Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-09
Opening of the Season on the
Susquehanna Flats.
FIVE THOUSAND BIRDS KILLED
Canvasbacks Scarce. but
Other Varieties Plentiful.
One Man Killed Seven coots at Two
Successive Shots---Prices offered by
Dealers---Scenes and Incidents of an
Exciting Days Sport.


at 5000. The number would have OK
ceeded that figure by many thousands
but for the calm weather, which stopped
the flying. The largest number killed
by any one sink-box was 235, and Jesse
Poplar of Havre de Grace, killed them
all. The ducks were redheads, black
heads and baldpates. The greatest num-
Der of redheads killed was by Mr..
William Linthicum's party from Balti-
more. OF the 121 ducks killed by this
party so were redheads. The dealers
paid $3.50 pair for redheads, so cents |
for blackheads and So cents for coots. |
Very few canvasbacks were to be seen.
George McCaull killed nine, which was |
the top-score. The average number of !
ducks killed from sink-boxes was about |
90; from sneak-boats it was about "a.
Among the good scores made from sink
boxes were the following: James r.
Malone and party, 119; /. Sharretts and
r. Gilbert, 80; Mr.. Reynolds, no.
William Myers, 100; Captain Penning-
ton, 1856; Captain Middleton's steam
/. launch party, SO.
Grass interferred considerably with
the shooting. 1t was high water about 4
| o, m. What little air was stirring dur
| ing the early morning hours was from
the south. About IL o. m. the breeze
freshened up a little and the wind
shifted to the southwest.
One of the most remarkable shots of
! the day was made by Jesse Poplar just
before the wind sprung up. Seven
coots sailed ever his decoys. He killed
! all of them, using two guns and firing
both barrels.
The correspondent of the Sun accom-
/ xxoniaI rantofp William w Eva xt-fprd
and P. M. Spencer, policemen for the
flats, from Havre de Grace To the scene
of the shooting. The start was made at
11.30 p. m. Tuesday. The boats were all
in line and waiting the hours a. H.
when it would be lawful to cross into
the shooting waters. Captain Craw-
ford's vigilance had the desired effect.
All night not an intruder was found.
Shortly after a. m. movement was
noticeable on the decks of the ducking
crafts. Everything was being put in
readiness for the hour to begin.
Batteaux were ready to be launched
and strong oarsmen ready to get in them
and tow the sailboats to the cunning
grounds. Stops were off sails, SO that
they could be set in the shortest possi-
BILE time if the wind justified. The
naphtha and small steamboats, were car
rying a full pressure in their boilers.
1t requires great shrewdness to cir
cumvent wild ducks, and the sportsmen
displayed their talent in that line by
first circumventing their comrades
Easy-rowing batteaux, manned by two
or more oarsmen, cast off from the slooI
and scows and were rowed down thu
river SO as to reach a desired berth
Many of them were outwitted by others
and just when they thought they wer,
in the right spot and were about 10 hanl
their signal light on an oar, one end o
which was sunk in the mud, they wer
chagrined to see another light close a
hand. Just how the other light go
there SO soon was questionable, thougl
the boat carrying it may have put Of
from nearer shore. There is code G
ethics, founded on self-interest, whic
prevents one layout from being too clos
to another. Such conditions spoil Ii
chances of both parties for good shoe
ing.
Though the sportsmen were encou
aged by the sounds of ducks on ii
wing and ducks rising from the waite
the birds could not yet be seen. AS soc
as boat reached the point desired Il
good, honest, hard work began. If
was to be sink-box shooting then b
double or single box, weighing hu
dreds of pounds, was taken from t
deck and slid over the side of the BOZ
Quickly man would jump in the b.
and throw out the head anchor. VIII
the box was directly head to the wi
he would let go the stern anchor. TIL
the wings on the head and foot and
one side were unfolded. From the oil
side the 20 or 80 iron decoy ducks nee
sary to sink the box to level with
water were passed TO the man in I
box and he distributed them over I
platform. This done, the other wiz
were opened and the decoys were Ii
out, the stool of from $50 to
decoys representing pear sha
with the box near the stem
the pear. Ducks ahght against
wind, and for that reason the box is |
head to the wind, and the shoot,
when lying down, face the leewa
where is placed the bulk of the deco
The outer line of decoys is about
yards from the shooters. To reach
shooting waters and get "laid out"
fore the first dawn of day required
pert work. Most Of the boats succeed
however, and the sloops, steamers
Bcows had withdrawn from the layo
leaving the gunners in the boxes re
for action as soon as it got light emo
for them to see. This was trying I
for the shooters. The rustling Of
ducks wings within few yard!
them was audible; the slight splaI
they made when settling down in
water among the decoys was
audible, but still not duck coul
leen. On the boats those who
waiting their turns to shoot '
pnxiously listening to hear the first
No army awaited the first fiji
Ikirmishers which was to presaj
great battle with more interest thar
Ihese gunners. Just as gray strea
beared above the eastern river shoi
b.45 a. M, there was heard the crack
run. How different it sounded
What the opening shot did few
Dgo. 1t was close, but was on
,squib" order. 1t was one of the
powders, which are more or less Il
ess and smokeless. A few mon
more and another shot was heard,
mother, and in few minutes
rev SO fast and continuous that
build not be counted. In 10 min
lime the battle royal had begun. Il
10 skirmish. The ducks, which
Ieen feeding unmolested in these W
pr days past, awoke to find thems
hrgets for the hundreds of mark
rho had invaded their territory |
over of darkness and who had dep
heir alluring deccys most Tempt
HE ducks few wild, some
often slight wounds, while man,
h1len dead dnrinp the first half h