The San Francisco call., 1895-11-13
DUCK-HUNTERS' TROUBLE
Main Sloughs in the Sonoma
Marshes Blockaded by
Wire Fences.
Supervisors of San Mateo County
Have Put Their Feet Down on
Rail Slaughter.

The sportsmen of San Mateo County,
who learned through THE CALL that the
rail on the Belmont marshes were fast
disappearing because of indiscriminate
slaughter, had the Supervisors pass an
ordinance which prohibits the killing of
rail in their county after the 18th inst.
Local sportsmen should not make any
mistake in this particular ordinance, as
the fine for the killing of, or having in pos
session, rail after Friday next is very
heavy. Had it not been for the ruthless
manner in which some hunters who gen
orally shoot on Sundays slaughtered the
birds during time when the marsh was
almost inundated by water, this ordinance
would not have been passed.
Hunters who enjoy an occasional day s
pleasure in shooting at ducks in the vicin-
lty of Tubbs Island, Sonoma marshes, are
very indignant because the owner of the
island { a. G. Tubbs) followed the example
OF the Teal Cordelia Shooting Club of the
Suisun marshes and ran wire fences across
MldShlpman's slough, which is 200 yards
in width. The slough is as naviyable as
the Sacramento River, and an obstruction
to navigation on it is decidedly unlawful
and improper. Taking this view of the
matter the hunters, who had heretofore OBJ
served the rights of the owners of the
island by refraining from trespassing or
shooting thereon, smashed passagewavs
In the wired blockade and threaten to 90
much greater damage if the islanders re-
sort to any further schemes 10 despoil
them OF an occasional shoot on the main
slough.
The case of the Cordelia Shooting Club
against the Mallard Club will certainly be
decided at Fairfield, Solano County, on
Thursday.
Some Of the alleged sportsmen who have
made practice OF shooting tame ducks in
the slough that passes within a stones
expect to be escorted to prison the next
time they put in an appearance on the
marsh. Last Sunday morning Mr.. Ferris
lost several ducks, some of which were seen
IN the possession of poachers on their re-
turn TO this City. These vandals sleep in
a shanty on the marsh between Ignacio
and Novato.
The following interesting news concern
ing what the sportsmen of Sacramento and
its vicinity are doing has been received:
The verdict of the San Francisco jury in the
violation OF the game law case is the chief topic
of conversation among the sporting and mar
ket-hunttng fraternity of this section, who are
seemingly equally divided in favor of and
against the decision. On the part OF the
sportsmen it is claimed that the law is plain on
the subject and that the verdict rendered is in
direct contradiction of the law. Even should
the law be unconstitutional on the grounds OF
special legislation. they claim that it does not
lie within the province OF the jury to so de-
eide; they also claim that the people of the
State have no grounds of CONF plaint against the
present California game laws. In Oregon and
Washington game is only allowed to be sold
during the month OF December, while in Cali
fornia it is allowed to be disposed of for two
months.
On the other hand, market hunters and their
friends claim that they should be entitled to
the same privilege accorded any other hunters
and, as their livelihood depends on it. should
be allowed to dispose OF their game The final
decision in the case will be awaited with absorb
ing interest. Those who have tried the marshes
during the past week report ducks more plen-
tiful, as the migratory birds arriving in
most plentiful this year, although there is no
percepible scarcity in other varieties New
bert c. Kimball and r. D. Finney bagged fifty
five birds in their outing among the tules near
Clarksville yesterday. They report any guam
tity OF birds constantly on the wing, but fly
ing high. They state that birds were hard to
retrieve in the locality they visited, as the
water was covered with matted mass OF red
smartweec, through which the ducks fell and
disappeared. Many were lost through this
cause, or their days bag would have been
larger.
Russ Flint and Nicholaus killed eight birds
IN hours outing yesterday. Newbert and
Helms killed thirty-five birds within six miles
OF the City on Monday last. Stewart Upson
and Doc DUEL had hard luck in their days
trip on the lakes-it rained heavily all the
time and they bagged but nine birds. Charlie
Flohr bagged twenty-seven at the Teal Cluo
preserves last Sunday. and B. Knauer accom-
panied by two of his friends, returned from a
two days shoot with 105 birds. Nobody has
tried the quail during the past week, although
Fred Adams and Ed Robbins, accompanied
by their thoroughbred pointers, left to-day for
Ell Dorado, with expectation of good sport
after the late rains.
The Buckwheat Club has secured 24OO acres
of preserve near Lodi. and look forward to
good shooting, mallard are already putting
IN an appearance.