The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-02
DUCK HUNT IN THE TULES.
SPORT IN PLENTY FOUND IN A CALI
FORNIA MARSH.
A Ride Between Winter and sprinG-Com-
fort in the Blinds-The Swnmp's Multi
tude OF B~irds-Coming of the Ducks
waking of the swamp and IT'S Inmates.

Southern California we're covered with snow
and appeared to hang In tho tremulous air.
High on the summit OF San Antonio we could
sec the snow flying; now rising and coilinC
upward to be caught again by the wind. and
broken and torn to disappear. 1t was winter
on San Antonio and even the slopes Of San
tiaeo were fecked with white; but In the val
legs. among the olive and orange groves OF
Orange and Santa Ana summer seemed to hold
full SWIM. The farmers we're ploughing II 1t
was February. and grain in many places was
several inches high. and over all the lowland
landscape a delicate green had been mysteri-
ously drawn by the recent rain. We were
driving through groves Of olive: now by an
orchard Of navel oranges where the pickers
were shipping the fruit carefully from the
trees; now by an English walnut grove. whose
~leafless trees with their light. almost epectral
branches and trunks alone told Of winter. The
irrigators were at work flooding the ground.
the scores Of little streams running away TO
bring life and vigor out Of the drowsy roots.
A few miles Of this and we came to the hay
country. for we are headed for the sea or for
one OF the many sloughs that border it in Los
Angeles and Oran &c counties. Now the land
scape changes. not a break in the level eXcept
an occasional ranch house. but everywhere the
delicate newborn green. telling Of growing
grain and the great hay district OF Southern
California. where hay Is raised and where any
thing will grow. As We near the sea small
patches OF water pear-minia lakes and
ponds from which rise lack sripe. curlew
plover and an occasional duck. Finally we
turn to the north and enter a long road that
brings us to an ancient and picturesque adobe
ranch house that stands on a mesa overlook.
ing the slough which even as we dismount is
seen to be filed with ducks and other birds OF
high and low degree. The adobe house 10
perhaps 100 years old and looks 1t. with It's
walls two or more feet thick. its wide piazza
and its deep. porthole-like windows. Its four
or five rooms are provided with cots for the
overflow OF guests OF the gun club. and near
by is the clubhouse itself. where hospitality is
dispensed and good fellowship prevails.
The clubhouse is lighted and heated by nat
ural gas In a singular way. and strange stories
are told OF the freaks Of the gas. In boring
for water. gas was discovered and a big metal
tank has been inverted over the we'll. The
water. warm. nearly hot. runs out. while the
gas Is held bv the tank and forced into the
adobe house TO do service in the kitchen and
elsewhere. Gas and hot water underlie the
entire slough. and a story Is told OF a member
who. in lighting a cigar in his blind. tossed the
match over and presently found himself sur
rounded by flames that came from the gas that
oozed up on all sides. Another duck hunter
related IA story to the effect that. becoming
'NoSi hO "a u VIZ III tHc illuu. Httu
the gas. and cooked his duck then and there.
Be these stories as they may. the gas was there.
and delightfully."- warm water going to waste
to irrigate the black adobe soil of the ranch.
IL was Just : O'Clock, and the sun was already
dropping into the hills. when we went down
to the great marsh. extending as far as the eye
could reach to the sea. whore the white. sandy
beach. rose as Il barrier 10 the waves. The
slough was the natural resort OF, ducks and
geese. and was occupied by several duck clubs
| whose 1aRB are famous every Sanann The
section occupied by the Canvashack Club en-
s6a tbor ne iitiip ha sixty acrss, With pools here
With occasional lakes with shores Of green.
There were ten or n dozen blinds. and in the
decorated, the, adjacent water with malIards OF
E0od. redheads. ,canvashacks and others. which
pits has charms for. comparativeiy few, but this
huge g%aivaniz, ID iron affair. sunk into the mud.
with a comfortable seat. and above rose the
deadly etH ' to dn"ks. $ta n n on a' the shore f si5s
Il commnnLed the little lakes and was a most
1 nr"clsimeS ' n".n re Of Tap IT iSs mud A 5o :Ss6 Of s TSISh'
with much talk and grunting. came down
from the slopes and proceeded to investigate
blaekbirds. thousands pcrehinG here. there and
ward with a sound Us Of distant waves, then
TT onn al G d M as of of a mighty wind p%lunGinG
walked out Of a little bay; a block Of Jack.
sniueS alighted near me-. while the wild cry OF
how any. one can find It monotonous In a blind,
even II ducks are iew. but in this case they
neighhors, when a bic mailard came WRRiirlinnsS
in from the sea. Presently another came in.
B Bsy6SGd7 the Ris t deeoy;s' and sIIS Sf5SG alo the ,S water sar |m aust
up TO. them with a loud qunck. then. seemingly
istonishcd at their unsociable qualities. swim
self.. as up from the slough / could see a line Of
black forms come sailing on.
gun on a line with the tuies 80 that the sun
would not send opt a single CLEAN. for the
un. Suddenly they turned on hearing the cali
OF my n%eiGhbor and began to circle the lake,
satisfied. they flew directly Tor the blind c Just
as they were about to a!ight the tules changed
1Hse a b %ah ( F9 to d the Fight dHss and aqi sft' Go %n,
The air seems to be filed with ducks. wills.
one a fne mallard. the other a spike. they
are extremely active. and long line. are seen
land side. mounting directly UP with a mar
yellors lit as ! rise In the blind. others coming
shouting, at their doRs-doas eGugh: ia tho
,hlses furry Is gone and the fsI skv hne clear sra nsnin.
the lines OF ducks disapnearln9 in the direo-
iir1a the II 'H hiis sss. rom rom t som sG Of shic ist ris. d dsIl.
cate spirals OF blue smoke. telling OF creature
e" The red e winr ,a i b1aaekibirds. which have been
frightened. come back. the mud hens begin
theirIarEon afresh. and rush, down In a body to
the decoys and at a safe distance eye them
s~uspiciously, Presently a pair swim up. and
one holder than the rest pseks yiciously at the
wooden dummy. then stops and swims about
the blind. vainly looking for the sounds that
wind: quaek. quack. quacEl Even the mud
hens are deceived BY the old duck hunter in
ing through tho tules, 1t is interesting to see
how quickly the ducks respond. l could see
them coming In with no intention Of Stopping.
but when the notes of the call sounded on the
air the, birds turned slightly. then broke and
In great circles swept round and round. Ouack,
GuacS. ,quack. cries the lure. Lower come
the duck--tive. ten, another flock OF twenty or
more. Everybody lies. low. then the guns
break the stiffness andtho long dlverging lIues.
The smaller groups rise upwb I'd and stop sud
denly in midair. then some plunge down head
first, while others whirl about the falling birds.
The crack OF the guns again arouses pande-
loud cackle. swim from every inlet and make
for the shore. Pharalope with wild cry rise
from the muddy shores. while the red winged
bleGkblrds for Q moment cease their tinklinR.