The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-02
TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS.

2N1y companions VAS ALL. 1cOi SIlIdSs
an accomplished sportsmen and amateur
pho ographer. known to the craft
throughout America for his remarkable
portraits OF the deer made in the w1lds
of NJ chlgan. armed with several
came as he proposed to take the por-
trai S OF the ducks Will 6 make sketches
In the marsh. It was October, beautiful
Indian summer weather. not the best,
however. for quick photography on ac-
count Of the autumn haze.
The shooting season was not on but tho
hating of ducks had begun. Day after
day we crulsed a bout the waterways
through the marsh In our light duck
boats and had excellent opportunities to
observe the ducks. Mr.. Sh:ras carr ed a
boat lnad Of decoys and tossed them out
at likely points Where he retired to his
blind with the cameras. I went some
little distance away often lin another
channel. so as nos to disturb the ducks
which soon settled to the decoys. AL
though the decoys were set in close. and
the ducks were tame they cid not come
near enough to allow the making Of good
PICTURES on the water. and it was neces-
sarv to shut the shutters too slow to
catch tho wing motions Of the birds In
flight on account of the hazy autumn
l~h1. AS the punter. who accompanied rs
!. Went on his round through the marsh.
c.ords Of ducks arose before him and
few away to the var.o ponds and mud.
holes. soon to return to the points where.
the grain was scattered. novice could
have bagged a hundred ducks any day
during our stay.
am not qrite sure that the ducks have
gained much by the close preservation Of
tho marshes If the bag We're limited.
and the punters not Allowed to shoot. the
mortality would not be SO great as IL
would be. were the marshes again
thrown open to the general public Many
OF the punters are dead shots and no
doubt it is tier work witch sweils some
of the records made BY club men.
A yVinous Point man was loud in his
contemplation OF those who allowed a
purter to shoot TOR them. We might as
well. he said. have our servants drink our
eaampaere It's si1ort-sightsds to to- d,. .,S
provided at SO much expense tor our
selves.
An Ottawa clubman vii inform you that
the men of Winous Point5cannot shoot a
little bit.'' and dropping his voice to
confidential tone will add His punter
does it for him.
OWNED UP.
Another of Winous Point will tell you
that the men of Ottawa take out
their ducks. and that most Of the Otto
was cannot hit the portal of barn.
Both these tales were confided to me
within an hour one day IN Cleveland. and
the game day narrated them as being
amusing to q third man whom I met.
He however. took the matter quite SOL
e!nnlr. and when l had done said: Il did
one day let a pun'er shoot some seventy
five or hundred ducks for me but was
rot lat all we'll and Shot badly. SO felt
justified on that one occasion. Ard SO ii i
is that duck murder. like any other. will
out
When the sportsmen are not about the
chief enemies OF the ducks are the hawks 1
These rredat tory birds NAV be seen at ali 4
tine sailin" over the marshes on the look
out for a dinner.
One day. Mr.. S'liras had lust set out his
decovs when large hawk came hoa ting
along and rounccd upon one of the coun-
terfeits. shifting one of his talons We'll
into the wood as he struck There was p
loud topping and splash'nS as the huge
bird Strurrled out of the water with his
quarry. and a camera snapped at him al
close range and produced fairly good
image. A second camera was let nv at
rim as he sailed awav with the wooden
,,r!ze and the wcisht dangling below hui
the second shot was a failure The dacoy
fell long way out on the wa ter and the
hawk few off some distance out of range
Of the ca meas. and seating himself 7upon
a .'nuskrat house with his head on one
SIDE III "a most demurc way, proceeded 70
roy. moved by a gentle ripple on tbs sI,r
face OF the water. presented quite q life
Ike apnearance. and again Soaring aIoft
the hawk struck the quarry onlvs how
ever. to satisfy himself Of his mistake -,
fly. ava = in disgust : e''o