The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-11
He MADE A FORTUNE IN FEATHERS

ana skin OF dhsok or squirrel huntingl
WHY. both arc boys play by the side OF
shooting egrets or herons for living.
These birds. are the most cautious ana
wary OF any | have ever known or heard
OF. I have known herons to even desert
a whole nest OF young because they saw
an old hat lying near the reeds where
the nest had been made ans their sus-
ptcions were thereby reused. Egrcts seem
TO almost smell the presence OF man
with gun. l know OF no decoy that
could be used for cgrets or herons, but
even II II could once be used that would
be the last OF that trick in that locality.
for by some sort OF Frecmasonry all the
hiryi's family and cousins for miles around
would % warned OF the deiusion.
.when we 70 out for a foytnIght's or
months shoot we never leave our boats
even for an hour We get our hlrds
either at early evening or az the first
break OF day We seldom set birds at
evening and then at tho following dawn,
for at the report Of n gun every egret or
heron IN the region flies straight away
and win not come back 90 that particular
spot for four or ave days. Even then
they return with wonderful caution. so
we move from che Part of hay or la
COON at midday. when the birds are on
feeding at the shoals along the shore. We
get our craft In position, one man IN a
boat. before p. m. and conceal our
selves with reeds and foliage lust AZ duck
hunters do Along about or O'Clock
the birds come back to their nests and
camping grounds Then we watch our
opportunity for shots, ana by long expe-
Renee have learned perfectly when II
comes. Just at the proper moment win
shoot. and in n fraction az a second my
hired shooters Will follow With their guns.
Generally I can get three or fcur sue
cessful shots at the frightened birds be-
fore they are out % range. for they are
so easily frightened that they arc power
less Of flight Tor a moment and make
good targets OF themselves. Sometimes
we get as many as fifteen birds az enc
evenings shooting, bat more often the
number Is seven or eight. Years ago.
when egreta and herons we're very pien-s
uful in Central America. | have killed
nine birds IN as many shots before they
got out or reach When we have ieiiv-
cred our volleys and the unframed birds
have flown away we row about and gather
the harvest Extreme care must he exer-
cised 10 get the feathers and plunes as
free as possible from discoiared water ar
the stain OF weeds. Every week we have
10 throw away the carcass OF an evret or
heron because tho feathers or plurnes are
biood-sta,ned or twisted out Of shnpe
After we have got our birds and have
picked the few feathers wa want from
other locality. II we ara lucky we may
soon get located four or nve miles away
amid rseds and foliage under cover OF
darkness. 80 as TO be ready for more
shooting tho next morning. We row
about with rare caution, we seldom speak
In loud tones and we % not even smoke
when we are hunting. because az the exc
traordinary wariness OF the birds Many
time have lain in one position for
hours beneath my little reof OF fulor asssi
ru.hes, because saw that n flock of
egrets was suspicious Of the presence %
an enemy.
tho shores Of the iaaoons Of Central
America and, the southern part Of Mexico
abound In ailigafors. while all manner of
pe@tiferous sttugIng flies. gnsss and mos
qui.oes ere In the air Wa have suffered
fortunes from insect PESTS and one of my
hunting men died In agony from the
poison OF gnats several years ago When
we are ON shore we have danger at night
from the puma, or mountain Hon. and
We always sleep with fires burning ON all
Sides OF oar camp | brought up with n,a
on this trip TO Los Angeles eleven puma
skins for sale 20 fur rug makers