The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-12-14
Duck Shooting.


This sport has been quite prevalent of late
on the Delaware river, and considerable game
has been bagged within the past two weeks
Artillas A. Anderson recently purchased a
wild goose that had been shot at Florence. He
was told they were as thick there as baked
beans In quart can, so he concluded to try
his luck.
A trip was arranged and Commodore Comfy
took the party ''round the hornr on Thursday
He was accompanied by George w. and Harry
Durand, James l.. and A. A. Anderson. The
weather presented all the pleasures of June
When the party arrived at the head of Bur
lingtOn Island, the engine on the yacht
Panku stopped of its own accord. Pilot j. L..
Anderson and the rest of the crew nearly had
ut at the sight of large flock of ducks some
distance ahead.
keep right quiet" softly murmured Arty
land we Will have some of 'em"
Pop, you get into the little boat FIRST sug-
gested the thoughtful son, as he was trying to
was not large enough and backward went the
township committeeman into pie that had
been taken along for lunch.
There was no time to give consideration to
trif1es of this character, and the crushed
black berries were brushed away like a small
boy wiping his nose with his coat sleeve.
"Uncle James," suggested Harry Durand,
don't forget TO put couple of shells in your
gun. It won't go of unless you do"
"GOSh, don't you think know that much ~
came reply that denoted an excessive de-
gree of nervousness.
~ can't get this darn gun together was a
| pIaintive wall that came from George Wash
| ington Durand. Let's go without it,
But the gun was finally adjusted, and George
took seat in the stern of the boat. The line
was cast off, ana away the party went after
the ducks with visions,of a good square meal
| before them.
All hands crouched down in the boat, ana
the microbes on the water could hear the
men breathing. The Commodore had his field
! glass bearing on the crowd as they were
! sneaking on the game.
"Now each man single out his bird" ordered
] Arty.
Little too much noise.r squeaked Harry,
who had fallen under seat
"Golly. but those ducks are tame, said
James.
NOW, Pop, III take that fellow swimming
around on the left. and you take the one next
! to him. George and Harry can pick out their
own. I'll shoot first and the rest can follow.
4 Ducky, your mother made mistake to let
you be out here in front of my gum
down the river to Can't Kiddis chest Of goId
But not duck moved and not another shot
was fired. No one uttered a word. Each man
looked at the other in amazement, as though
wondering whether any OF the game laws had
been violated. But the stiffness was broken
by Jack English shouting from the shore
"Say, what's the matter with you fellows
Do you want to blow my stool ducks off the
face of the river2''
Harry Duran1 said he had the headache SO
bad that he couldn't see. James was frank
enough to admit his error, and tor the first
time George Durand discovered that he
had been sitting in pool of water ever since
he got in the boat.
well broken mp, and their excuses would make
g good Christmas story. The Commodore was
so uckled over what had occurred that he
couldn't stop laughing tor an hour and the
party ate lunch to give him time TO settle
down.
The rest OF the trip was uneventful. No
ducks were killed and no one could be found
who had any for sale, so the party came bach
empty handed and snea ked home under cover
of darkness, after agreeing to say nothing fol
fear 1t would get into the newspapers.