The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
Which has Given it the Title
of the Wild Game En-
porium of the World.
SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE
Reached by the NoroIE and Southern Railway.
Doaed with Many Small but Prosperous
Towns With Currtuck Court
Hoi Sc, the Place Of Coun-
II Govern n,nt Loca-
ted on Currtuck
Sound.

ted on Curituck
Sound.
A glance at the map which is included
on this page will show the
reader that from Cape Henry
east of Norfolk. to Cape Hat
teras. the coast is fringed by sue
cession Of bays or sounds. formed by an
outer barrier of sand. These bodies Of
water, with their numerous tributary
creeks and rivers. are filled with marine
plants and grasses. These conditions at
tract wild fowl of every description, and
these bays are consequently the feeding
places of countless thousands of ducks,
and geese, and swan, and other wild
fowl Currituck sound with its sources,
undoubtedly affords the best shooting to
be found in the world. with no greater
expenditure of time and money than any
sportsman can afford. Then, too, all the
conditions of shooting are pleasant.
There is little or no exposure or hard
work about it; the place" is not re-
mote, the thermometer rarely falls below
forty degrees, and the grasses and reeds,
not being cut down by the heavy frosts
as they are further north afford natural
blinds" where one can stand or sit, at
pleasure, without finding it necessity to
lie on his back. indeed, You can sit in
chair and shoot geese and swan with a
Remington rifle.
Throughout the entire county, lying
between the Norfolk and Southern rail
road and the Atlantic ocean are homes,
owned by Il hardy class, who gain a
kings subsistence by fishing and gun
ming. These people are keen sportsmen,
capable of great endurance, and who are
always ready to act for the visiting
SportSmen who shoot in their locality,
furnishing the necessary appliances for
the sport, while the women provide for
their entertainment Though their ed
ucatiOn has been principally acquired
from $50 year" school teachers; yet
these people evince phases of character
that insures the respect and admiration
of Nall who come i'm contact with them,
while some have imbibed ideas of refine
ment which more pretentious people
would do well to copy.
There is an irresistible charm in the
surroundings which can be found IN the
shooting territory of Currtiuck county,
for at the best shooting season. the
bers of the sounds roll in and burst
upon the beach The giant sand hills
along the reefs are slowly moving un-
der the Influences of the No'easter, and
the trees are twisted into a thousand
weird and fantastic shapes. The gun
ners, too, if they are really gunners
whether from the confines of
commerce or to the mannor
fn No Of on
different race of beings, with their pic
turesque dress and manly features. The
scenes in the evening, after the return
from days sport, can never be forgot
ten. The greeting and comparisons of
luck, the hearty supper, the adjourn
ment to the sitting room, where amid
the thickening clouds Of numerous pipes,
each man is occupied in his own peculiar
fashion cleaning and Oiling towing pieces
splicing parted suspenders mendlng or
drying clothing, entering into frequent
and general discussions upon the merits
of everything in general and hunting IN
particular. each smoking to man, IKE
so many Virginia iron furnaces, form
scenes, even to an inartistic eye OF strlk-
ing beauty, as the rudy glare OF the
pitch pine fires. struggling with the
clouds OF tobacco smoke, llFONS It's CNNl
varying light upon the group.
Among the wild fowl of Currituck
county. the glorious mallard has prom
inent place, from its greater abundance,
and the quality of its flesh. 1t is a uni
versal favorite at the table, and is more
marketable than all others combined. 1t
affords, too, a wider field for genuine
sport. The canvas-back, it is true draws
L., ,e bo A foUppita
for the table it undoubtedly ranks first,
when size and flavor are both considered.
The wild celery upon which it delights
TO feed imparts to it IA delicious flavor,
and gives it the pre-eminence. But the
mallard, after fattening on wild rice
while ''in the milk" can hardly be sur
passed. The black duck is also a great
favorite. More wary than any of the
other varieties, extremely sensitive to the
approach of man. quick of perception
and exceedingly shy, it is the very ideal
of n game bird
The fall and winter months are natur-
ally the proper ones for the enjoyment of
wild fowl shooting in North Carolina
During that time the Currituck shooting
grounds TEEN with birds. They visit
the rice fields during the night and re-
turn in the morning, lying off in the
sounds during the day, and occasionally
taking a swim in the innumerable creeks
and rivers where they become an easy
prey to blind shooters.
1t is. of course, impossible for me, To
enter into detail as regards the kind or
habits of the fowl which frequent
the section or to even attempt descrip-
ton of the manner of shooting. Sports
men are already familiar with the prop
or way of setting decoys or binding. The
design of these lines is not to depict the
incidents of sporting i'll the waters of
North Carolina. but to afford specific in
formation to those who can enjoy it.
And Currituck sound is considered by
many to be the best location for the