Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-04
The Fall Shooting to Be Had at
Martha's Vineyard.
TROUT IN SPRINGS, DUCKS ON MARSH
The Prairie Chicken and Quail Pro.
tected and Fostered.
GOOD PLACE FOR SPORT

tourist has put on thick underwear and de-
parted across the walloping waves Among
the few Washingtonians who are still here
are Maj. Barnett of the quartermaster's de-
partment, with his family; Gen. and Mrs.
w. b. Rochester and Surgeon Banks Of the
marine hospital service and his family.
Mrs. f. r. Lee left last week for few
days stay in Boston previous to an eight
months trip to Europe. The islanders, as
for years at this season, are having a
glorious round of sport with the variety of
strong-winged flyers that frequent the bays
and creeks on the ocean side, or South
Beach.
This island, as well as being paradise
for devotees OF the hook and line, is also
frequented by lovers of the gun. The name
of the island might as well have been
Martha's game preserve or Martha's hunt
ing ground, for il happens that there is
not vineyard here, while for shooting
ask any one who has made life uncertain
for the fowl and prairie chickens, plover
and all sorts of beach birds.
Glory of the Autumn.
| AS a rule a successful gunner has very
little to say when asked where he goes for
game. The angler is chary when you in
quire where the trout hide, and. if he has
the wherewithal. it is not infrequent for
him to post every brook he can control and
prosecute trespassers. The writer has seen
| many baskets of trout. shining fellows of
good proportions, that were taken from the
cool springs hereabouts. yet the proud pos
SCISSOR of the fish had simply whipped
streams not far away from the steamboat
wharf.
yard is filled with these trout streams just
teeming with the speckled beauties. Some
are leaping mountain brooks. others are
placid streams that flow softly through
Ia nd
buttercup nod and the bobolink makes
liquid sweetness in the air as he hovers
over mis- mate on her nest in the rushes
below. The sign mo Fishing" catches
your eye and the beauty of the landscape
fades away as you glance apprehensively
about you for the bulldog. These brooks
are all protected, being stocked and leased
by devoted disciples of IZaak Walton, but
If you can fortunately obtain a permit from
one of the members. some glorious sport
will reward your efforts.
The south side of Martha's Vineyard is a
dreary sand waste, perhaps twenty-five
miles long. Against the beach roll the
breakers with never-iagging energy. A
mound or aarrier of sand rises from the
water line and now and then an inlet makes
into the land. This beach is as crooked as a
straight edge is straight. There are many
ponds that make into the ocean, and little
sand dunes lend the country a desoiate APP
pearance. When ducks are making their
way south, in fall. the island appears to be
one of their favorite resorts. There is
abundant feed in the shallow ponds or
waterways that give the land the appear
ance of an emerald studded with FURNISHED
metal. Ducks as a rule are continually en-
the move in these waters. They fly to and
from the feeding grounds with the rise ami
fall of the sun. Just before the day dawns
and in the evening hours the birds come the
thickest and afford the best sport.
The Fall Shooting.
Local gunners have for years made a
feature of the fall shooting. Concealed in
the oak groves that fringe the beach are
many shooting houses built expressly to ac-
commodate parties who try their luck with
the fowl. These houses are not large nor
are tney possessed Of architectural beauty.
But their roofs are tight and the sides are
well battened to exclude cold winds. In the
rear of the house is shed. in which horses
are fltched during the stay of the gunnerS
on the premises. The interior of The little
houses Is very coy. A tier of hunks occu-
pies one side. There are a cooking stove, a
large table chairs and fairly good kitchen
Some OF the buildings have floors construct
ed of boards, while the majority however, are
fitted with hard clay foundations. A rack
for guns and other accouterments is a con-
spicuous feature of the living room, and at
times ccckroaches are in evidence. These
houses are quite distance from the beach,
where the men take their stand, for he fowl
are very wary. the best positions eing at
necks OF land where an inlet makes into a
pond. The fowl pass over the point when
flying from or leaving the ponds, and, as a
rule, wing along at a mile minute clip.
Fifty Day.
Fifty black ducks day is not an unusual
bag for party of good shots, while oc-
casionally they are rewarded with a goose
or two. Along the beaches fair luck is had
with waders and other feathered butter
balls Plover shooting also is now very
good, ard the birds are not hard to call
down. five-nile drive, more or less, over
| rough wood roads and fields is one of the
drawbacks to tie sport. 1t is customary to
make start in the evening. and the earlier
the wagons get under way the better it is
for the horse and man, there are no light
houses or dwelling houses in the desolata
south side country. Along the upland coun-
try on the northern shores of the Vineyard
Hon. A. 5. Berry of Kentucky owns sum-
mer home and game preserve, and with
friends enjoys some princely quail shooting
at this season of the year. Prof. n. S.
Shaler, the eminent geologist, owns MANY
acres of land adjoining Berry's which HI
sows each year with grain, and allows no
shooting, thus keeping the adjoining coun-
try stocked with quail and Bob White"
whistlers all along the shore of the sound
Woodoock and ruffed grouse are also found
there.
The Prairie Chicken.
Quoting from Mr.. G. w. Eldridge, the
well-known photographer, who is an ardent
admirer Of the Vineyard: But the prince Of
all upland birds on the Vineyard, as else
WHERE, Is tne prairie chicken. 1neSe birds
are the last remnants of a race that has
| been driven beyond the Mississippi by the
advance of civilization" The writer has
seen and shot countless specimens of this
species in the Indian territory. These Vine
yard birds are different in habit and en-
vironment. which makes them somewhat
larger and stronger of flight than the west
ern BIRDS from which they can be readily
distinguished by those familiar with both
varie ties. They are known on the island py
the local lame of heath hen." a m:snomer
that once got briny legislator, who had
| spent more of his youth in the forecastle
than at school. into photographed diff
| culties, for he called down the wrath of his
Vineyard constituents on his head by pre-
| sent.nS before the legislature of Massachu-
| sets bill to protect the "hea then of Mar
| tha's Vineyard W. w N.
Mental Stimulus.
/ The first installment Of the great mys-
| terry story, When the War Was Over"
| by Frederick r. Burton, will lie published
| MOp1av bpp