The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-26
CANVAS BACK DUCKS.
IN OLD sP0RTsMAy TELLS or THE
DELIGHTS OF HUNTING THEN.
or al the Sports This 10 the Moot Fscfnst'
ing--eene Of the Devices Resorfed TO By
Thoss who Shoot for Profit.

unique favor of the canvas-back mas
made II the peculiar delicacy OF the rich
ana the high prices that they are willing
10 pay for the qualification Of their cpl
curean sppetites have stimulated the'en'
ergy and ingenuity OF tho pot-hunter 70
ceaseless and untiring effort From the
time OF their appearance In oar rivers
about the LIST OF December, until their de-
parture, about the lst OF April. they are
the objects OF relentless pursuit by all
known methods, whether legitimate OF
otherwise.
when we consider that a pair OF can
vas-backs, in good order. Will command
from Sc TO IS in the market of any OF our
large cities. this is not surprising; the
wonder Is that the species Is not TOTALLY
extinct.
when the writer was boy Che is on the
shady side OF fifty now) the Gunpowier
and Susquehanna rivers, in Pennsylvania,
and tho Potomac in Virginia, we're the
winter habitat OF countless millions OF the
finest varieties Of water fowl. The pot
hunter Of those days. with his OLD mint
lock nnusket, made better and cosier Nv
ing killing canyas-backs and selling them
At fifty cents a pair that he could to-day
with the most approved PRECAUTIONARY
Notwithstanding the high prices.
The canvas-back owes Its peculiar ana
delicious flavor to the food upon which 1t
feeds. the water celery. He Is diver OF
rare power. and will pluck UP the
roots of his fayorite dainty from beds
six and eight feet below the surface OF
tho water, LIKE all ar .stocrats, he has his
hangers on Redheads and widgeon are
always found in his company. They love
celery as we'll as the canvas-back, but,
unable to dive for It. themselves, they
hang around and feed on the scraps that
fall from the table OF their patron. cam
vas-backs are often found on waters
where no celery grows. In which case 'ney
are no better than other ducks feeding in
the same locality.
To one familiar with the rivers between
Richmond and Philadelphia thirty years
ago It seems incredible that the extinction
of water fowl could have been accom-
pJished by firearms alone, the observer
(snd every true sportsman is an observer;
he cannot be one without becoming the
other) wifi look for other causes, and
here Il may be well TO state a fact lot
generally known.
Not a great many years ago IL was dis
covered that the albumen OF eggs was a
valuable agent In the refining and classi-
fying Of sugar, consequently there are and
have been for many years past fleets OF
ships engaged in the egg trade. These
vessels in the spring and summer months
flock to the coasts Of Labrador and Green
land, during the nesting season Of water
fowl, where shiploads OF eggs are gath
cred and sold to the sugar refineries. In
this we have the main reason why a duck
Is a. rara avis to-day on rivers where they
darkenod the sky less than a generation
ago.
an Ill r. -
upon a gun duck shooting Is the most fas-
cinating. Not only Is 1t true, as / have
stated, that the finer varieties are the pc
Culiar dclicacies of the rich, but It Is true
also that their pursuit has also become
their peculiar sport. If anyone doubts
this let him make a tour OF the rivars
emptying into Chesapeake bay. He will
find every marsh frequented by water
fowl the property Of some rich sportsman
or of club. which carefully preserves
the game for the sport of its members.
Every point running far out in the river
Is utilized as q duck blind, and rents for
as much as a city house.
This acquisition by sporting capitalists
OF all the available ducking grounds along
our Atlantic seaboard, while Il deprives
the average sportsman OF all opportunity
for enjoying the finest of field sports, has
ut the same time done much to protect
game by Influencing much valuable legis-
lation.
On some OF the rivers tributary TO
Chesapeake Bay rest days are prescribed
by law. This is universally the case in
counties where shooting clubs prevail.
and its value is so fully recognized that
find that these close days are as rigidly
observed by the gunner who shoots for
market as by the sportsman who shoots
for recreation. To illustrate, in Prin-
cess Anne county, It is illegal TO shoot
waterfowl on Wednesdays, Thursdays
and Sundays, and on those days the re-
port OF a gun would be the subject OF
immediate and thorough investigation.
Many of the murderous and destructive
methods Of the pot-hunter have, by the
efforts OF associations of sportsmen. been
made illegal, and while the Law has not
nip to this time been sufficient to put an
entire stop to the nefarious practices 1t
has very much restricted them.
There are two devices resorted to by
those who shoot for profit. Illegal, it is
true, but so often practced surreptitiously
that meets the reprobation Of all true
lovers Of legitimate sport.
The first of these is what Is known as
lighting, and may be described as fol-
lows:
In the bow OF a light skin is placed a
box with 81 SIS 'front.' inside of this box
front of reflector; dark night is chosen
and flock of resting waterfowl located.
In pursuing them by this method the
gunners hunt in couples. The skin is
poiselessly propelled towards them the
light being always kept between the
providers and their prey. The unusual and
dazzling light bewilders the fowl, they
allow the skiff to come up within few
feet and receive the contents OF four
heavily charged barrels simultaneously.
The light is extinguished the dead col
lected, and the miscreants escape un-
detected In the darkness.
The other is very little less destructive
and unsportsmanlike. and is fifty called
sneaking To describe It: a skin is COW
cred with grass until 1t resembles a aoat-
ing tussock. In the bows Of this skin
Is placed gun. the barrel of which is
often eight feet long, and an inch or more
in diameter. This murderous engine is
loaded with quarter Of pound or more
of powder and a correspondingly heavy
charge of shot. The skif is cautiously
propelled towards dock of feeding
ducks, and not unfrequsntly forty or fifty
are killed at single shot.
There is law prohibiting the shooting
OF any waterfowl with a gun too heavy
TO be used from the shoulder, and the
sneaker. II caught. Is liable not only TO
have his equipment coniscated but to
heavy penalties. IL detection is imminent
a cord Is attached to the gun, and II is
thrown overheard. a stick or a chip being
attached to the other end OF the cord 10
act as a buoy. which enables the sneaker
10 recover Il when the danger has passed.
AS l have described the unsportsmanlike
methods employed by the pot-hunter. 1t