The San Francisco call., 1899-12-30
GUNMEN REVEL
IN FINE SPORT
WITH THE "CANS'
These Best OF Ducks Numer-
Gus on Marshes.
Until There Comes a Break in the
Weather hooting Will Be of
the highest Class.

The members of gun clubs owning pre-
serves are enjoying royal sport these
days. The much sought after canvasback
ducks are more plentiful than they have
been In years, so much so in fact that
some sportsmen devote all their attention
to these birds, ignoring the slightly less
desirable ones. The shooting which was
disappointing in the extreme in the early
days OF the season. has recently attained
It's highest development. The weather
conditions have been favorable, but a
heavy rainstorm may change all Ii is the
opinion of some experts that this would
have the effect OF driving the birds south
ana outside the district over which the
sportsmen of the metropolitan district are
accustomed to shoot
Suisun Bay is fairly Carpeted with can
VasbackS, while down at Mount Eden aud
AlVarado men VINO understand the habit
OF birds are getting good returns for their
efforts. The successful men say the great
secret is TO let the birds settle in the
ponds before blazing away at them. Some
gunfnen fire when the birds are far out
OF range. They do not secure them the m
selves. while they scare the birds away
from others.
Marin County has provided the best
quail shooting this season. other localities
being overlooked to certain extent In
Marin 1t has not been difficult TO secure
the limit bag of twenty-five birds, so plcn-
uful have they been. A season OF COM
parative rest from shooting will give the
splendid game birds chance TO build up
their depleted ranks. which means high
class sport in years TO come.
A heavy fog interfered with the Christ
mas day sport of the Blackjack Club
members. All were out Of their beds at
an unusually early hour OF the morning
but there was no flight of birds. Later
in the day those on the marsh-John Lem
mer, Newton Hickman, Fred Johnson and
Bert PatTick-secured a joint bag of thlr-
ty-seven birds. Mr.. Patrick reports can
vasbacks as being plentiful, and gray
ducks are also coming in. They come from
the far north and provide both good shoot
ing and good eating. They usually arrive
in January.
Only two members of the Olympic Gun
Club shot over their Cordelia preserve on
Christmas day, and they were repaid with
great sport. II. l.. Rose killed forty-seven
and Louis Titus, his companion. forty
two. In the early morning they COM
menced shooting spoonbills, but noticing
that sprig and mallard were plentiful they
devoted all their attention To them, per-
mlttlng the spooneys TO alight on the
ponds unharmed. They served as excel
which were secured later on.
Harry Hosmer and number of other
members will spend the New Years holi-
days at the preserve and expect plenty Of
shooting.
DR.. Lane and H. Justins shot at Willow
Lodge last Sunday and secured twenty
w. b. Sargent. a prominent sportsman
OF New YORK, has spent some time re-
Gently in the Point Reyes district, chiefly
after steelheads in the streams there.
Kullman of the Canvasback Club shot
over their preserves at Suisun last Sun
day. The joint bag was eighty ducks
Achille Roos and the members of the
San Pablo Shooting Club arr. severe on
men they catch poaching on their pre-
serves. Two men were arrested last Sun
day, making five in all during the past
month. The men will be prosecuted Wig
orously as an example to others who tres
pass on private grounds.
Messrs. Burns and Carney secured four
dozen canvasbacks in days shooting at
Sears Point, Sonoma County. during the
week.
w w. Foote. Judge Henshaw and Al
Wilson of the Fish and Game Commits
sion spent a day after black brant I'm To-
twenty-seven of the choice birds as the
result of their shoot.
AL Rosenburg and Mr.. HUE came down
from Suisun on Thursday with a fine bag
OF cans
Pete Walsh and Mr.. Williamson of Sno-
kane left on Tuesday for Black Point.
near Suisun. After enjoying the sport
with the ducks they will go to Santa
Rosa for quail.
There will be both live bird and blue
in Los Angeles tomorrow and Monday. III
is expected that Clarence Naumann, Har-
vey McMurchy and Clarence Haight will
be in attendance from this city.
Plummer and McPhillips had an I'M
pleasant experience at Newark Christmas
morning. The former capsized from a
skiff at $50 in the morning. losing his gun
He recovered this by diving. The morning
was frosty and he looked like n genuine
Santa Claus after his involuntary bath
Mr. Plummer lost his gun overheard
shortly after. but was unable to recover