The sun., 1901-09-04
SOCIETY SPORTSMEN
HUNT GREEDY" AND RAIL
Some of the Well-knoWn Wilmington Men
Who Handle the Gun.

Wilmington is not to any great extent
II SIortsman's city, but there is quite =
little coterie here for whom the rod aud
HE gun hold deep fascination.
This is the month in which the latter
holds The sceptre. 1t is the month in
which nature spreads her choicest carpets
and tapestries about in the sportsnan's
path.
If Il number of epicures could he called
mon to decide wnat bird should be named
II the king Of game birds the choice
would most probably fall upon the wood
rock. The canyasback duck would conn.
4 close second. though he is an uncertain
feeder. The fat birds from Iiayrc d."
iirart. that feed on the snowy root of the
wild celery are the best favored, but the
,umyas-back taken from these cnvion-
Hments is an ordinary bird.
lsnt the old adage 'if the railbirl had
HINT the woodcdck's thigh he'd be the best
bird that ere did fiy.' brings ms to con
der Il bird which hnunts our marshes
hcsc sunny September days. Every l,,l
lwarean knows the delicious flavor of the
Vrail bind.
L lie comes from the South few days
natter The tiny rice or reed birds arrive
yand while the latter are being Slaught
Blrd III great numbers, stupidity cluster
b. together on the reeds. their larger
Wsin the rail bird. with more sport
III his blood, flies singly and with ktennr
,nSnS.
Like other migrating waders. the rails
accompanied by swarming broods, be
bin To show themselves on the rredy
Eor,lvls Of the Delaware and on the mud
flats, about the latter part of August
first they are very lean from travel
nr, but they fatten quickly.
VI Il stone be thrown where rail birds
nprrgate, n confused cry like kuk-kuk-
ik xxx comes from among the reeds
0llgh the birds are rarely visible save
high water. Fear is their ruling
sSinn.
Atler September 1st. perpetual crack
Of musketry prevails all along the
~ front. The usual way to the scene
action is Skiff with '.pnsher." who
upcls il with u pole. About two hours
for" high water the sportsmrn enters
reeds. The rail birds generally spring
WI"ly as the boat advances. and at II
Il prt distance ahead are shot down while
"pusher." keeping eye on the spot
nrc the bird fell. pnrsnes the game
lie the gunner is reloa ing his gun.
is sport continues for an hour or two
er high wafer. when the unwillingness
The birds to fly obliges the gnnners to
lrn.
he man who has to stick to business
scs much these days. though it must
admitted the sport is not what it was
NE ago, owing to the rapidity with
Which the birds disappear. This has
cen attributed to the nse Of the brecch
,ading gun instead OF the old fashioned
luZZlc loader.
MI is II pity more Of our sportsmcn
not possess the sort of eyes which
study live wild thing without
using an eager desire for his life.
poting within limits is gentleman'S
NJ. hut carried beyond that is vulgar
pghter.
with the first approach of hutchcry
the subtle charm of sport. and tho
B who comes off the marsh boastine
his big bag of game is not always til,
hest sportsman.
h. rail bird Of which there are several
ItlS. as the clappcr rail. the yellow rail
black rail. the Carolina rail and tht
rail, disappear MS quickly as they
a and one day lively sportsman ma,