The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-09
A HIRED ENGLISH COVERT,
ExPERIENOES OF TWO AMERICANA
IN SEARCH OF GAME.

Fcw ntrda Found on Their Rented Shooting
Untiln Keeper was Imported from Ireinna
Secret or the Methods by which re Kent
Them supplied with Gamc-A Lure for Birds.
Americans accustomed to the surroundings OF
shooting In their own country are ut times prone
to envy the average Britishcr his great or advan.
tages for making a bag. The experiences OF two
Americans who rented a shooting In England
this season may therefore be OF interest.
Tho Americans began by applying to one Of the
oldest sportsmen's agencies in London. only 10
find that nothing really good could DO had under
figures which required almost q millionaire's
bank account. After much talk and n consider.
able show OF superciliousncss on the part Of the
manager, who evidently wished to impress
visitors from the other side that no was accus.
toned to deal only with men of means, the
Americans told him what they wanted and
what they would pay. After n few days the
following synopsis was forwarded to them with
the warning that 1t was unguaranteed:
WAYs1DE STATION cone mile from).-charmins
in the Rye (by, tlckst)' good covert shooting anJon.
acres OF land; rent $40, unfurnIshed. or for sale.
Apply No. o17, sportsmen's Agency. London.
Investigation proven that the rent, $3.50. was
for the year. and for six months $3.50 was 40
cepted; the river fishing was to be had at the
rate Of $3.50 a ticket, and the rights for tho ad.
jacent covert shooting were obtained for $500.
Inc total COST was ABOUT Pl,UUU, lnCluulDR all
expenses. Possession was taken early in
August. There were plenty Of rabbits in the
rented shooting which could be tackled on
the outskirts of the coverts without disturbing
the winged game, and there was salmon fishing
In the river, with trout along tho tributaries, all
preserved. 1t was, therefore,. with high hopcs
of fun that tho Americans established
themselves in the house. and notified
their friends that when partridge shooting
began on Sept. 1 they would DO heard
from with game, or invitations to shoot.
The house was comfortable. the billiard table
fair, the servants competent, the fishing good
for the time of year, and rabbits apparently
plenty. but hard to shoot. 1t was when Sept;
sportsmen arose. and in the dcwy morn went
with the keeper. hired from the agency, to shoot.
coyorts and the hoS OPEN mai and at the end Of tic day
the bag IVA was ., three rI pSsbfridges; two Sapes m bsiel
seenSo out ao of s sleten THIS Tns%0' Was a dsm npss' on S'i ING
sportsmen. No guarantee had been given "sto
the then s% D,Siaa Of EamS to t % sx }Ssrs HAD Ou be 1t h Sa
average for three years OF 400 head OF pnrtridges
and phcasants shot, by the tenants, whose names
A council was held with the keeper. who said
that the weather had been against them: that
the shooting in the first or the season was never
good in that district owing to tho heavy reciing
done by the two neighboring nobl men. who
that as soon as these covcrts had Teen shot
for a week the birds would. como to the Ameri.
this argument nothing more was said for a few
days. but the impression gained ground that the
evidence being found to support this idea in tho
, manner. remarks, and general conduct Of Tho
feeord to date oct Of fou gawn0a pa Tiih e 'G Iwo
hares. and sixtv.one RABBITS. and feeling that
Of The TWO Americans went to London FORA
stormy interview with the agency manager; ,nd
s ns had It; Gh sn %s snia: " sS5u f ;ss9 mt sho"'d fGs
American asked II the agency handled shootinGs
totally devoid OF game simply to, get the ON.
seek redress through publicity. That proved
q. lever, and the manager consented to
| Tor the three years. These were written to,
and 1t was found that in the first and second
been very poor sun further invsstisslion
ing had boen hired in the first two years by a very
w~ide.awake lrishman with a small income who
went with him every year to look after his
shooting and in the summer went back to ,lro.
gagged the same Keeper as the two Americans
were saddled with. Hearing this, an English.
R Han laS Ss eom@ ana sssseS With. ! aaa s ths b ssiss
done. a, remarkable, cpistle came 70 hand. 1t
declared positiy SsiX the writer's y r tel rs ability to give
to travel. his passage money must be lodged
with the parish priest, a foot note by the par.
his parishioner. who, he believed. could do
everything promised. and that he would ! DO
iCopoiololo lhS hSOpCi o oppOuiohSo u thV
The cash. about ". was sent. ana the Irish.
~ dressed fellow. who listened to all that was
told him about the sport to date, and said
iordship Sof Keepers epeHpI to Year," not Getting t the
desired information. he said he must first find
to each estate in turn. applying for work as an
extra hand: No work did he get, but aGrpar.
asking for 2 sack Of gray peas and another Of
maize CORN, he requested q weeks time before
he conducted the Americans through the north
coyerts, and birds were plentiful, the sport was
good, and an enjoyable day was spent, the bag
usual. What was the cause of the change The
Irishman. when asked. had nothing to say fur.
Their than "Some keepers know nothing oftheir
business. II their honors would be content to
s sno% 'e ean ssS at az ,HF o 'as s sS' The s& def% sGasSn Invita- VITA.
ate, modest sport was obtained. and all went
well until the prohibition limiting to two days
Mickey that more shooting was wanted. Mickey
| put his foot down and said it was impossible.
was, as it was only the overflow from the neigh
boring coveris anyhow. and It was the peace
wait until the snow comes, sirs." he said.
AN yen hev the biggest. grandest day of tho
Two days of snow came early in December.
and on the second day Mickey led the way TO
tn eoyertS: and &c the nfds bag for fl ays guns was 81
as usual. The next day birds were scarce, and
while the snow lasted there was no sport. FL.
nally 1t was, determined to try and fathom
a hunt in the stables disclosed a quantity OF
peas and maize 1.-THE supply had been steadily
strongly ''doped" with some essential oil, and
hanging up on the wall, was a lcath:
a peck, with a hole in one corner.
Further watching revealed the fact that as soon
as the snow melted, Mickey filled this bag with
the "doped" feed and. singing it over his shoul.
der, went out directly after dusk and passing
down the public lane until he reached tho con.
fines of the neighboring estates, boldly entered.
There he opened the hole IN the bag so that The
feed trickled out s he walked. and making de-
vious tracks through the coverts of the Duke hs
eventually came out on the side Of the Amori'
cans shooting. Then throwing the trail broad
cast. he made his way through their covcrts
home. The next morning he was in the coverts
spreading the feed around; the next night he
next morning he was ready to conduct tho
shooting party. A good bag was the result OF