The morning call., 1894-09-12
FIGHT OR NOT :?
Duck=Shooters Preparing
for Action.
A LIVELY SEASON EXPECTED
The Suisun Marshes Will Be the
Battle Ground.
LIVELY SEASON EXPECTED
CLUB MEMBERS DETERMINED.
Fences Will Decorate the Swamp
Preserves and Members Only Can
Walk on the Grass.

gives promise of very interesting results
this coming season.
As recently stated in THE CALL, the
C0rdelia and Teal clubs have settled up
old scores and mutually agreed that they
will be good friends henceforth.
The Cordelia Club is composed in greater
part of miliionaires, and there can be no
gainsaying that if the club should decide
upon an aggressive policy the trespassers
VIII have a merry time in the attempt TO
shoot game on the reservations.
1t appears that the representatives of
the Teal Club have held a conference with
the Cordelias, which resulted in an AMIGA
bic understanding regarding the lines
within which each club can burn powder
during the duck-shoOtjng season.
The COrdelia Club has leased for term
of years (nOt stated the property formerly
occupied for hunting purposes by the Cor
della aud Teal clubs.
The latter body of duck-slayers are at
the present time on excellent terms with
their former antagonists, aud. as a conse-
quence, both clubs have decided to con-
form with the law by constructing fence
around the demesDe which will be known
as the Cordelia-Teal Gun Club preserve.
SpOrtsmen who are not favorable toward
the leasing and occupation of marsh lands
by what they term "preserve" rule con-
tend that under the code il will be foolish
ness for either of the clubs named to fence
In the lands they have leased in accord
ance with the trespass law. as there are
several navlgabls sl0ughs running through
the property on which club members will
dc their shooting.
1hela on private properly reads: ANY
person who upon any inclosed or culti-
waited grounds, which are private property
and where signs are displayed forbidding
such shooting, shall shoot any quail, bob
white, pheasant, partridge, arouse, dove or
wild duck. without permission first OBJ
tanned from the owner or person In possess
sion of such grounds. shall be guilty of
msdemeanor."
So far as navgable sloughs are con-
cerned any that are vide enough to float
and admit boat carrying five tons or
more OF freight are constituted navigable
under the section that pertains to public
ways. As to the fence law, or rather
what constitutes legal boundary, ex-Dis-
irlct Attorney j. ID. Sullivan gave CON-
mittee from the SpOrtsmen's Protective
Association of this city in writing the gen.
eral law with regard to wire fences, as
follows:
Wire fences shall be made OF post, not less
than twelve inches IN circumference, SET in the
ground not less than eighteen inches and not
more than eight feet apart, with not less than
three horizontal wires, each one-quarter OF an
inch in didmeter-the first one shall be eighteen
inches from the ground, The other two above
this one, at intervals OF one fooi between each,
all well stretched aud securely fastened from
one post 10 another, with one rail, slat, pole or
plank OF suitable siZe or strength, securely
fastened 10 the post not less than four and a
half feet from the ground. The above law is
now In force except In the counties OF AmadOr,
Butte. COlusa, Contra Costa, Modoc, Placer,
San Bernardino, San Diego. Santa Barbara,
Shasta. SisKiyou, Tehama. Trinity, TuOlumne
and YoO.
There are slight differences as 10 the height
OF the fence. For instance, In Contra Costa
County the fence must be five feet high. But
l apprehend that the above mode of building
wire fence Will be legal in any county In the
State.
Although the Cordelia Club announced
that its shooting grounds would be fenced
in in accordance with the law by the
opening of the duck-shOoting season in
SOlanO County, which was on the 1st inst,
there IS not as yet any signs of fence OF
the material for fencing at the grounds.
Some of the Cordelia Club mem bers have
stated that by October l, when the sea-
sons sport will properly commence, the
preserve will be fenced in in accordance
with the laws requirements, and keepers
will be on hand to arrest trespassers who
are not fortified with permission 10 shoot
! thereon.
Hunters who have had good shooting
last year on what is known as the teal
grounds" have stated their determination
! to shoot over the same ponds this season,
and if they should be annoyed by keepers
the latter will positively receive the worst
| of the argument.
| 1t is certain that the sportsmen who re-
| side in Suisun and vicinity are determined
not to be denied their fave rite pastime,
| and according To the outlook a. present
| trouble may be expected between keepers
| and non-preseTve hunters this winter
| Captain Chittenden, who has been christ
| ened by the spOrtsmen of Suisun bluff"
| Chittenden, has already donned his war
paint and states that he will make some
! body suffer IL his commands ''to get" are
not obeyed. The captain has been ap-
| pointed chief gamekeeper at the Cordel
| Preserve. HerzOg, an assistant keeper,
who takes great pleasure in showing
| people a 6sh and game patrol badge he
wears on his breast. is also determined to
do or die for the good OF the club. Herzog
has been revlously occupied in looking
after the Greek fishermen who 'catche de-
salmon" in Suisun Bay. He considers that
the experience he has had In locating and
capturing illegal fishermen will aid him
greatly in the good" work of bagging
game-poachers during the duck-shooting
season now at hand.
The Teal Club is now busily engaged in
renovating its old ark and getting every
thing ready for the opening of the season.
which will commence properly on Oc-
to ober 1.
The Tule-Belle and Mallard Gun Club
are also DuSny preparing 10r the mlSra-
tory feathered bipeds from their northern
breeding grounds. Last SUNDAY q few
dozen young mallard and sprig ducks were
shot on the Teal Clubs grounds, but
sportsmen report that owing to the swarms
OF mosquitoes, which still remain in pos
session OF the swamps, duck-shooting is
anything but a pleasant pastime.
The Alameda County Sportsmen's Club
moved the ark up to the shooting ground,
near McGill's station, couple of weeks
ago, aud were out IN force on opening day.
Thomas Knowles and Adams bagged
thirty-seven mallard, sprig. CALDWELL and
teal. II. Knowles and Morrison twelve.
The sprg were as fat as butter, but the
mallard and teal were in only fair condi-
tion.
The duck-shooting season is now open
in all counties of the State except Hum
boldt Kern, Orange. Sacramento, San
Francisco, Tulars and Ventura. Under
the very poor laws on the statute books
quail can be slaughtered, notwithstanding
that majority of them are not more than
half grown. in the following counties:
AlnDe, Amsdor, Colusa, Contra Costa,
Calaveras. Del Norte, Fresno. Glenn, lnyo,
Kings, Lassen, Los Angeles, Mariposs,
Mendocino, Merced. Modoc, Mono, Napa.
Orange, Plumas, Riverside. San Benitu.
San Bernardino. San Diego, San Joaquin,
Santa Barbara. Santa Cruz, Santa Clara,
Shasta, Sierra, Sskiyou. SIanislaus, SUIT
ter, Tehama and Yolo. In Kern the quail