The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-26
.POAcHERs IN THE MARSH
Lawless Hunters Slaughtering
Reed Bird and OrtOlan.
POLICE SEEN PowERLEss
Crack OF Guns Is Heard All Day In
the Eastern Branch Marshes-Skiffs
In Plain Sight From the Bridge
Law-abldtng SpOrtsmen Complain
Bitterly of the Outrage.

The law abiding spOrtSmen oil tHe Dls-
trict are red-hot over the fact that the
marKe. shooters and other INSCRIPTIONS
hunters have been filling big Tags among
the bros I'D the marshes along the Eastern
Branch, when the season does not COM
meDce until September ard they are re-
strained, by their respect for the law from
participating untilthat time.
The eastern meadows or marshes extend
all along that stream up toward Badens-
burg, but the best shooting grounds lie
from back OF the District Jail to just
beyond Benning Bridge. AT high tide
the water flows over these marshes to the
depth OF two feet, but at low tide person
walking in them would sink almost to tile
knee in the blacklist, vilest, slimiest Kind
Of mud.
But the birds are by far the nest i'm
portant of all live things in this swampy
district. The three most important species
are black birds, reed birds, and waterfall.
more commonly called or;oians. These
birds go North in summer and when on
their way South never fail to visit the
marsh in great numbers. Then is the
sportsmaD's paradise
POT HUNTERS AT WORK.
But just as in everything else, some
man will always want to get ahead OF his
brethren, just as surely as greed is a
quality OF human nature And that is what
the true sportsmeD are kicking about. The
market hunters and scme selfish sports
men, anxious TO get a slightly higher price
for their birds, or to shoot when they can
have it all to themselves, begin cunning
before the season opens. They Kill most OF
the birds, scare the rest away, cut up the
marshes, and ruin the sport for those who
come aftcrward.
One sportsman, whose right TO the title
is evidenced by his sentiments, said yes
terday:
Its a down right shame those fellows
are allowed 10 shoot out OF season. There
Is a law against il and IL ought to be en-
forced. They not only kill all the birds but
they cut up the marsh and make a regular
dump OF weeds of il. We who keep the la W
get the tail end of the sport.
This shooting has been going on for the
last week. Last Wednesday the marsh
was 80 crowded that nineteen men could
be counted from the bridge and Some. when
the mounted officer was not in sight, shot
from the roadway, although against the
when birds are plentiful frequently on
a wet day they are so tame that hunter
is obliged TO back off in order not to blow
his bird all TO pieces. Some gunners have
been known TO kill as many a three hun
dred in one morning"
One of the poachers told The Times re-
porter that when the birds first began to
come in he began shooting. AT that time
he got 20 cents dozen for blackbirds; so
cents a dozen for reed birds. and 81 25
for ortolaDs. In the regular season they
are not worth half SO much.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS.
The law on the subject as enacted by
Congress Is as follows:
IAN act for the preservation OF game
and protection of birds in the District of
Columbia.
''SeCtiop z That no person shall kill
or expose for sale or have in his or her
possession either dead or alive, any water
rail- or ortolaD. or reed bird, or rice bird
between the first day OF February and
the first day of September under penalty
of two dollars for each bird so killed or
in possession"
That game laws are good thing and a
necessary measure was long ago decided
in the case of duck shooters on Chesapeake
Bay nd in other game districts. and every
body will acknowledge the wisdom Of the
above act. except. perhaps, the poachers
themselves. But It's alleged by some sports
men that this section has certain flaws.
For instance, IL is said these migratory
birds regulate their arrival and departure
on the temperature of the season. maybe
leaving before the first of September.
This is used by some as an excuse for
poaching. Again. greater defect is
charged against this section.
As can be seen, blackbirds are not in
Guided in the list of birds to be protected
until the first of September. But black
birds flock to the marshes together with the
other species. Therefore a poacher who
has done a good days shooting, II he
meets an officer, is perfectly safe, provided
he carries all his blackbirds on Il string
in plain sight nd all his reed and ortulans
concealed in his pockets. But even under
these difficulties, last year the police Sc
cured three convictions.