The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-24

put In an appearance sportsmen who are
anxious FOR good shooting can have il by taking
observations Of the flight OF the 'spoonies" over
the marshes and locating the ponds they drop
INFO The SPOONFUL is a first class bird for a
month or so after its arrival from the north.
when il becomes tShy and unIit for table USE
They decoy readily and afford splendid sport
10 the tylO, as they are slow flyers and easy
TO Kill. II the weather is al all rough to-day
SPOONFUL shooting on any OF tile marshes
should be firSt-class.
Bill Morgan was a happy man on his return
from Black Point last Sunday with eighteen
nice birds.
Billy Williams and partner stopped the flight
OF eleven "spoOnIes" and five cans" on Mid
shirman's CIR Elk last Sunday morning.
Bill Murdoch bagged tweDty-seyen ducks on
Tom Casey's preserve last SATURDAY and sun
day: Murdoch will try ms luck again TO-DAY.
Charley Cate has put his gun away and taken
up the rod. lie is now ullfiedged member Of
tie Salmon. Roe and Shrimp Fishing Club.
Jack Lemner has discovered a scheme for
curing roe which he says Will prove OF great
value 10 winter" anglers. lie sleeps the FISH
eggs IN chicken cock whisky. with the result
that it mDarts a beautiful red colorng and Il
flavor that no hookbill can refuse after once
tasting.
al Wilson shot nice lot OF brant in TaHales
Bay recently.
A Cummins returned from Byron last Mon
day with twenty-five mallard ducks. lie says
that the ereenheads have winged their way up
10 Staten Island.
Tom Irvine bagged a nice string OF canvas
back few evenings ago.
Tom Casey had his usual luck last Sunday.
He never finds much difficulty in packing his
game 10 the station.
Mr. Osborn did fairly well a, the Alameda
Gun Club preserve.
W. w. Patcbell has had some good shooting
within the past nom near Byron.
Fred DrinkhOuse has beer taking lessons in
sight shooting from Professor Cooper.
Sini n and Louis R0ndeau are improving
I'd ibelr shooting. They baggcd thirteen quail
last SUNDAY near Point Reyes. Il is said that
The birds were WaterlOQged.
The 1ishing at Point Reyes will not be OF
much account until alter the next freshet.
Tue fiSb aud Game Commissioners can make
some arrests. II they are so DESTROYS. by visit
ing Los Banos, where market hunters have
been Strengthening ducks and geese with No. 4
guns, The law that refers 10 Cuck shooting and
the size Of guns that are prohibited is very
plain. For the benefit of the Commissioners we
VIII quole s. cIioD GIG Of the game law, viz:
livery person who shall use a shotgun OF q
larger caliber than that commonly known and
designated a No. 10 gauge for the purpose
OF killing or destroying any wild duck, rail.
quail, partridge, phe SAINT or grouse shall be
guilty Of msdemeanor"
Jack Samni and Bob Taylor bagged between
MY and sixty birds al Suisun on Sunday last.
Regarding the qualities Of powder used by
sportsmen and which reference has been
made TO IN former editions of THE CALL, the
following letter from an e1pert Will prove of in-
terest to the readers of this department:
There can be no doubt that black powder has
rendered valuable service. both as a blasting
and as prOpellIng agent, aud that for long
peflou Oi Time IL haS met all reasonable eXpec-
tationS, as regards the purposes for which il
was employed; Dut at length IL has fallen under
The same law 10 which all human creations ar
subject. viz: the old and good must give way
before the new and better.
As blasting agent, IL has already lost much
OF the ground IL formerly occupied. Nearly all
great military ua!ious have also substituted for
Tbs old black powder, as propeliBg agent tor
Jhelr infantry rifles nitro or smOkelesS powder,
mostly made OF ggDcorton, and II is only ques-
ton OF time when the latter will take the place
OF the former for heavy ordnance PURPOSES
Black powder has held lis own thus far as
ammunition for srorting lilies. But recently,
very promising results have been achieved
warranting the assumption that at an early day
nitro powders will be employed for this kind
oil ammunition Also thus leaving a use for the
black powder. for the present, only for revol-
yer cartridges. But it can reasonably be ex-
peeled THAT for this weapon too, a suitable
nitro powder Will soon be foHDd.
AS "a propeiling agent for shotguns nitro
powders have been long employed, among The
DIGEST ol witch is the Scbultze powder. tor
merly known in Germany as wood or HeIz.
bacDer powder, and originally invented by the
German Captain Scbultze.
The Schn'tZe powder used In this country is
OF Ensilsn origin, being manufactured III Eng
land under The supervision OF MIR. Griffith, one
OF the most celebrated ballistc experts in the
world, and To whom the powder owes many OF
its present valuable qualities
The object aimed AT primarily by the military
authorities III Introducing the nitro powder for
infantry weapons Was of somewhat different
nature from that which has and does present
Itself to the sportsman IN choosing a smokeless
powder.
In infantry weapons the principal aim was
10 secure for the small rifle and the long
bullet higher velocity, that is, a greater pene-
tratiye force, than can be All aimed with black
powder, thus rendering ii possible TO open an
effective fire on the enemy at a longer range
tDap heretofore. But all this can only be