where he has a chance TO exercise bis
hogglsn propensiies. as a penurious, tricky
bunter-a ''professionaP' who from time 10
lime has been guilty OF very questionable acts
OF sportsmanship.
He sneeringly prompts a reference (by the
aforesaid writer) 10 that large and respectable
body of amateur sportsmen-the Sportsmen's s
Protective AssOciation--not a member OF which
venture TO say would be guilty OF one OF The
acts of unsDortsmanlike conduct with which he
is charged from time TO time.