The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-16
Sportsmen Getting Out
FoWIing Piece and
Tackle.
PROMISE OF FINE SHOOTING
Reed Bird and oItoIan Coming II From
Jersey Marshes Ahead of Time on Ac-
count of Early Cool Weather-'UncIe"
Billy Wagner Confident.

hauIs his tackle for the fall season of
sport. which viii soon be upon US. To
those who delight in these recTeations-
and what true American does not?-the
LIST Of September is always a day TO be
looked forward to as the opening OF the
busy times on the river and in the fields
and marshes.
Within fortnight the man with the
gun and the man With the rod and reel
will be in evidence, and then il is that
the fish and game must beware From
present indications there viii be an IN
limited number of reed birds and orto-
Ian, snipe and plover. and already sew
eral focks Of summer ducks have been
seen about the marshes nearby The
fishing season usually opens some time
before the cunning season, but it has
been delayed somewhat owing 10 the re
cent rains The Potomac and its tribu-
taries have been too muddy for success
ful work with the line. although when
the water clears there promises to be
fine sport with the game bass and rock.
IN the lower Potomac and Chesapeake
Bay the salt water fish have afforded
much pleasure
September l. which marks the opening
OF the cunning season. occurs on Mon
day, which IS also Labor Day, and this
fact promises 70 make the sport on that
day fast and exciting The holiday is
always gala day in the marshes. and
anyone who has a gun. no matter how
ancient, goes out 20 Try mis- hand The
first day Of the season brings out all
the crack shots, but this year it is prob
able that many VIII remain at home. as
there IS likely TO be danger pushing
through the marshes for there will be
many out who have had little experience
at the game, and who are careless in
handling their shooting pieces
From every Indication the coming
season viii be the most successful about
here for years. The early advent of the
cool weather viii drive the birds from
their summer nests in Jersey. while the
thick growth Of wild oats about the
marshes here win hold them for a while
before they continue their fight on 20
the rice fields OF the Carolinas. As is
generally known, these birds are the
boboiinks of the North. IN this sec
ton they are called the reed bird. while
further South where they remain during
the winter months they are called the
rice bird.
SuccuIent Reedy Already Chipping.
For weeks past the succulent reedy
has been heard going through the air
and his familiar chirp during the quiet
evenings has caused many to gas. sky
ward Another bird which makes its
advent at this time is the ortoIan, or
rail bird, which is If anything more
paIatable than the reed bird The orto-
Ian is very shy and Il is only when the
gunner encToaches close upon it that il
is induced to rise And then il flies no
distance, but aiights within fifty yards
OF where II was first gotten up Once i
has gone into the marsh again il is al
most impossible TO locate it. Many
oTl0lan have already been seen feeding
on the sand on the edge OF the marshes
IN addition 10 the reed birds and or
tc3au there VIII be many biackbfrds,
snipe, and plover slaughtered in this
vicinity On Labor Day The blackbfrds
are usually very plentiful, although
there are but few snipe and plover seen
about here until later in the season
As rule the true sportsman shoots but
1eT blackbhds, except when there are
no ortolan o. reed birds in sight. but
they are much harder TO Kill
Some Of those who 20 out shooting are
apt 70 get themselves into trouble by
shooting game which is protected by
law Al no time can any Of the heron
species be killed, while the season for
quail. paTtridges, pheasants and rabbits
does not open until November J. II IS
understood that the agents OF the Fish
and Game Protective Association will
be on the lookout and Major Richard
Sylvester, the game warden. has in
strUcted them % bring all offenders 10
justice
Along the Eastern Branch.
Most Of the shooting IN this vicinity
is done along the Eastern Branch in the
marshes which extend from the Navy
Yard up 10 BennIng on both sides Of
the river The Benning Bridge is the
gathering place Of the sPortsmen. and
there on every morning after shooting
the high tide they gather and tell Of
the luck Of the day In the marshes
about the Little River and CraveIey
Greek there IS also some shooting SIN
done while IN Roach's Run and -Four
Mile Run the sport is unusually good
While the laws Of Virginia which govern
the shores on the south side Of the
Potomac permit OF almost any kind Of
shooting, those Of Maryland are very
stringent, and in many Counties OF the
sEEle u Is necessary 10 secure licenses
70 shoot
Uncle Billy Wagner, the. veteran
sportsman, is making preparations for
the opening OF the season. but has an
Dounced that he will not 20 into the
marshes on the opening day although
f is his delight TO get out on the frs.
day and see what is doing. The growth
is so rank in the marshes. however, thLJ
he does not care 10 venture out on
Labor Day. IN some places It is i'm
possible 10 see twenty yards ahead, and
Il VIII require the exercise Of much
care to prevent accidents
Promise Of Best Season in Years.
Mr. Wagner is confident that this will
be one OF the best seasons we have had
IN years. and MS judgment IS implicitly
relied upon by those who use the gun
Last year he loaded nearly 200. go
shells, ana in addition disposed Of about
50 Coo more which were factory made
$40 To Niagara Falls and Return $40
va Pennsylvania Railroad. Special train o.
Farior cars and day coaches Viii leave Wash
ington . H. THURSDAY August o. Tickets
limited 70 ten days and allow stOp-over Al
Buffalo returning Similar excursions Septeua-
Der and Is, October and 10.