The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-07
CIRRITCCk GAME CLUBS
HERE CA-VASBAcKS, WILD
GEESE. AND SWANS MAY
BE SHOT.
Shooting n Blinds Made Of Snow or
Ice---Geese Trained to Dsccy
Their Wild Brothers.
NeD ! York SIM.


Virginia ana IN the northeastern part
Of North Carolina there Is a mario"
strip Of land varying in width from one
to three miles and sixty miles IN length
bounded On the east by the Atlantic
Ocean and on the west by Back bay
and Currttuck sound. South Of what
was once CuTituck inlet, but IS now
closed bv the tons OF sand washed VI
Nv the waves. the bay widens, and the
bar and mainland are indented by cOve-
and canals. For ages the waves OF the
Atlantic have pounded and hammered
the beach until 1t has become as firm
and hard as a city pavement, making
an excellent wagon road, unequalIed by
any city boulevard, from Virginia
Beach TO the lighthouse off Roanoke
Island.
On the mainland and on the thous-
ands Of Inlet- which dot the bay grows
The succuent wild celery and duck
grass. whose roots supply the Winter
food of the canvas-back, the red-head
and the ruddy duck For years Harve-
de Grace in MARYLAND was the head
quarters Of the sportsmen, but within
the last i've years the shooting grounds
to the South have been growing in ia
yor rapidly. There is not an acre OF
ground on the strip which does not lie
within the domain of some sportsmen' s
club. whose membe. ship consists large
" of New York and Northern men.
On this strip of land situated the
clubhOuses. shooting boxes and covers
of the Ragged Island, Brock Haven,
Ideal. Martins Point, Swan Island, Cur
rituck and the famous Princess Anne
clubs. The club grounds are from
October until January the clubhouses
are filled With members and visitors,
who are there for a week s shooting.
To reach the grounds the sportsmen
must travel first to Norfolk and thence
hv steamer to Roanoke Island and the
club grounds Of the Narrow Island and
Cunituck clubs, or by steamer direct
through the canals and rivers to Curl
rituck sound and the grounds Of the
Knots Island, Swan Island and Mar
TINS Point clubs A third route is by
the little na'roW-guage railroad to Viz
ginia Beach, where cOnveyances can be
had at Princess Anne Hotel and the
traveller can drive down the beach.
Each route has its own attractions and
adya ltaees. On all Of them one meets
men he knows. or ought to know, who
have a day off and intend to make the
most of their respite from business
cares.
At the clubhouses newcome.s are
heartily welcomed by healthy, bronzed
hunters. who have already been IN a
battery for week or more and are re-
GREETING the approach of the day on
which they must travel toward the
North The clubhouses are usually
two-rt0ry wooden structures, with one
great 81 ting and smoking room with a
roomy open fireplace, before which the
members cluster at night and som
warns When the old hunter tells the
Young Ninrod the Munchausen story
OF lmpalling a flock of geese on the
ramrod Of his gun, and applies it to
himself even the most callous listener
glances at the legend above the fire
place in the Princess Anne Club, which
reads. .When he hits, It's history
when he misses, It's mystery
The clubhouses are furnished with
out regard to style, but with the aim to
make the members comfortable. There
are plenty of blankets, plenty of soft
mattresses. plenty OF guns, more than
enough Of dogs. and full larder. Each
house has i caretaker with TWO or three
assistants. who do all the heavier work
about the house and grounds in the
preparation for a day shooting.
The Princess Anne Clubhouse stand.
a half mile back from the beach on 2
slight rise of ground, comprising half a
dozen acres. North and south for miles
are white sand hills In this oasis the
club steward has planted a peach and
pear orchard. Flowers ana vegetables