The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-31
GUN AND DOG.
Departure of Game From the Marshes.
A Valuable Setter.

Departure of Game From the Marshes.
A Valuable Setter.
During the week past several parties of
sportsmen have been contemplating three
days duck-shooting on the marshes, CON-
mencIng yesterday and ending with to-
morrow.
A week ago, just previous to the recent
rain, there was an abundance of game on
the salt marshes and sportsmen who were
prepared to receive them warmly returned
with fine bags which they proudly held up
to the view of the passengers OF trains.
Those who are expecting splendid shoot
ing to-day will certainly return disap-
pointed with their luck. The widgeon,
teal and sprig have taken their depar-
ture for the country. leaving only a
few canvasback and some spoonbills that
have recently arrived from the north to
greet the arrival of local hunters who are
now looking forward 10 great holiday
shooting on their favorite grounds.
Since the young grass made its appear
ance remarkable change has been
noticed in the condition Of wild ducks,
with the exception of the canvasback
Widgeon and teal principally have be-
come exceedingly thin and unpalatable
The mallard, although it is not as de-
}
and gray ducks. is falling away in con-
ditlon and is by no means the plump and
weighty bird that it was month ago.
Although there may be some occasional
days or good shooting on the salt marshes
until March l spOrtsmen can rest assured
that the cream of the duck-shooting season
has already been enjoyed and that from
now until the order arrives to case guns
duck-shooting on the marshes that margin
the bay will be but mediocre.
The English sniDe, that elusive little
bird which puzzles many sportsmen owing
lSsE It's irregular flight, should soon put in
- appearance IN his customary winter
ia tif3sts- Effg4fisA-sRipe shooting affords
more genuine sport to a good shot
than any other bird that flies. 1t must
certainly amuse sportsmen who have
pulled trigger On these long billed bipeds
to read letters oil instruction from alleged
authorities as to how these birds must be
shot. Some writers contend that when
the sniDe has made few turns aud
then goes off on straight line
the gun should sound the death
signal; other authorities O. say that
the bird must be shot the moment
1t leaves the swamp and before il
gets we'll under wing. All advices on
snlpe-shooting are probably interesting so
far as the reading Is concerned, but there
is after all only one way IN which a sports
! man can become good snipe-Shot and
that is by practice. So far as shooting by
the snap system or by the more patient
style, so to speak, is concerned, a man
well read on these principles Of shooting
would prove as big failure III snipe
patch as tyro who had never read a snipe
story or handled a we'll ba anced gun.
The little quail Of some Eastern States
have certainly hard time TO get along
the winter months. As will be seen from
the following letter, published in a New
YORK exchange, the quail have a greater
f.
Eastern States to contend against than ali
the hun ers and tTappeTs ombined. The
letter reads: Reader, ii you are a true
sportsman and live in the country where
game. birds abound, especially quail, when
&c weather comes and snow covers the
ground, take basket of wheat or corn
and go along The hedges and feDcerows
where the birds are wont to gather for
protection from the bleak winds and storm
and distribute the grain for them to feed
On. Ii quail can get plenty to eat they
will stand pretty severe winter weather
ana another fall by their reproduction you
will be repaid tenfold for your la Dor in the
amount of sport You will have hunting
them. This Is the only way quail eau be
saved during a hard winter, and if all
sportSmen who can would do this there
would he no scarcity of birds"
In this State the valley quail need
never fear death from frost or snow.
Ali that is needed for them to perpetuate
their species is protection from p0achers
which they should receive from the Game
Commissioners, who have been allowed an
extra appropriation for that purpose. Ali
fish and no game will not make State a
paradise for sportsmen to visit.
A sportsman writes to The CALI, for
information. lie desires to know who
were the members of the State Spor:s-
mems Association that visited tie Super
visors of this city few years ago ard
were Instrumental in having local law
passed preventing the sale OF wild ducks
in the city markets prior to the opening of
the season for game shooting.
The gentlemen who were responsible for
the passage of such an excellent law
which cut off the occupation of the
''spring" shooter are in no wise connected
with the so-called State Sportsmen's As
sociation, which body of men convene in
this city once year for the purpose of
holding big plgeon-sho0ting festival at
The Oakland Trotting Park. Whatever
has been done looking forward to the pro-
lection and propagation of game birds and
animals was ACCOMPLISHED by representa-
tives of the State Sportsmen's Protective
Association, whose president is Merton G.
Allen.
A Pittsburg commission merchant says
that in order TO evade the game laws of
the different States regarding the ship
menJ of deer, the carcasses of these ami
mails are neatly packed in barrels and
shipped TO different markets as poultry
=. and that any quantity of venison finds its
way into that city by this method of ship
ment.
sportsman writes to know what has be-
come of the Dheasants with which the Fish
and Game Commissioners stocked Goal
Island last year. The island was not ten
anted with pheasants last year or this
year. but probably the place will be popu
lated with 1.-THE flying pheaSants" next
year.
The famous Irish setter and bench show
prize winner, Dick Swlveler, has been pur
chased by Alexander Bernard Trumap Of
this city.
Truman, who is a great admirer of goo'
old Irish stock, has been planning TO
snme time 10 nnrchasa this Mell.knOW