The San Francisco call., 1896-10-10
DUCK SHOOTING.
The Season VIII Open on Thursday.
Grand Sport Is Anticipated.


Grand Sport Is Anticipated.
Sportsmen are looking forward impa-
tiently to favorite pastime which will be
enjoyed by thousands on Thursday next.
On that day the law will release its hand
of protection from the feathered game,
which is very plentiful this year, accord
ing to the very latest accounts from marsh
and field.
Wild ducks, and particularly mallard,
are quite numerous in the Suisun marshes,
consequently the sporusmen who have a
prediction for duck shooting anticipate
royal sport on the inaugural day of the
duck-shooting season.
1t is thought that the Ibis and Cordelia
shooting clubs will employ the same
tactics of warfare as were introduced in
previous seasons to debar .outside"
hunters an opportunity of killing any of
the preserved game.
The sportsmen of Vallejo and Suisun
are determined to be in the swim, how
ever, and preparations are being made by
them to burn powder on the Suisun
marshes on Thursday morning. Hunters
who do not affiliate with the sportsmen
that have leased duck-shooting lands say
that if their pleasure is disturbed by game
keepers they Will join the preserve hunters
in shooting ducks over favorite ponds,
(which have been fed" daily for some
weeks past.
At :, meeting recently held by the
Sportsmen's Protective Association of this
City the president instructed the membe
to be careful and under no consideration
TO enter upon the lands of a farmer with
out first having obtained his permission.
''I am strongly in favor of protection to
farmers" said the president, land | also
favor protection for domestic game birds
and animals, such as quail, grouse,
pheasants, ETC., but | cannot understand
the meaning of a preserve on a barren
marsh frequented by migratory game
which may be found to-day In Sulsun and
tomorrow in Los Angeles.
IA duck-shooting preserve, contend,
is ruinous to the interest OF game, because
of the great slaughter that is annually ac
complished by the owners or lessees of
these preserves. Ponds are baited for
many weeks prior TO the opening day OF
the season, and as a result thousands OF
wild ducks concentrate in those ponds or
preserve-traps better expressed, and when
the day arrives for the slaughter of the
innocents the preserve men sally forth
with their guns and a continuous fusillade
is directed upon the birds which flock into
the ponds. from daylight until dark.
Sacks containing from fifty to hun
dred ducks may be seen piled up at the
stations on the Suisun marsh on the even
ing of the day OF shooting, waiting ship
ment to this City, and. gentlemen OF this
association, This is what some people are
pleased to call game preservation"
The Daily Report of the 7th inst in an
editorial on game preservation said: ''The
Sportsmen's Protective Association OF this
City is strongly opposed to the preserva-
ton of game upon reservations, but game
can be saved from determination only by
the preserve system. 1t IS a case of pre-
serves in the hands of real sportsmen or
determination at the hands of pot-hunt-
ers and the Sportsmen's Association
knows that as we'll as we know it"
1t was through the intercesslon of the
Sportsmen's Protective Association of this
City that the Supervisors passed an ordin-
of certain game which, owing TO defect
in the game laws, was being sold in this
CITY at all times. vet the mem bers of this
association are dubbed ''pot-hunters" by
some individuals who would gladly own
the earth if they could but grasp that
little wad in their paw. But they cawn't
do it, ye know.
a mass-meeting of sportsmen will be
held some evening OF next week at the
call of Mr.. Ahern, who is presiding officer
of the protective association.
The Sportsmen's Protective Association,
looking to the interests of the sportsmen
at large, has mailed to each Assem- blyman
and Senator nominated by the Republi-
can and Democratic parties a pledge
which reads as follows:
Herewith inclosed you will find card from
the Sportsmen's Protective Association of Cali
fornia, with its aims and objects, which are
as follows:
"The objects of this association shall be the
abolition of game preserves. the enforcement
of existing game laws, and to secure the en-
actment of such further laws as may be
deemed necessary and wise; the protection of
the game and fish now found in the State; the
introduction and propagation of such desir-
able game, animals, birds and fish may
flourish in this State if introduced; the en-
couragement of field sports among its mem
bers and to secure TO all lovers of the rod and
gun such rights, privileges and pleasures as
come within the province of an association of
sportsmen."
The wording of the pledge is clear and ex-
plicit, and if you are in sympathy with its
aims and objects please sign the same at your
earliest convenience and forward to the secre-
tary. CHAs. F. FITZsMMoNs, GAL Market St.