The Washington times., 1902-08-17
Opening of Legal Gun
nlng Season Will Occur
September 4.
FIRST DAY TO BE HAZARDOUS
Labor Day Coming at Same Time Will
Fill the Marshes With Gunners-
Game Warden Watching for Offenders
Where the Shooters Assemble.

Labor Day this year will witness the
opening Of the cunning season. as the,
first Monday of September is the first
day of the month and the season will be
properly ushered in. The opening day,
and Labor Day are always the most ex-
citing OF the early season, so the oc-
currence OF the two events at the same
time promises to make hunting In the
marshes somewhat dangerous September
i. The marshes are overgrown with wild
oats and grass and this renders shooting
more hazardous than usual.
For weeks past the would-be gunner
has been making ready for the coming
of the bird season. loading shells and
oiling his fowling piece. and within a
fortnight he will be pushing his way
through the marshes in the tributaries
innate at this time the number that
will be out on the first day. nut it is
safe to say that every manner of shot
gun will be used, including the most
modern twenty caliber as we'll as the
large ten bore gun, and even muskets
which have seen service in the civil war.
They Will All Be Out.
Young and old, both black and white,
will be out. and the novice will vie with,
the expert in taking shots at the swift
winged reed bird or the shy little orto-
Ian Snipe and plover will also be look
ed for the birds of larger size will not
be permitted within a mile of a lighting
place.
From every indication the coming
season will be the most successful about
cool weather will drive the birds from
their summer nests in Jersey. while the
thick growth of wild oats about the
marshes here will hold them for while
before they continue their flight 10
the rice fields of the Carolinas As is
generally known, these birds are the
1obolinks of the North In this Sec
ion they are called the reed bird. while
farther South where they remain during
he winter months they are called the
ice bird.
Its Chirping Is Heard.
For weeks past the succulent reedy
las been heard going through the air
md his familiar chirp during the quiet
venings has caused many to gaze sky
ward. Another bird which makes its
all bird. which is If anything more
,alatable than the reed bird The orto-
an is very shy and ii is only when the
runner encroaches close upon it that it
S induced to rise. Then it flies no
distance, but alights within fifty yards.
dany ortolan have already been seen
eeding on the sand on the edge of the
marshes.
In addition to the reed birds and or
plan there will be many blackbirds,
nipe, and plover slaughtered in this
icinity on Labor Day. The blackbirds
re usually very plentiful, although
here are but few snipe and plover seen
bout here until later in the season.
S rule the true sportsman shoots but
9w blackbirds, except when there are
o ortolau or reed birds in sight, but
hey are much harder to kill.
Hard on violators.
Some of those who go out shooting are
pit to get themselves into trouble by
hooting game which is protected by
NV. At no time can any of the heron
pecies be killed, while the season for
uail, partridges, pheasants and rabbits
oes not open until November 1. II IS
Understood that the agents OF the Fish
nd Game Protective Association will
e on the lookout and Major Richard
ylvester. the game warden. has in
tructed them to bring all offenders to
lstice.
Most of the shooting in this vicinity
! done along the Eastern Branch in the
larshes which extend from the Navy
ard up to Benning on both sides OF
he river. The Benning Bridge Is the
place of the sportsmen, and
here on every morning after shooting
lie high tide they gather and tell OF
ne luck of the day. In the marshes
bout the Little River and Gravcley
reek there is also some shooting still
one, while in Roach's Run and Four
lie Run the sport is unusually good.
ihile the laws OF Virginia -~:hhich govern
lie shores on the south side of the
otomac permit of almost any kind of
hooting. those of Maryland are very
tringent, and in many counties of the
late it is necessary to secure licenses q
shoot. ~
Uncle Billy Is Elated. ~
Uncle Billy" Wagner. the veteran
1ortsman, is making preparations for
lie opening of the season. but has an
ounced that he will not go into the
iarshes on the opening day although
is his delight TO get out on the first
ay and see what is doing. The growth
so rank in the marshes. however, that
e does not care to venture out on
abor Day. In some places 1t is i'm
ossible to see twenty yards ahead. and
will require the exercise OF much
are to prevent accidents.
Mr. Wagner is confident that this will
one of the hest seasons we have had
years. and his judgment is implicitly
lied upon by those who use the gun.
asst year he loaded nearly 200, 900
lells and in addition disposed of about
900 more which were factory-made.
lille most OF these were used in this
cinity. some were shipped to the
,uthern States as far South as Texas,>
r use in trap-shooting and for sport