The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-26

| IN WNltn t0e kUDnti itfc tSs.~~e-'~f
bush blind large enough 30 hide a boat.
This Is the method Of the professional
gunner, who Is generally too poor TO own
an interest on good points, though IL Is
often employed by sportsmen whose love
OF sport is sufficient 10 induce them TO lie
fiat on their back IN a cramped position LOT
hours at time in cold weather. Tor a
good day for dueking Is generally q coid
one.
started out, kind reader. to describe
a days duck shooting. and 1 have been
led by the enthusiasm OF an old sports
man into a general treatise, which 10
treat properly would make volume.
AS ! have stated that, owing to the
| fact that all the good ducking grounds
| had been bought or leased BY wealthy
| individuals or clubs the average sports
man was deprived OF what was once his
| chiefest pleasure 1t sometimes happens.
frwever, that one Of the humber
| brethren Of tile gentle craft is remem-
| bered by mis- more fortunate fellows.
| and not long ago the writer wac favored
| by an invitation to shoot on the pre-
| serves of the Ragged Island" Duck1ng
| Club. Take large map of Virginia and
| examine its eastern coast. You VIII ma
| in Princess Anne county a large lagoon,
| starting from a point some sixteen null 81
| south of Virginia Beach and running TO
| the North Carolina line at the head OF
| Currituck sound. Forty years ago there
| was an inlet to this immense waste or
water through which the tide from the
| ocean ebbed and flowed, and IL differed In
| no respect from the sounds that ',harac-
| terize our whole Atlantic seaboard. a.
| about that date a small vessel was wreck
| ed in the inlet ana stopped 1t up, con-
| yerting what had been a salt water sound
| into a fresh water lake. or, more proper
| ~, O. lagoon, interspersed with number
| less islands, ranging In size from nifty
square feet to as many acres.
A few migrating fiocks OF canvas backs
from the Gunpowder, the Susquehanna
or the Potomac, on their way south stop
ped to rest and dropped the germs OF the
water celery. which, taking root and
having all the conditions favorable for
its propagation, in the course or years
converted this lagoon into one vast cele-
ny bed. fitting 1t as a winter feeding
ground for countless thousands Of the
finest varieties Of waterfowl.
Situated In the northern centre OF this
waste of waters is the home OF the
Ragged Island" Ducking Club. COM
blnation of some thirty gentlemen, whose
guest / had the honor to be.
Leaving Norfolk at $3.50 A. NJ, the VIZ
ginia Beach railroad took us in about an
hour to Oceana, wnere we found hunt
ing wagon, ample for the transportation
of ourselves and traps. The horses were
fresh and spirited and the driver mad
evidently had experience In packing. our
gun cases and valises were soon snugiy
slowed out of sight, and with an abun-
dance OF wraps we started on a cold rae
of sixteen miles 10 Hills. bounding the
northern limits OF the Ragged Island"
marshes Transferring at this point to a
ail-boat, an icy wind brought us in about
an hour and thirty minnes to Ragged
Island" Clubhouse. where / was well
coined with the hospitality character
istic of Virginia hosts and made as COM
Portable as a sportsman could wish. Three
splendid Chesapeake bay dogs were In no
way behind their masters in the cordially
of their greeting and told us in unmis-
taxable language of their pleasure in
welcoming us. 1t was easy 10 detect their
intention and purpose to do all In their
power 10 give us pleasure and aid us in
our snort. With the intuitive sympathy
that always exists between an old sports
nan and a good dog. l understood all
they wished TO convey and relied on 1t
without shadow OF doubt. or misgiving
Nor was 1 disappointed the next day
when Mike, the Patriarch Of the pack.
was my companion in the blind from
daybreak to dark.
To man who associates habitually
WIFI Ills hilus VII oAilNtlg OhciiiNSp 'ooiS'
there is a world of soothing comfort in
the society OF an honest dog. The friend
to whom I owed the invitation. an ardent
sportsman, ordered breakfast for 4 o'clock,
and our long ride predisposed US for re-
firing early.
Anyone fortunate enough to be the
guest Of the Ragged Island" Club will
learn that 4 o'clock means 4 o'clock. and
at that hour we were called and found
breakfast waiting. A spoonful Of whisky
to crafty the rawness OF the morning
air broiled teal with buttered toast
and strong coffee. afforded an ideal break
fast The morning was dark. the moon
and stars obscured by clouds. and
gusty wind blowing strongly
from the southwest gave promise
OF sport. Our path 30 he blind
was over a tussocky bog, crossing
pools on a single plank, over which we
felt our way in the darkness. A tramp
OF a mile brought us to the south point
and the decoys were quickly and skill
fully placed by Waterfield who had been
detailed as our attendant for the day.
Long before there was light enough TO
see we could hear fiocks of geese and
swan flying over. The note Of the latter
somewhat resembles the base notes OF a
flute. and is plainuve and sad. The con-
struction of the blind is simple. An OBJ
long box of two-inch plank, with a bot
tom, but no top all seams and joints
tightly cauiked is partially sunk in the
mud. All around its outside Is piled
sedge, arranged as If IT were growing
and kept in place by wire girdle or belt
binding 1t to the box.
When skilfully made II differs in ap-
pearance in no respects from the hundreds
of clumps and tussocks of sedge by which
II Is surrounded. Inside Of the box at
the back is q bench. and In front a mar
row shelf, on which you lay your car
tridges and any appurtenances for your
comfort and convenience. Strewing the
bottom Of of the box with an armful
OF sedge, we took our seats, my friend
Gray on the right and on the left: Mike,
our dog lying on the outside. Strange
as Il may appear. the ducks do not seem
to fear the presence of dog as they will
frequently come to decoys while the dog
is retrieving dead or wounded bird
from among them.
Our arrangement for shooting was as
follows: When the ducks came from the
left. the right-hand man was TO shoot
at the headers, and when they came from
the right vice versa. As soon as IL was
light enough to distinguish objects, long
fines of ducks-thousands and thousands
could be seen going from west 10 east
We could hear the roar of their wings
as they passed over behind and in front.
but all too high TO shoot Gray, an old
hand. could tell each species. and as
far as he could see them would name
them-canvas back. red head, widgeon,
spring tail. or mallard. To the uninitiated
they all looked alike. / was lost in Won