Evening journal., 1897-09-02
THE BOOMING OF GUNS.
Bringing Down Many Dozen
Reed Birds.
CHARLIE FEHREEBAoH'S LUok
SOME WELL-KNOwN MEN TRIED
THEIR MARKSMANSHIP YEsTER-
DAY AND TO-DAY ON THE FAT
LITTLE CHIRPERs.

- @~A@ OA@AANA 6AN@f
The reed and rail bird season has
opened In earnest, and to-day's boom
ing Of breech-loading guns along the
Christiana's mouth and the Delaware
river marshes was far heavier than that
of yesterday.
In this state It is lawful to shoot
reed and rail birds from September /
to November 30 while In Jersey the
season is only during September.
With the dawn yesterday the slaugh-
ter of reed birds began I'm the marshes
along the Delaware. Even the early
risers who live along the Delaware
river were awakened before the custo-
mary hour by the reports of guns with
out number Every man, II seemed.
who has a fondness for shooting rail
or reed birds was out before daylight,
ready for the opening of the season.
Wherever a clump OF reeds or grasses
Is found. there Is also sure to be found
some OF this much-sought game, and 80
long us the season lasts, which was so
auspiclously opened yesterday. 80 long
will one hear of great bags of game
The reed bird is said to be very plen-
tiful this year. His chirp Is heard
early in the morning along the Della
ware and the Nimrods are out early,
marking the time the birds get to the
feeding grounds. and also keeping their
eye upon the best places for laying In
wait for them.
The reeds are I'm perfect condition
this year, probably owing to the heavy
rains and high tides, and the birds be-
gan feeding early. The fiocks are quite
large and birds will be plentiful. Rail
have also hourished, and many have
been seen In the marshes The tides
will Le high all this month. and so the
prospects for good shooting are excel
| lent.
The experienced Wilmington gunner,
Joseph p. Cross, went out early for the
larger game-rail birds. In the after
noon James p Winchester president
OF the First National Bank, went out
with Mr. Cross. and they had success
| full trip. Mr. Winchester with Alfred
| DUPONT. Charles l. DUPONT, ]. ID. Bush
and James c. McComb have built a
large shooting clubhouse on the Della
ware river front In the building they
have room for five boats and other nee
essary material for a shooting expedi-
ton. As they control a large water
front. they have fenced Il Off and forbid
shooting on It. A watchman Is con-
stantly on the ground to arrest all
poachers.
!. During yesterday several East Side
l gunners were successful In the hunt
Joseph Brewer of Eleventh and Ben
I nett streets, bagged six dozen ''reedies
4 George Crowley of Eleventh andChurcf
/ streets. brought home nine dozen
George King. Of No. S36 Poplar street
, while bringing home his bag OF eighl
dozen reed and rail birds, noticed q
white bird in a flock of swallows ana
upon killing it, ascertained that It was
white swallow, a very rare bird.
FORTY-FIVE DOZEN REED BIRDS
Charles Fehrenbach and seven Of bis
friends had a great day on the loDdel
marshes. The men were M. M. Pad
dock. Charles Innis, Newton Grubb ano
Mark McCrea. Of Wilmington, and tw1
others from Philadelphia. This party
shot and bagged forty-fve dozen reed
birds and celebrated their great victory
AL. Beckley, of Poplar street, brough
in eight dozen birds which he shot De
fore ne ate a square meal.
w. II. Hartlove also made Feis
7 early start this morning, and he expecu
TO bring back whole gross.
Bank President Winchester thinks
there are birds to burn, but says tn
chester hunters had little the best o
It yesterday.