The morning call., 1894-10-21

who goes Out on his own hook and shoots a
dozen birds or so, and most frequently not that
maDy, is written up as pot-hunter, a law
breaker and disgrace TO the fraternity. Ii is
this latter class of men who take pleasure in
shooting that the critical crank pencil driver
holds responsible for the decrease OF the feath-
cred game.
The crank wbo as a general rule. is rs selfish
in his ideas as the gentlemen C) who would
own every inch of duck shooting ground In the
State displays the most profound ignorance in
his writings OF the subject he attempts TO hau-
die inteIligeDtly.
Previous to Ihe Inauguration of duck-shoot-
ing clubs on this coast tbege was game enough
Tor any man or men who could retire from the
hunt satisfied with good bag OF birds There
were no wordy wars waged among sportsmen
IN those days; everything was harmony, and
every body who took pleasure in duck-shooting
enjoyed himself in a true sportsmanlike
way.
A change has come but it Is by no means for
the better interest of the sport or sportsman.
The rich man is evidently here to stay, but it
/ ascend the fiagpole of his clubhouse and Monte
Cristo like scan the wild and barren marshes
and cry, 1.-The ducks are NINE"
Those writer's who are fighting the battles of
! the rich duck eXtermlnatOr may say that 1t is
| only by preserving the swatnps from the visits
| oil pot-hunterS that the game supply Will last
j yet 1t Is an undispUted fact that the members
| OF duck shooting preserves slaughter more
! birds during the hunting season than The COM
! bined forces of men who are shooting for mar
! ket on the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.
IL the water fowls must be preserved so that
all spoitsmen can have a reasonable share of
| the shooting 10 be had during the season, ire
| speclive of class, there must be a stop put to
| preserves and market hunting.
When reference Is made 10 preserves there
| is, OF course, line 10 be drawn, and very dis
| tiDct Que too. between the duck k-shootefs pre-
| serve and the farmers reservation.
On the formers mud-flat lands there is moth
| ing of any great value to the community that
| Ii destroyed would cause general CONSERVATION.
/ The carp and wild duck are only creatures OF
value which the "preserved" hunters could cali
upon as evidence IN an action for damages
! against a trespaSser.
| The farmer, on the other hand. has rights
| which must and should be respected; and 1t
goes without saying that any sportsman who
| boldly enters uDon the properly of farmer
without first having obtained permission 10
shoot is nothing less than pot-hunter of the
! most pronounced type.
J There are undoubtedly In this city many men
who go shooting on Sundays who should not be
! permitted 10 travel through the country arm ed
with shofguns. Generally speaking the peop lie
! referred 10 are OF the menal class. and will
not hesitate iD their travels TO shoot al any,
thing which can be conveniently put away in
| their hunting coats. Chickens, pigeons. or, in
| fact, any bird or animal, tame or wild il mat
| ters nor, is considered personal property by
| the vandals If they can only secure it without
| detection.
| This class OF alleged sportsmen should be got
rid OF, and 1t Is the duty OF every man who loves