Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08

even for the exact mode Of anchoring and
the distance from shore where such anchor
ing shall be done.
Currituck, Albemarle and Pamlico sound
waters often present wonderful sights in
the season when the wild fowl begin to ar
rive there during their southern fight. 1t
Is possible at times to see thousands or
birds, big and little, swimming, diving and
flying wherever one may look over the wa
ter. Wild fowl Of every kind, from the
great Wild swan to the tiny butter-bal
duck, from herons to the most diminutive
of the snipe family, pitch into those glorious
water hunting grounds.
Florida, hard nit for time by the feather
and plume hunter, has improved game laws
now and the federal Lacey act helps It In
It's work. In addition, railroads and road
Improvement have given access to tracts
that were not to be reached a few years
ago, except by long, slow journeys. There
Is a good deal of deer shooting in the state
The deer are not large, but they are shy
and wise enough to make hunting a true
sport. Occasionally panther can be bagged
In the swamps and thickets. Alligator skin
hunting nearly cleaned that reptile out a
few years ago, but lately there has been an
opportunity for fun.
The alligator isn't a game animal but his
pursuit is as exciting as most ordinary
sportsmen can wish. The alligator may be
hunted in day or night time. Each form
has Its own peculiar attractions.
In the daytime he may be "stalked' and
shot with a rifle as he lies on a bank or
bar, or the shooter may go in canoe, which
is padded softly toward the reptile until
the hunter Is close enough to use shotgun
with effect.
Night Hunting for Gators.
Night hunting for alligators is one of the
weirdes forms of American sport. The
canoe glides softly over coal black water,
with heavy trees hanging over the banks
and everything lost In gloomy mystery. A
with a Ia tad
The dazzle of 1t makes drifting or SWIM
ming alligator hesitate just long enough to
provide a good chance for a shot. Some
times the lantern is affixed to the bow of
the boat. Sometimes 1t is affixed to the
front of the sportsmans hat so that it's
beam of light shines straight in the direc-
tion of the line of aim.
This method of night hunting Is known as
Shining" If the gator Is asleep when the
shine falls on him, he viii glare stupidity
at 1t for a moment or two before he Is
awake fully enough to get away into the
darkness. Then is the time to shoot. The
shotgun is most used for this kind of hunt
Ing and the charge Is sent into the joints
between the head and shoulders
One of the exciting stages of alligator
hunting Is after the beast has been hit. AS
dead alligator sinks almost at once, it Is
necessary to get hold of him quickly Some
times 1t happens that the creature has not
died as he should, and in that case there
will be vast trouble. great deal more in
teresting to read about than to experience.
A ten-foot alligator, hurt grievously and
crazy mad. canoe that remains right side
up even under ordinary circumstances only
because the occupants are lucky, a pitch
| dark bayou and black water full of various
undesirable reptiles, from water moccasins
| to other alligators, makes a combination
equal to first-class nightmare.
Many alligator skin hunters in Florida
and the gulf states carry marks that ac-
crued to them because they made such a
mistake about the death" of an alligator
stalking an alligator with rifle is a
pretty sport, especially IL the hunter is q