The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-09-04
SOCIETY
SP0RTSMEN.

holds the sceptre. 1t is the month in
which nature spreads her choicest carpets
and tapestries about in the sportsman's s
path.
If number of cpicures could be called
upon to decide what bird should be named
as the king of game birds the choice
would most probably fall upon the wood
cock. The canvus-back duck would come
a close second, though he is an uncertain
feeder. The fat birds from Havre de
Grace that feed OH the snowy root of the
wild celery are the best favored, but the
canvas-back taken from these enyioin-
mcnts is an ordinary bird.
But the old adage 'if the railbird had
but the woodcock's thigh he'd be the best
bird that GRE did fly" brings us to con
sider bird which haunts our marshes
these sunny September days. Every Del
awareun knows the delicious flavor of the
rail bind.
He comes from the South few days
after the tiny rice or reed birds arrive
and while the latter are being slaught-
cred in great numbers, stupidly cluster
ing together on the reeds, their larger
cousin the rail bird, with more sport
in his blood, flies singly and with keencr
senses.
Like other migrating wadcrs, the rails
accompanied by swarming broods, be
gin to show themselves on the recdy
borders of the Delaware and on the mud
dy flats. about the latter part of August.
At first they are very lean from travel
ling, but they fatten quickly.
If a stone be thrown where rail birds
confused cry like kuk-kuk-
kuk-k-k-k comes from among the reeds,
though the birds are rarely visible save
at high water. Fear is their ruling
passion.
After September 1st. "A perpetual crack
ing of mllsketry prevails all along the
river front. The usual way to the scene
of action is skiff with Il ''pusher.' who
propcls it with pole. About two hours
before high water the sportsmen enters
the reeds. The rail birds generally spring
singly as the boat advances, and ut Il
short distance ahead are shot down while
the ''pusher.' keeping eye on the spot
where the bird fell, purs,les the game
while the gunner is reloa.ing his gun.
This sport continues for an hour or two
after high water. when the unwillingness
of the birds to fly obliges the gunnrrs to
return.
The man who has to stick to business
misses much these days, though it mrst
be admitted the sport is not what it was
years ago, owing to the rapidity with
which the birds disappear. This has
been attributed to the use of the breech
oading gun instead O. the old-fashioned
muzzlc loader.
1t is Il pity more of our sportsmrn
10 not possess the sort of eyes whic!
AN study a live wild thing without
an eager desire for his life.
within limits is Il gcntlrman's
sport. but carried beyond that is vulgar
slaughter.
With the first approach Of butchpry
goes the subtle charm of sport, aud tho
nan who comes off the marsh boasting
Of his big bag of game is not always the
ruest sportsman.
The rail bird of which there are several
kinds, as the clapper rail. the yellow rail,
he black rail. the Carolina rail and the
King rail. disappear as quickly as they
'omc and one day n lively sportsman may
lavr all he can do to load and reload
iiS gun, and going ont the following
lay find the marsh deserted.
At the first sign of frost these mys-
erious little feathcrcd fellows fly south.
The rail bird most generally seen about
'ur rrcdy front is the brown bird. They
ced on animal food which they takn
ut of the water. They are expert divers
md can wedge their way through the
usl,es with tho case of mouse.
The king rail birds are very rare.
they ar, much larger than the black.
nd in ui.;ng-rooms of wel-known sports,
nen here ara to be found several of these
raccful bir,is stuffed, the souvenirs of
articuarIy fortunate days shooting.
The reed bird or rice bird is very
woct meat and is highly valued by
pcureS though 1t is by no means
are bird at this season of the year
II fact. these little birds can be found
\ all the markets while the rail bird
! seldom to be obtained in this way.
AS one of Our society girls put it,
The rail bird is the gentleman game,
;hilc the reed. not requiring the rx-
ensve method to allure him, is the
ird of the market hunter. No boat or
usher is necessary to the going for reed
irds."
The marshes about the Clristiana are
otted over with gnnners every day now.
Inc portion Of this hoggy land has been
'nscd by a coteric Of WilmingtOns eX-
crt sportsmcn. and rough club house
r building for cunning paraphrrnal.a
AS been erected. Belonging to this club
re- such wellknown men as Charles !.
II Pont. ]. Danforth Bush. James p.
Winchester and Alfred I. du Pont. To
his club also belongs James B. Me-
omb. who has been an enthusiastic
unncr for many years.
or the wcll-known men who used to |
lake tho marshes ring with mlskctry |
Mt few of them 60 ont now. Whether |
Is the sport is not so keen as it was or |
lesr skilful gnancrs have woaried OF the
,nrt. l know not, but TO see ono of our
'St sportsmcn walk nonchaIantly down
|arket street one morning last week. 4
hen the da! promised keen sport on the
arsh. was n surprise to me.
But Mr.. Em"r Hcwcs had rs ndif-
rent an air as though he had never
zen one Of the Cracks" of the marsh.
In talking to one of this coterie who
sod to bc enthusiastic from the first
,cning Of the season until the last bird
nd flown. he said that few years ago
was not unusual to bring down sixty
seventy reed birds with one barrel,
I'd that fifty dozen day were often
ought in.
A record Of some fine shooting done
, the old Drrrnger marsh some years
20 has been kept and was lucky
lough to find one of the "hig shots"
illing to let me read it. What does the
inner on the jctty think Of this record?
1872 birds brought down in four tides by
mo fpw crack snort suau 0f that sonson |