The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-11-07
DUCKING SEASON OPENS
MONDAY WAS "OPENING DAY" ON
THE SUSQUEHANNA FLATS.
A Large Number of Gunners Attracted,
Many Ducks, but the First
Days Shooting Was
Slow.

The ducking season on the Chesapeake
Bay and its tributaries opened on November
l, which this year falling on Sunday required
the impatient gunners to hold over day
before they could open up their fusilade on
the royal canvass back. On the Susquehanna
Hats near Perryville. at the head of the bay,
the scene on Sunday night was one Of hustle
ana excitement, getting everything in readi-
ness for crossing the line at the legal hour,
o'clock Monday morning. The shooting on
Monday morning on the flats was almost
failure. The day was hot and perfectly calm
until noon, when light breeze sprang up
from the south. The reports of the guns
with the south wind sounded like cannon
and frightened the ducks off the flats. As far
as reported no one killed as many as hun
dred, and the average per box was 20 to 80
Until the first day of next April on each
Monday, Wednesday and Friday and, after
January /, Saturday, too, the shooting may
go on under certain restrictions.
There are plenty of ducks on the flats and
good ducks, too. There are more than the
usual quantity of canvas backs and redheads,
although they have probably been molested to
a much greater extent this fall than is usually
the case There is no scarcity of food for
them, as this season the flats are covered
with as thick a growth of celery as was ever
seen on them. This should serve TO cause
the birds to hold on well.
There has been much speculation among
the gunners as to the lawful time for crossing
the line, there being diversity of opinion as
to whether it was or O'Clock. The proper
time is 8 o'clock-so say the authorities
it is probably well understood now among
the gunners that they must not cross until
this time. There promises to be less chance
for those who do not respect the law this
year from escaping the clutches of its strong
arm than has been the case in the past In
addition to the four special police, there are
number of deputy game wardens who will
patrol the flats looking for offenders, and
there is but little doubt but that there will be
some found. The authority of the wardens
is much more limited than is that of the
special ducking police. Still their vigilance
| will serve the same purpose, and WILL no
doubt, be a considerable factor in the better
observance of the law.
There was great deal of illegal shooting
done about the headwaters of the bay last
week, possibly more than has ever been done
since the present cunning laws have been
made What probably did the most injury to
the prospects for the regular shooting season
were the night depredations. The day shoot
ing is most emphatically contrary to law, but
the construction put on the law by the ma
jority of those who did it was such that many
were of the opinion that these gunners CON-
mitted no offense for which there are amen
able to the law.
Over on the Cecil county side is where the
shooting was done both night and day. There
big cunning went on at night and besides
the ducks were being sculled for and shot at
with shoulder guns as we'll This has never
been the case before so early. While the law
requires but the possession of a duck any
where in the state, TO furnish evidence of
guilt, and heavy penalty is imposed in tho
way Of II fine, dozens were shooting them
daily and selling them without the slightest
effort to conceal the fact.
They were shot in North East River over
bushwhack and sinkbox stools, and it is
said that one party bagged 30 redheads in
one day, and that some canvasbacks have
been killed. A great many are under the
impression that they have the right to shoot
ducks at any time IN the Susquehanna River,
Principio Furnace Creek and the North East
River, north of the line which marks the
flats" and it has become sort of custom
with great many to shoot on the above
named waters whenever they please. There