The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-02
AFTER REED BIRDS.


From Hockessin to Rehoboth yesterday
the reed birds got no rest and little chance
70 feed as from dawn to dusk hundreds Of
Gunners kept after them. Every road lend.
Ing from this city saw the gunners depart
for their chosen grounds. Sometimes the
\ xeports were SO close together and there
Wete 80 many OF them that to one located
allttle distance from the marshes 1t sound
ID not unlike flrecracker Fourth Of July
celebration. Thousands Of reed birds were
IL illed, but the rail did not suffer to any
extent, because these most peculiar birds
were not to be found in any great numbers
In their usual haupts. The fire on the
"reedies" was not as deadly as 1t might
have been, and tho army Of gunners
vested hundreds OF pounds OF shot and q
g0od-stzod magazine OF powder III shots ut
birds which went to roost last evening
still enjoying tho best Of health and
spirits.
The sportsmen who were fortunate
enough to briug home big bags Of game,
and there were some who did, complained
/. shat the birds were as a rule thin and in
poor condition, showing that they have
but recently arrived from their inland
MONIES aud have not yet had sufficient
time TO fat,en up on tho succulent seeds
found on the Delaware River marshes.
Tho birds will 10 worth twice Us much to
an epicure the latter part Of next week,
for then they will BIO as round ind fat us
butter balls.
Court Crior Heal succeeded in bagslng
% reedies and he thoroughly enjoyed the
sport In speaking Of the sport Mr. Heal
said to-day tLat tho gunnors were too
thick.
Lot the bird show himself, no matter how
Tar OIL, and the whole marsh echoed with
the bombardment. There were big loads
nnd little loads, black powder and smoke
aoss powder, duck guns and quail guns,
and they all dealt death and destruction.
y, Way In the distance would be heard tho
report OF gun. Then second, followed
by perhaps twenty more. Soon the bunch
Of 'reedles" would come in sight flying
high and well scattered out but still In
possible gun shot Of all whom they passed.
over. Everybody took shot, and now
and then bird would drop out of the
bunch and flutter to the marsh below.
than shooting them, and oven then not
more than half were gathered.
Word comes today from Ocean City that
: some OF the party that went down yester-
day went cunning after they partook of
dinner. A big return from tho gunners
aud Jolly fishermen is expected to reach
hero tomorrow. On the train yesterday
morning, one Of the party said to the con.
ductor:
II only got out Il few times year, and
would not have gone tomorrow, only
promised some friendsa few birds"
care the birds thick?' yentured q nice
looking old gentleman.
Fairly SO, think, II you know where
to find them aud can kill them when you
get there. should get five Or six dozen
Of the place l am going.
That settled it. Immediately every man
within earshot got into the gaine-of talk.
Each one considered 1t his entire privilege
to lie MS much us tho time would permit,
and the "pipe stories' Of centuries of rail
killed by the narrators must have made
the recording angel grove as he scored
down the kills in his big book. What
car was only Il fair sample OF lots of others
Tor the sight OF gun was invariably
enough to SGT the smoking lamp going.
or course there were mon on the marshes
chat could kill the birds, else how would
the nimrods find place to buy? In the
total number, however, they cut n small
figure, and were usually content TO hide
away and keep quiet, while the fellows
that know it all made the noise
The special correspondent of tho REruB
1IcAN at Ocean City, and who by the way
Is q sure shot says:
"The army Of shooters out yesterday
was not made up of small boys or young
men in their swadding shooting clothes by
any means. Staid citizens, and other
generally sensible adults journeycd to the
marshes, just us they have done for years
past, when September rolled around, and
spent the day vainly chasing scattered
punches of Disguised "rec1ies" Or wasting
ammunition at the bounding rail AS
usual, they had lively time and bought
enough birds to make fairly respectable
showing.
s., 1t Is amusing to motto the lumber of men
who can kill them all-that is, the day
before. or the day after the season, or at
any old time when the marsh is a mile
AWAY They really believe what they say
too, though it is hard to understand just
how presumably logical individual will
deceive himself eleven months out of the
twelve and fondly imagine he is crack
Tail shot.