Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-23

feeding and unsuspecting ducks and
geese, and as thee guns generally carry
q quarter Of pound OF powder and from
four 10 five pounds Of b. b. shot, you can
imagine the havoc wrought among the
waterfowl.
one Of these "water-rats," when asked
by an acquaintance OF the writer's,
what luck he had just nOw2" (sOon al
ter hearing the big gun 30 Off, replied,
"Oh, not much; 1 only got siXty-seVen,
and ought to have got a hundred What
does q man care Tor IS ilne, when he
can kill SIS worth OF common ducks at
one fire; or when ne can Kill twenty-three
pairs Of canvasbacks, worth from s. "a
50 per pair? Besides, who would take the
trouble to sit about in the river in the
cold 10 catch these scoundrels Tor such
q paltry sum?
The present fine for shooting ducks at
night from boat, or by help OF a re-
Hector, or with gun that cannot DO
ured from the shoulder without a rest,
is SlO0-one half 10 the informer-or ninety
days in jail. This has only the effect Of
making these "sneak-bOat" night-shOot-
ers Il little careful. They shoot in one
reach OF the river, hurrledly gather up the
die lingering death, or be caught by
eagles or foxes, coons-or both kindS-and
other 'varmints" along the shore, as the
wounded ducks and geese quickly hunt
Tor cover, and SO fall victims Of flesh
eaters or air and earth. After getting the
dead ducks and geese into their sneak
boat" these gentry paddle rapidly 10
their slOop, up sail. and get away. unless
they have gone some distance TO find tho
ducks, In which case they go as quietly
90 possible to the vessel, and the next
day If they have gotten a bdrrelful OF
ducks, they sail TO a wharf on one side
OF the river. and then so over 10 the
opposite side probably several wharves
distant to ship the ducks North-New
York, Philadelphia, and Washington get
ting the better grades, our markets the
cheap ones.
Now, for the remedy, and simple enough
II is: Cannot your Polk Miller the presi-
dent Of the Virginia Field Sports Assoc
citation, or George Ben. Palmer and other
heads OF Virginia ducking clubs, see that
our present Legislature-young, live
looking men, the greater number seem
70 be-is induced 10 make the following
changes In our present laws and the addi-
tional sixth subdivision to section 20l9 OF
tho Code Of lSS7-'SS:
The fourth subdivision of section 2019
reads; OF Wild water-fowl-to Kill any
wild waterfowl, except from
the land at any time during the night;
or TO Kill them with a gun which cannot
be conveniently raised and fired at arms
length from the shoulder without a rest;
or, at any time, to capture IN traps. etc;
provided, that wild geese may be killed
either during the day or night, but IN
no case shall floating rehectors, lights,
etc, be used"
Well, in regard TO the above fourth sub
division, it's all right TO Kill ducks at
night from the land" because IL can only
be done by property-ownsrs, who have
creeks or river frontage, and who can,
by scattering grain, attract the ducks
and geese, and then by being game"
enough 10 stand the cold for hours on
moonlight nights, shoot them for their
own tables, and send them TO their city
friends.
The clause providing that geese may
DO killed either day or night" IS all
wrong, and should be stricken or not
only because it's unfair TO the goose, but
the "ducking pirates" can escape, for
should any officer OF the law run upon
the 'sneak-boat" occupants before they
have fired and gotten the ducks aboard
evidence or guilt-and II the
said occupants have time 70 unhitch tho
sWlvel-gun and drop It overheard, why,
the officer would have nothing for which
TO arrest them, for these people are well
to say, I'VE are only looking for geese"
The present fine for shooting ducks at
night from a boat or with light or
illegal gun, is 800 fine. one half to the in
feiture OF ducking OUTFIT, guns. boats, ves-
sells, etc. II the Legislature wants 10
stopped, let 1t mage tho fine $500. one half
TO the informer, and give the right OF
search OF suspected Vessels 10 all citi-
zens, or send tho offenders 10 the peni-
Tertiary from three TO five years" and
the way the three vessels that are now
lying in James river and butcherins
every night would glide down
10 Chesapeake bay would be- a pleasure
to the property-owners along James river
from Lower Brandon TO City Point.
These three law-breakers have driven
all the ducks above City Point, where
they dare not follow.
Property-owner would like TO see the
sixth subdivision added 10 the present
five OF section @7s, which would make
tho possession OF a sneak-boat or Illegal
gun bring upon its owner or possessor
the full penalty OF the 500 fine or from
three to five years In the penitentiafy."
any possible use for Il except 10 kill
ducks, geese, or other water fowl at
night. III the fine were $500. one-half 70
the lnformer, our law officers would take
the trouble 70 catch these Offenders, and
so would some bright detectives. bat so