The San Francisco call., 1896-10-17
GUN AND GAME.

Fine Weather and Poor Duck
ShootIng-A Good Storm Wanted.
Although Thursday was the opening
day Of the season for the shooting of quail
and duck very little sport was enjoyed by
those who looked forward to bagging
large numbers of game.
1t is not because of the decrease in the
game supply that poor shooting resulted
in the marshes which are frequented by
wild fowls. Mallard, sprig and teal are
more numerous than ever in the Suisun
marshes, but the birds quickly left their
nocturnal haunts when the early morn
ing fusillade commenced, and this was
owing to a most beautiful morning and
the absence of rain and wind.
As every sportsman is aware, wild ducks
will not remain inland when the weather
is calm. but the first good storm will GER
tainly bring about some grand sport, and
the sportsmen who will be in the Suisun
marshes during the blow may count upon
scoring large bags of game.
The present weather is altogether too
fine for duck shooting, and local hunters
need not expect much shooting until the
arrival of the first good storm.
What scheme the lessees of preserve
lands about Suisun contemplate during
the next month with view of keeping
trespassers off the mudflats is decidedly
hardly TO guess. Some of the leaders of
the clubs who have been fighting the out
side hunters for some years past say that
they will continue the battle to the end
regardless of expense. But the member
OF the clubs who are much less hostile
than the leaders have become disguSted
and threaten to resign.
The hunters who are fighting the pre-
serve men do not hesitate to say that they
will remain by their guns and contest
every inch OF ground, as they believe that
no man has any particular right to the
migratory game which frequents march
lands,
The hunters further contend that if they
are enjoined from shooting on the Sui
sun marshes a local ordinance will be
passed closing the duck-shooting season
in Solano County for a period of five
years. As matters now stand time alone
will determine the outcome OF the present
war which is existing between the hunters
and the lessees of wild duck preserves.
The San Francisco and North Pacific
Coast Railroad has done more looking to
the pleasure of sportsmen and anglers
than the other companies combined. This
season the San Francisco and North Pa
cidc Company will run a special hunters
train to the duck-shooting marshes of So
noma. Their card says that commencing
on October II, and each Saturday there
after, a hunters train will connect at
Tburon with the Tiburon ferry-boat,
which will leave this City at IL 80 P NJ,
and special run Will be made to Ignacio,
Black Point, Reclamation, Sears Point,
McGills, Schellville, Novato and BurdelIs.
Cars will be siGetracked at Black Point,
Reclamation, McGiils, Schellville ard
Burdells, in which the hunters can re-
main until the early morning. This grand
inducement on the part of a liberal rail- :
road company should certainly receive the
support and appreciation of the sports
men of this City and County.
After the first good storm the duck
shooting on the Sonoma marshes will be
good.
Some very good bags of quail were
made on Thursday by members of the
Country and Tamalpais Gun clubs. Six
sportsmen who shot over the quail
grounds near Point Reyes bagged 259 birds
on the opening day OF the season.
The following letter to Secretary Fitz-
simmons of the State Sportsmen's Pro-
tective Association is self-explanatory
Charles Fitzsimmons Esq, Secretary State
Sportsmens Protective ASsOeidtion-DEAR SIR:
have the honor TO acknowledge che receipt of
your communication of October recommend
ing John H Sammi for the position OF State
Fish and Game Commissioner and the same
has been filed for Governor Budd's considera-
ton when he is prepared TO make appoint
ments on the board. Yours truly,
j. N. TODMAN, Executive Secretary.