The herald., 1894-01-07


bit of ground was picked out on the Ger.
ritos ranch, shout 20 miles southeast OF
Los Angeles and Within easy reaching
distance of the Les Angeles Terminal
railroad. The club leased 5000 acres
from the ranch owners, and proceeded
to improve and extend an artificial lak<y
which Is supplied by two immense ar.
tesian wells. Little by little this lake
was brought up to noble dimensions,
until it Is at present something like two
miles long and half mile wide in
places.
A clubhouse, email but neat struc-
ture, containing several rooms, was
Duilt, the dog kennels being underneath.
with local habitation and home the
club has become one OF the best in the
south, and there are many suortsmen
who envy the club men and would like
10 swell the memberahip. This has
peen very carefully guarded against,
however, and there is not much pfos-
pect that the rule will be changed.
Inc members are all men of means
ana iorm really an ideal amateur organi-
zation. During the season the big kill
ings are all distributed among the
friends OF the members, and they de.
rive health and rare sport from the
hunting upon their little lake.
me club preserves make an admira-
pie feeding ground and resting place for
ducks and geeee of every description.
Large numbers OF ducks have been
killed this year, an unusual number of
canvas-bscks being included. which.
until this year, were very scarce. But
by feeding from five to six tons OF wheat
and the protection afforded during the
breeding season, the lake has become
verltable breeding ground, and the
quantity OF mallards, canvas-backs. teal,
widgeons, sprig and geese is largely in
creasing each year.
The club shoots from sunken blinds
over decoys, and these shoots take place
weekly. The shooting this season began
about September let, and what is a
rare thing, the ducks were bred right
there. Up TO date the members have a
record of some 700 or 800 birds to their
credit, and have an aggravatng com
placency in talking about it that is the
wild despair of less fortunate sports-
men.
The ducks from the north have bepnfr
to arrive now. In fact some avant
couriers of the migratory Fri 9e put in en-
appearance few weeks ago, alonp
about the first of the month. Mallards
widgeon and the teal are the birds
which will be around the lake from now
on, and sprjg will not sound their arrival
until along in February.
The club takes pardonable pride in
the tour dogs which comprise the outfit
now used. Mr.. Holmes, ST., uses an
English setter, Mae" and he ia a
splendid fellow. He is one of the best
of retrievers, steady and faithful. He
has accomplished come wonderful fests
in his line, and it is told of the old iel-
low that he went once half mile in
the water for a wounded sprig and
stayed about 20 minutes for it before he
succeeded in securing it aud fetching it
out. Nobody who desires to keep in the
good graces Of Mr.. Holmes dare say a
word refecting upon MACS" good
qualities.
Mr.. Notman has fine English setter.
Bruno, who does some exceptionally fine
work, and Mr.. Tufts jolly cocker
spaniel called Boss, who is everywhere
and anywhere that he is wanted. and
invariably fetches his bird.
The last dog ia Lady, water spaniel.
with good pedigree and fine training.
With these four dogs the club members
are excellently served. and the CANNES
are we'll cared for.
One day during last years shooting
season Nessrs. Unger. Holmes and TUFTS
succeeded in killing III ducks during
the morning. This was the largest
number killed during any one day since
the club has been organized, but little
by little the members are storing up
"reminiscences, and it will not be many
years before they will tell stories which
will partake of the marvellous.
Already one of these yarns, which ia
vouched for by each individual member
as strictly eorrect-and the way these
club men stand together against the
world is q caution-has found it's way to
the outside.
"Old Man." as Holmes sr., is fondly
greeted by his fellow members, was
cunning one morning. Ii was a crisp
day, and birds were flying pretty brisk
ly. A flock OF ducks approached, and
when within distance--a little long at
that--the "Old Man" let fly. He swears
and his fellow club men back him up ia
the statement-that eight dropped dead
out OF that flock and the rest called on
unhurt. The eight were killed, not
wounded, and were stone dead when
they reached the ground, and not
feather was turned upon any OF the reet
OF the flock. The s'eld Man has nos
become so hardened yet as to clairs thas
he aimed to do just what he did, but
wait until next yearAnd see how this
story 10 told then.
The "Old Man" was for long timo
president Of the Tule club Of San Fran
cisco, and this wonderful killing Of hia
will be appreciated by any OF the old
members of that once lannon's organza-
tion OF sportsmen who may chance tc
read this.
The club does considerable execution
among plover as well as ducks aud geese,
and this seasons shooting they think
will go far ahead in ali kinda of game
over any season since It's organization.
1t takes quite pretty penny from
each member OF this unique artesian
lake club during the year, but they have
splendid sport to show for their expend-
iture.
The grounds are leased by the year
and keeper is constantly present to
look after the interests Of the club and
care for its property. There is probably
not another gun club in this part of the
state where the grounds ars eupplied
with an artificial fresh water lake. All
this and the comfortable clubhouse
have cost money. but the members ofthe ]
organization would be very willing 10 y
paw as much more to have such an ex-