The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-04-01
RARE KIND OF SPORT
THE DOVE BATS WHICH OCCUR IN
SOUTHERN RICE FIELDS.


SOUTHERN RICE FIELDS.
1t Seems Ruthless Whom You Read About
1t, but Old Hunters Say 1t Doesn't APP
pear So When tho "Kiil" Is On-Pot-
Hunting on Gigantic Scale.
The dove bait is in order down South
now. In some places the doves are
thicker than peas, which is saying
great deal, for in local parlance peas
is bout de plentifulest ting we got"
"Doves?" says some one. us 1t pig
cons you mean? Wild pigeons or tame
pigeons?"
Neither. The bird in question is a
dove, a small, gray, iuttering creature
whose character was long ago estab-
lished as harmless, in direct contrast
to that Of the serpent"
Dove meat is more juicier dan pa
fridge and more tastier,' certifies a
game connoisseur. Partridge does
mostly let all he goodness go out cen
de gravy, but dove when hit cen
good fix is richness all trough. Look
like de more goodness you git out Of
him defmore dere Is left cen him. Dove
a good ting to have cen de house, elder
de Kitchen"
The needfuls for dove bait are,
first, field, not too large and border
ed on three sides at least by woods
thick enough to screen the hunters, or
rather the dove stalkers; next, lib
eral supply Of peas of various sorts to
sprinkle on the ground, and third, the
right number Of congenial souls with
a zest for sport and sufficient discrim-
nation to prevent them from shooting
one another in mistake for the game.
1t is not always easy to satisfy all
these requirements at the same time.
The land Uwner with the desirable
field, willing to squander his peas and
invite his neighbors, may not live in
Just the section of the country where
the doves elect to disport themselves,
and he whose woods and fields are
thickest with doves may not be OF a
dove batting disposition.
When everything suits and the right
invitations 60 forth to the right peo-
pie, there is hilarity and rejoicing, for
a dove bait never stands by itself. 1t
is bound to involve something else,
maybe two or three other things. No
body ever went to a dove bait any
where without staying over night at
the place where II was given, and the
birds once baited and the game bags
crammed to bursting, all hands must
needs stay to supper in order to taste
the fruits of the days shooting. How
many doves are bagged? Oh, it is
impossible to say. Nobody ever
counts, but there are scores and scores
of them pulled out Of those grim duck
and leather wallets and tossed into the
big four-bushel basket to be picked and
consigned to the cook. Probably il
you visited the host Of the dove bait q
week afterward the family would still
be eating doves, that is, if the weather
we're cool enough to keep them. Ever,
man who attended carried home q
brace or two and besides the attend
ants who helped to load shells thu
night before, who looked after the dogs
and horses and hung around general,
when things were in motion, likewise
partook of doves meat to their heart'
content.
OF course, true-born sportsman
one who is famous marksman as well
who believes in giving the game NOR
chance, and perhaps likes the field tt
himself or with only one chosen com
banion, will have none Of this whole
sale slaughtering. What, strew fell
thick with peas day after day until tn
doves feed in security, and then TAX
stands and shoot them down whel
there is utterly no chance for escape
and even blindfolded man could xii
them? Barbareus," is the vetera
hunters verdict, "No, colonel, I won
take in the dove bait, but I'll bring nj
dog out for a day or two OF sh6otin
next week, and If there are any lef
we'll eat doves shot fair and squar
Ill lu6 Opcu uclu, WltAOuS tAO ouuo q
, against them"
The hunter with whom hunting is a
ideal pursuit may feel this way, but tn
| Colonel's nephews and granddaughter
and their comrades, young fellow
! full of dash and go, always in for any
thing that means excitement and full
= feel differently. The mere fact of 6
many setting out together, gettin
, ready in company and in pursuit {
r the same object, gives zest to the
D pleasure, and they like the noise an
hubbub and happenings OF this Gu
9 nd-dried chase. Bang! bang! bang!
! 20 the guns. There is the yelping I
dogs, whose scientific services are r.
r strained, and there is shouting and
a great deal of smoke. Travellers alor
: the road might think 1t was battl
d field as the shots come from all dire
: lions, but the small darkies lookir
T on from safe distance, perhaps fro
: the vantage perch OF tree or FEM
One fascinating feature Of the do
!, bait is that the participants know We
e that they can mover again have Il
= same fun on the same grounds.
Q the next year news will have spres
d among the doves that the atmosphe
9 Of that particular plantation Is u
A..I Ill &-A, l.