The herald., 1894-01-07
SOME SOUTHERN SPORTSMEN,
Men Who Shoot Ducks for
Pastime.
Two Notable Gun Clubs and Their
Features.
The San Joaquin Club and It's Big
Preserves = The Unique Ger
ritos Club-Plenty of
Sport.

One of the most sristocratic of all tn,
Southern California sporting clubs il
the San Joaquin Shooting club. ye
while most OF the members diHtinctively
belong to the leisure class, they com
prise almost the best shots to be founC
in the state.
The preserves are located on the inn
mense San joaquin rancho in Orange
county, and comprise 10000 acres ol
such lowlauds and marshes as seem to
have been provided by nature solely
for the purpose of attracting game birds
and providing fun for the sportsmen.
The rancho is owned by James Irvine,
who is also devoted member of tbs
association.
The club was organized in 1889 by
Count Jaro Won Schmidt, an Austrian
gentleman who has large interests
throughout this part of the state. The
count came here some years ago, mar
ried a charming American girl, Miss
Hurd of New York, and in conseq uence
has become good American. He takes
an occasional trip to Europe, but passes
most of his time in Southern California.
He is thorough sportsman, having
been pioneer in such circles. He some
years ago saw the rapid decrease of game
caused by the settling of the country
and subdivision of the larger tracts of
land, as well as the improvements in
arms, and the consequent wholesale
slaughter OF birds by hunters for the
market, 80 he formed the San Joaquin
club, with the prime object as stated
| in the constitution, of protecting game
and killing it in a sportsmsnlike man
ner.
The membership is limited to l5, and
ths time is divided by allowing three
sets of five men to shoot in rotation "a
hours per week, which keeps the limit
to three days of each week.
The officers and members today are
Count Jaro Won Schmidt, president and
treasurer; Major E. f. @. Klokke, vice
president; James Slauson, secretary !;
James Irvine, H. Maniel, Captain A. G.
Jones, John B. Bradley, @. @. Carpenter,
Mr.. Metcalf, ]. r. Richardson, G. /.
Cristy, Mr.. Hull. W. johnson. Ira Smith
and w. F. Botsford.-
The expenditures of the club in carry
ing ont it's admirable policy have been
proving the feeding and breeding
grounds of the water fowl. Large arti-
ticial ponds and water holes have been
constructed, and hundreds of acres of
marsh land eown to wild rice. In the
/ past twelve months six thousand pounds
of wheat have been fed to the birds, be-
sides other grains and seeds. More i'm
| provemente are under way, to be COM
pleted next summer, when the members
are confident that they will have the
| best grounds to be found in the state.
The result of all this labor has been
more than satisfactory thus far. The
canvasback duck, for instance, a few
years ago were remarkably scarce on
these grounds, but now come in in large
| focks, fact which is possibly due to
! the care which is taken to destroy all
| the enemies of birds, such as coons,
akunks and other vermin which prey on
ducks in the brooding season.
/ The club has not remained satisfied
with what game is native to its pre-
serves, but. has imported several hnn-
| dred Japanese pheasanta, and will turn
out more hen birds next spring. 1t has
also largely stocked its grounds with the
Arizona quail, which breeds much more
proli6cally than the coast bird.
Through the efforts of H. Macniel,
state fish commissioner, the Santiago
and Traluco creeks have been stocked
wsth 10000 eastern speckled trout, so
that the anglers pastime will soon be
an important feature of club life.
The quarters of the organization at
the head of Newport bay consist OF
commodions ten-room house and sta
bles. All the necessary comforts are
provided, including an excellent cook.
The house il kept open all the year by
the employ which comprise among
others three patrolmen who see that the
game laws are rigorouely enforced. The
house is often the scene of gayety on
the, frequent ladies' days, when the
members bring their wives, sisters or
other fellows sisters for dance after
the days shooting.
The variety of birds to be had here, as
shown by the clubs logbook, consist OF
swan, snow goose, laughing goose, sttie-
kens goose, honkers, brant, canvasbRck,
mallard, CALDWELL. sprig, widgeon, red
head, wood duck, spoonbill, cinnamon
teal, green winged teal, moldy duck,
lufflehead, English snipe, red breasted
snipe, yellowleg. russell. silt, sand hill
crane, sticklebilled curlew, Esquimau
and four varieties OF rail.
The famous "Tipperary," one OF the
best known retrievers in the state, was
the property of the club. Tipperary
died recently, but his memory is cher
ished by many California sportsmen.
THE cERRITos CLUB.
There is gun club in Los Angeles
called the Cerritos, which, though
small club, has had jolly aud effective
existence for four years past.
1t was organized with four members
and has only taken in one member
since that time. The members are all
good shots and congenial gentlemen,
and they have laid the foundation for
continued existence very shrewdly.
The club is essentially duck shooting
club, although there has been some
leaning towards other classes of bird
shooting.
Among the charter members was r.
Unger, OF trap fame, who was one Of the
| Southern California representatives in
the state club shoot at San Francisco
! two years ago, and who ia. also fine
bird shot. w. II. Holmea is president
OF the club and duckshooter of long
etanding. He uses 10.bore J.. g.
Smith gun and picks the birds from the
! clonds.
Il. B. Tufts is another of the charter
members. He has been identified with
/ r.