The morning call., 1894-01-07
General H. Skinner.

all probability were ''dried out" in the
country and concluded to return to their
old padding grounds among the tues and
mud fats. The spoonbill seems to be
more plentiful now on the marshes than
any kind of duck. The "spOony" IS not
by any means pOor table bird. On the
con trary, it is considered superior to the
widgeon, sprig and teal on its arrival from
the far north. 1t is an easy bird 10 kill.
and as it frequents shallow ponds, which
are numerous in the salt marshes, sports
men should find little difficulty in making
tOleraby good bags at the present time.
The canvas back has become W ise and
cunning. Although there are tn ousands
OF them on the bay only a small mum Der
8. OF the royal visitors Will take pot luck
by leaving safe quarters during sun light
for pleasure trip into the marshes. Ii is
at night, wneD guns are silent and the
, little frogs croak, that canYasb backs in
countless numbers drop into the slGughs
and ponds, where they find food and shell
ter and escape the leadeu pellets which
whistle about their heads during daylight.
1t is a noted fact that bird cannot posi-
bly, fly over any of the marshes frequented
by sportsmeu without being accorded a
noisy aud possibly dangerous reception.
Hunters have been known to shoot at a
bird flying at least 400 yards from the gun.
1t is owing to this wild and foolish way
of shooting that the birds have become
alarmed, and as a result keep well out of
range of the marshes during the hours
when long-distance shOOliI is practiced
by 1.-The chance" hunters. Although the
prospects for some tolerablV fair shooting
are good to-day in the marshes within
few hours ride of this city, it is not
likely that there will be many spOrtsmen
out 10 enjoy the fun owing to the cold
weather.
William n Macrea surnrieed all his
friends last Monday evening by the very
excellent reports he returned with after
New Years shoot near Antioch. He came
home with slXty-hve beautiful birds, the
majority Of which were vasback, NAL
lard, spTig and gray ducks. The leans"
were in very fine condition, and it is hardly
necessary TO say that they were in great
demand.
It took Mr.. Macrea the greater part of
Monday evening parceing the birds and
sending them to his many friends La re-
Eating his experiences 10 the sporting edi-
tor he SAID that lie hunted the greater part
of Sunday and had very poor success, but
that on the morning of the following day
fight of birds had arrived and for two
hours he kept the barrels of his gun red hot.
Il never enjoyed better sport" said Mr..
MacTes, land 1t was with much reluctancy
that | left the happy shooting grounds TO
catch the train for this city,
Al Cumming departed Friday last for
Byron station, hoping that be would be in
time to enjoy a little of the good shooting
that sportsmen have had during the past
week.
A resident OF Palo Alto writes that deer
hunting with hounds in the ranges back
of Stanford University has been going on
every Sunday since the season closed. He
adds that if any of the Deputy Fish and
Game Commissioners care anything about
making arrests an opportunity of breaking
their record is now afforded, as the hunters
have no fear of the Commissioners.
This Is excellent weather for quail
shooting and, as the birds are now strong
and exceedingly swift of wing, sportsmen
must shoot tOierably quick to bring their
birds to bag Owners of fine dogs are
training their charges for the Pacific Coast
field trials.
Game Protector Mcclure of Oregon will
commence suit against dealers in mis- State
to prevent them from selling birds from
cold storage which they accumulate dur
lug the open season, the law only allowing
the birds to be sold one month in the year.
The Supreme Court decided Il similar case
last spring in favor of the dealers, but
Game Protector Mcguire is not satisfied
with the decision and will make "a second
effort to have the law enforced as he under
stands it.
George Raper, the English sportsman
who judged the last bench-show held in
this city, has joined the benedicis. The
British Fancier saws of Raper: THE ire
pressible George has more than once ex-
pressed himself in unfavorable terms upon
the social state of what is called single
blessedness, which he considers oftener
than not misnamed, and tbs sequel to his
having been seen Stuckton-on-Tees way.
when no shows were or, with tall sinner
and his hirsute appendages rejuvenated is
that our Wincebankian friend is to be