The evening times., 1895-11-07
DUCKS ARE MIGHTY SCARCE
Big Guns and Other Evils Have
Driven Them Away.
Washin2tonians Must Go Long Way
from Home These Days to
Enjoy Good Sport.

"At one time this was a good duckine
country, but it's NO good now," said a
well'lDown sporting goods dealer yestcr-
day. There was time, not sO many years
ago, either, when ducks of all kinds were
bagged in large numbers within a few
miles of Washington, but now, il sport
| of this kind is to be enjoyed, a long trip
must be taken.
Ioere are numerous causes for the
scarcity of ducks In this neighborhood at
this time. One thing is increased activity
on the river. Another is the steam launches
and the use OF big guns The shooting OF
these death. .lealiDg implements is against
law, but that appears to make little differ.
ence.
IN years gone there were many good
shooting shores in this vicinity. They ex-
tended from Hunters Creek, Just below
Alexandria, clear down to the capcs. Many
Washington people established clubs ON
the line of the river. They would take up
from quarter of mile To three miles of
territory, and in season would have grand
time.
The shooting was of the very best kind.
and 1t was of frequent occurrence for Bns-
ton and New York Men to come here and
buy out these clubs. On Aqua Creek there
was one club that took up bet tween three
and four miles of shore.
Now ducking clubs, or shooting clubs
or any sort, for that matter, are few and
far between. Here and there you can find
one, but they are not as big, nor are they
run on the old scale, nor do they afford he
sport that was formerly enjoyed. Richard
Smith, W. w Bowman. Cliff Bro wu, j. A.
Webb, W. Mckivey, and Blair Lee have
little club house near Upper Marlboro, on
tue Patuxent river. Al times they have
fairly good shooting, but for the most part
1t is pretty tame.
"WilliaDi Wagner, John Peyton, William
Edelin, and william Rothwei have a club
on Piscatway creek. Up to last year they
had pretty good shooting, but the con-
ditioDs l have spoken OF have robbed them
OF their sport.
LAS TO local shooting, there's none Of it
now. In former times at this season of
the year great many ducks were killed
hereabout. But l have not heard of the
killing of two dozen this season Mayor
Sherwood has killed sew eral malIard and teal
Dear Four-Mlle Run during tue past week
or two.
"On Friday last William Curzon got
three mallard and four teal at Gravel
Creek, and Will Murray told me to-day he
had killed small number in the marshes
ABOUT fifteen miles down the river. and
Charley Laird got four mallard near Point
of Rocks, but these are all that have heard
OF up 10 this time.
There is absolutely no shooting OF any
account in this immediate vicinity any
more. When Washington men want to
duck now they go from fifty To one hundred
and fifty miles away. Havre de Grace at |
tracts many of them. There the shooting
in season is always good. The ducks are |
by law. Sportsmen are restricted |
as to the number they shall kill in d day; |
the size of the gun that may be used is |
stipulated: only three days in the week |
are allowed for shooting. and a shooting |
lax is levied. These things give the ducks
4 chance, and as the feeding at Havre de |
irace is good they coDgregate there in
arge numbers.