The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-02


woodworking teal ...............
49,
The score for 1898 and 1899 shows a
slight change for the better. In 1900, as
nave observed, there was no shooting. 1t is
perhaps just as well that the Ohio law
should not permit the shooting of these
birds for several years. When the law is
amended, as It no doubt will be. 10 again
permit the shooting of teal and wood ducks
In September, 1t would be well for the club
men to watch these figures and IL neces
sary pass a club rule prohibiting the shoot
ing OF these early ducks for further
period or limiting the bag to hut n fev
olrds per diem, which would he tho hot+or
way SINCE the bagging of few birds should
prove incentive enough to take the hps,
man from bis work to the health qtyjns,
eAercise TO be found in a duck boat. Tbere
are miles OF picturesque watnrwars IN 40
preserves OF the eight or ten olnbe n,bic6
ghtroi the shooting about Lake Erie where
Tue TAN rushes and wild rice rrarefnilv
emape IN the breeze and lilies cover the sur
lace OF the water. With friend VINO md
no weapon but a camera and with nothin,
more formidable than sketch.Dad ana
paint brush, thoroughly enjoyed n week
az Ine pltaWa and Winous Point clubs
I'm satished that the excessive killing Of
DlFds In the South has had more to do with
the depletion Of the race than the shooting
on the Northern club grounds A thousand
leal taken on inc marshes at Winous Point
would not account for the disappearance ~
the great tlocks which formerly came each
year.
The destruction OF the food by the earn
mas peer, suggested as one of the causes
Tor the illumination, and this Is no doubt
true. The superintendent at Winous Point
snld to me that the carp were a positive
nuisance They were destroying the wild
rice and rushes throughout the marsh so
thoroughly that the ducks now found little
10 eat where food was formerly abundant.
Some fishermen recently caught eight tons
OF carp In one haul Of net and catch
OF six tons was not unusual The first he
said We're offered for sale in Port Clinton,
but the market being overstocked, they
were taken on tug TO Sandusky and there
heiug no sale for them as food, they were
finally disposed Of to a fertilizing establish
ment at 81 per ton.
The teal Is one of the fastest flyers N
recently sHw the statement made some
where by sportsman that he considered
the most difficult shot Of all a teal going
TO breakfast. The birds often, however,
fly in hocks and are not always on their
way to breakfast. | once shot six from
horseback with two barrels from a passing
flock and on one occasion riding about on
an Indian pony In the shallow water and
Wild rice Of Western lake | Jumped
the teal and found them quite easy 10
shoot from the saddle. ] had already til!'
ed several dozen birds and an orderly had
removed ais shoes aud stockings ana was
wadlng about in the marsh retrieving them
when he discovered some mounted men on
a distant hill and, taking them very proper
In for lndians, we beat hssty retreat for
our camp. | shall never forget the appear
Snce Of the orderly with q large punch
of teal HI one hand and his shoes ana
stockings In the other as we raceu Alohs
over the prairie
The wood duck builds its nest IN hole
In a tree and carries its young to the
water. Audubon observed this perform
ance These birds become quito tame ~
confinement and breed IN captivity and ]
see no reason why they should not be do-
INVESTIGATED IN the Sonth at least. lAey
can be seen quite tame on the lakes n
geological gardens and always are mpch
admired Tho teel have also been bred
to some extent in confinement and thelr
size / think Is one Of the chiet reasnhs
why they are not more common laine
duck The late Major Fred Mather owned
onto n flock of wild ducks. including many
wood ducks and teal, both the olue-wlns
and the harder latecomer, the Green-wlns
teal Few, he says, IN Forest anu
stream know how beautiful a living wood
dnct nv tenl rs ana how one gets to love
them and enjoy having them about Nnht
II a green-wing teal, the smallest OF tne
ducks. Is no larger than a pigeon lne
question is not one Of meat as IL Vas VIZ ~
prIn,ItIye man when be domestlcated me
maIlard II there Is Il wild duck that IN
nerits less fear Of man than these teHi
don't know It; OF the TWO pernaPs nv
slirhtlv larger blue.wing is quicker 10
make friends with man.
MI. Mather doubted II the wood dueS
could be domesticated since AFTER pells
bred in ten generations In confinement tneg
would escape II possible" The minks ana
Other vermin are serious obstacles TO sue.
cess and Mr. Mather says II ever
try TO breed our beautiful wild FOWL again
the pools VIII be made mink proof oy
Lriok nr stone foundation two feet under /
ground and one foot above TIA fence on
This with inviting openings for a MINK 20
enter and remain In trap until ne mas
an interview with me.
The hIue-wing teal are much superior TO-
their cousins. the green-wings Iney are
Teadilv DISTINGUISHED by the bright colors
on the wings which suggested me names
1,bere Is great difference In their Favor
and delloacy.