The San Francisco call., 1896-01-11
DUCK AND SNIPE.
excellent Shooting Is Reported
From Delano, In Kern County.

O''' 0OiollOy III IL SOQHly.
The reason advanced by the residents of
Sulsun, whose principal outdoor enjoy
ment Is duck shooting, for the marked
scarcity OF birds in the marshes during the
past three or four weeks, is the cold snap
which 1roze the ponds and compelled the
game to md other and more favorable
fields for food and shelter.
thousands of ducks, including canvas
BACK. blue bill, sprig and teal, can be seen
any day feeding along the east shore of the
oay' but they generally keep well out of
range OF gunshot.
Canvasback are very numerous near Old
Sausallto, and hunters who were shooting
last sunday in the vicinity of the old
oausallto railroad bridge, bagged quite
nylng IN from the bay. Ed Ladd was
among the fortunate sportsmen, he bagged
nlne canvasbacks and some small birds.
justice Carroll, DR.. Hildreth, E. B. Metz
ger, \. >. Valencia and George Racine re-
turned last week from a hunting trip to
Delano, Kern County. The sportsmen
grassed $50 ducks, principally mallard and
sprlg, and report having seen countless
NUMBERS OF English snipe, which they did
not 1ancy shooting at as long and larger
ana less Qlfncult game to hit was plentl-
1ul. Judge Carroll is contemplating a
near future Journey to Delano, which place,
he contends, is paradise for sportsmen
who are fond of duck shooting. Some
years ago the Judge was passionately fond
OF cotton-tall rabbit hunting, and doubt
less he could relate, when in a humor for
story telling, many pleasant hunting ex-
perlences III the wilds east Of Berkeley.
Inc secretary of the Sportsmens Pro-
tectlYe Association has announced. that a
general meeting of all sportsmen inter
ested IN duck-shooting will be held at the
knights OF the Red Branch Hall on Tues
day evening, the 21st inst.
The object OF calling this meeting" said
DIRECTOR Battu, ''is TO bring together as many
marsh lanus open 10 all persons who have a
prediction for duck-shooting. A legal battle
IS now pending between the clubs commonly
known as preserve clubs and the sportsmen
VINO DeIleFe that the game, and especially wild
ducks, should not be claimed by any particular
club as their exclusive property
The so-caled preserve clubs composed of
wealthy sportsmen, and unless the protective
ASSOCIATION has the support of the hunters who
are being yearly cut out of their shooting
grounds, every inch of marsh land within a
radius OF 100 miles of this City will be leased
by wealthy Sportsmen, and. of course, the men
OF limited means viii then have TO whistle for
place upon which to fire gun without being
exposed 10 arrest and imprisonment. In case
the ASSOCIATION should fail to conquer their
opponents because Ot lack of support on the
part OF many hunters who do not attend orr
meetings, l hope those who have neglected to
avail themselves of the present chance to be-
come members of this association will not
shout wolf when the sheep nave disappeared
Now Is the time to act if at all.
The sportsmen of Vallejo, Ben:cia. Sui
sun and Martinez will hold q meeting in
Benlcla next week, when an association,
which vii. be known as the annex to the
Sportsmen'S S Protective Association of this
City will be formed. Already 235 names
OF sporLsmen who are interested in shoot
! md III, i
tlon OF duck-shooting preserves, are in
possession of a prominent sportsman of
Benlcla. Clubs antagonlstic to marsh land
preserves Will be established in MANY
counties of the State.
The sportsmen who have been enioined
from trespasslng on the bis Club mud flat
preserves in Suisun marshes have engaged
the services OF two OF the leading ATTORNEYS
OF this State to defend them.
Charley Cate smiled blandly when he
read Hotfilng's adventures among the
wild ducks OF Alameda County.
'lf 'HoH' killed as many ducks as the
paper has credited him WITH said Cate,
"he must have duck ranch where only
the great Al himself can shoot as he
pleases."
The cold weather has driven the English
snlpe south, and as a consequence Messrs.
Cooper and Thorn are sad. One good
shower would bring return of the good
SHoottuS tHdI WAS enjoyed during the early
months of the season.
1t Is hoped that some of the gentlemen
who are interested in the preservation of
the English snipe will call a meeting some
time in the early part of February and ap-
point committee TO visit the Supervisors
OF this City with the object of closing the
season for English snipe on the 18th of
February, on which date the duck and
quail will come under the protection of
The State game law
English snipe, the gamest of all wild
fowls, was ignored by the sportsmen who
assisted in framing the present game laws.
They might as we'll have included the
mudhen in the game laws as to omit the
English snipe. The latter being difficult
bird to kill, owing to its erratic style of
flight, the intelligent body of lawmakers
possibly thought that if they did not in
cclude it among the other game birds of
less value in every way nothing serious
would result to the long-billed beauty of
the marsh