The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-05
LONG ISLAND WIND FOWLING.
Ducks More Abundant since the Restriction
of shooting Privilege.

with very few exceptions free shooting Tor
wild fowls from shore points on the bays 81 the
south side Of Long Island has come To an end
Through lease or purchase almost all thca,ail
able littora IL under the control either Of individual
sporsmcn or clubs. Battery shooting, where
IL is permitted still remains open in agreat meas
urc. Ten years ago leased privileges or eSclu
sivc rights TO wild fowl shooting were rare; but
within the last Ave years they have come into
almost universal use.
This system has resulted in very large increase
Of certain sorts of surface feeding wild ducks
result that could not have been obtained through
any other method It has also brought about
n change in the quantity Of gunners and the
almost total elimination 81 the half rowdy. saloon
keeping element that at one time threatened I"
isurp all the wild fowl shooting. Through this
new system 81 leasing shooting privileges. or
exclusive territory. sportsmen and their friends
assured Of plentiful game The opposition
expressed by professional or market RunncTs
against the extinction Of what they considered
their rights through leased control Of the shooting
at wild fowls has been appeascd through their
employment a, far more remunerati,c rates than
they could command In the exercise Of their craft
as market purvcyors. All the latter class is re
tanned throughout the entire year as walchmcn
and during the open season as attendants upon
lessces or their friends Under the new dispense.
ton professional gunners are far more prosperous
than when their livelihood was dependent upon
the uncertain results Of a seasons shooting.
OF the effect in an abundance 81 Wild fowls.
through the consen ativc treatment now accorded
the species on the bays Of the south side Of Long
Island, there Is ample evidence. Formerly, at
the opening of the season, every meadow point
favorable for the setting 81 dccoys was occupied
by motley crowd ~ professionals and amateurs
who. without regard Ia conditions of wind. tide
or weather. or to whether birds were within gun
shot or 81 rods outside oi IL, made the AT,
m"spherr vibrst" with more or less futile gun
discharges. This was continued day after day
until tho fowls were not only driven from the
locality for tho time being but were alSn on the
way To- final drser,iun IT waters that were eNrcp.
tionally adapted To their needs ndcr tic new
conditions n change for the better Is CunNinclngy
| evident. before the opening Of the season when
surface feeding inwis first arrive. mainly black
| near the meadow points 81 which they make u
! haunt, that when the shooting begins what
! limits. from which abundant food Of character
especially attractive. (which they not accus-
toned renders It difficult To- du 9 them
IN instance ~ the effectiveness 81 this system.
! combined with conservative methods 81 shooting
Is found in the If certain leased Wild Tow /
Id e" Long rSanG m" Tho nay m %% We s snT
# this territory was, noted formerly for
IN" larG" quantity 81 BLACK ducks that
| dent pursuit II these birds drove them To- less
| m"lrsied limits Five years ago n sportsman
"nrr Of "N uS,rmSn for ,W" y"Srs grain ' was
! plrntifulIy scattered along the shore and during
ually. black ducks returned I" such an extent
. that In III" third year "i the lease 300 81 these
birds wsIc KILLED by 'nc csscr in a,c weeks, a
/ during tho preceding ten years, autumn and
/ spring combined cas-" precisely similar oc
| ours on tho Great South hay near Smith Point
! On Oct IT this year the lessee 81 this pariiclI
lar privilege killed fifty black ducks and b" could
| have secured $50 with equal ease had he been
| >" Inclined. "r rather had he no, been endowed
| with spurt>mhulikc instincts.
! rs with surface feeding ducks 81 ~ II with tn"
/ diving sorts. Many points under lease offer
superior opportunities Tor their killing While
they cannot m lurcd with scattered grain. ~
with black ducks. pin tail and others the cNcrciS"
b # Judgment IN regard Ia days when they may
not be- shot gives them much needed rest from
Inccssant hntassmcnl THIS Is G">slbc only
4 an individual OF a club. This contributes ~
/ much toward the pcrp",uatinn 81 The diving A.
II does 10 tina, 81 surface feeding fowls There *
! one contingency attached Ia the present ~ stem
! Of leases II iiural on the south side 81 Long
Island for the enjoy nicnt oi exclusive duck shonl
| ing that may dcN clop IN the future The b"nchts
| that are - clearly apparent through III" very
larg" incrcas" IN the number "i Wild fowls may
| arouse commercial CupditS, When III" present
| leases expire they may he acquired by strong
| financial organizations AS IL the ease with lots
%" "a % s% p%"TE a"% x s%pp
| for the market The experience II the past five
! years with these leased duck shooting privileges
on Long Island, proves Cunclusirely that II Is the
one certain method II arcsting the enormous
decrease in the numb"r Of wild fowl that has been
in progress for 80 many years
/ In the Vest n similar system has been adopted.
! The best 81 the Illinois River marshes ale pre-
served, alsn IN Lake koshkon"ng and the Horizon
marsh These embrace large tracts which con
tain the breeding grounds II teal, mallard, Sc.
4 Therein they possess distinct advantage over
/ III, leased privileges on Long Island, although
! II freed from mulcstaiiun, black cks that former
! Is nestled on som" uf the sc,ig"s there will un
| doubtcdly resume their earlier habits. In fact
II is stated that several hruodS were Matched and
reared on these wastes during the past summer.