Evening star., 1896-10-02
THE G A M e SEAS O N
Opened Yesterday and LastadThrough Until
February.
This is a Center for Ddel<s and Other
TOOthsOme Dirds-AApped to
New York;

Yesterday opened the season for most OF
the game birds that are sold an the markets,
and the season continuesu until February.
In the Center market along the fish aisle
the stands show the result OF activity
among the gunners down the river, as well
as on the marshes about here. Most OF the
reed birds and ortolan have left our
marshes for the rice fields of the south,
where the former are known as rice birds
and the latter as sora. The few remaining
birds of these species are too fat to make
the flight and the consequence is that those
that are now being killed are In excellent
cor dition for the table.
Washington Is getting to be great game
numerous creeks emptying into II. being
among the finest feeding grounds In the
United States, so far as the water fowls
are concerned. The quality of ducks killed
in this section Is conceded to be much bet
ter than those killed in other sections. and
sell at from one to three dollars pair
mere than those killed elsewhere Mary
land and Virginia quail and pheasants are
much sought after by eastern dealers. as
they readily bring more money in their
markets than western game.
The wealthy clubs and hotel keepers in
New York, where the finest game is de-
manded. have placed standing orders with
local dealers for weekly shipments of select
game to supply their tables. Only short
time ago a barrel of woodcock, sold for
500. was sent from here by Center Mar
ket dealer to one of the big clubs in New
York city. Several hundred thousand dol
lars worth Of game Is handled here during
the course of a season, and one of the deal
ers numbers among his best customers res
idents of New York, New Jersey, Rhode
Island. Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Many people In these states have standing
orders with local dealers for game.
Several punches of blue wing teal ducks
have already made their appearance on the
Potomac. and those that have been killed
have been found to be in excellent condi-
ton Socn the little rook or butter duck
will be here, and the mallard and sprig: all
will follow. With the cold weather will
come the red heads and canvas backs
Alexandria furnishes a large number Of
fuckers who operate on the Potomac.
there being at least fifty gunners who earn
their living in this way. They slaughter
ducks also on the James river, and on the
Chesapeake bay. These duckers are all
rigged out with good outfits, such as sail
| Ing boats, sneak boats and sloops carrying
| large swivel guns, and 1t Is a common c.
currence for them to slaughter as many IS
| fifty ducks at a single shot. From the bay
| and lower river they are shipped here by
steamers and cars.
In purchasing ducks they should be
| bought by weight, and not by the pair but
| 1t is said that they are not always sold
| by weight. Canvas backs should weigh
about six pounds to the pair; mallards, six
| red heads, five, and rook or butter duck
| three. Ducks a few ounces under this
| sold for much less money than the prime
| fowls. Because of the plentiful supply of
game this season birds are very cheap, and
sales are correSpondingly large.