The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-10-25
DUCK|NG SEASON.
PROSPECTS ARE NOT so ENCOURAGING
ON THE SUSQUEHANNA FLATS.
GurnerS are Busily Engaged Getting
Things In Shape for the Opening Day
What H. D. Jackson, of Perryville,
Thinks About the Coming Season.

Great preparations are being made 10y
the gunncrS in Cecil and Hartford count.
les for the coming ducking season on the
SuSQuchanna Flats, which opens next
Monday week. November }rd. The pros
poets are not as promising for IL good
season as the Sportsmcn would like To
have them. The law permits the shoot
ing of ducks from November 1st to April
10th, and. after that date it is prohibited.
The shooting on what is known as the
Susquchanna Flats, from November LIST
to March 3lSt, is restricted to an area of
not less than quarter of Il mile from
shore northward of Il line beginning at
Turkey Point Light House. in Cecil
county, and drawn eastward to Il point
half IL mile north of the most northern
part of SpeSutia Island: thence westward
half Il mile north of the adjacent main
land to the shore of Hartford county at
or near Darlington and south of line
drawn east from Concord Point Light
House. in Hartford county. to Carpen-
tcr'S Point. in Cecil county. The shoot
ing days until January 1St. within the
lines above designated are Monday,
Wednesday and Friday of each week.
After January LIST, shooting is permitted
on Saturday also. Night shooting and
the anchoring of boats on any but gun
ming days or going over the waters on
cunning days before ) II. H.. is prohibited
by law
Persons desiring to shoot ducks on the
SuSuuchanna Flats must do 50 from IL
crnSed sink boxes or sneak boxes. These
licenses are issued only by the Clerk of
the Courts of Cecil and Hartford count
les. and are issued only to bona tdc resi-
dents of the two counties.
Teal. malards, black ducks, baldpate
and other wild ducks known as marsh
ducks. can be shot from one hour before
sunrise to one hour after sunset every
day from August 10Th to October 1st. on
the Suspuchanna Flats. Bona tde citi-
zrns of Cecil and Kent counties can
shoot from sink boxes in SasSafras river
upon obtaining license on Mondays
Wednesdays. Fridays and Saturdays
between November 1st and March 3lst
The same shooting days are allowed on
the Elk and Bohemia rivers in Cecil
county.
The SuSuuehanna Flats is the meSsa
of Il host of enthusiastic sportSmcn each
year. The freezing up of the northern
homes of the ducks cause them to mi
CRATE southward. and many of them stop
on the Susquehanna Flats, and they have
been known to be so plentiful as to be
numbered by the tens of thousands in Il
single day Oh these renowned cunning
grounds.
The first arrivals of the feathery tribe
on THE Flats are generally the blue
winged teal. the wigeon, formerly known
as the greascrI. and the sprig-tailS. They
generally arrive about the first of Sep
temher. These varieties are followed
about the middle of the month by the
"coot" or the ruddy duck. The latter
bird has become very popular during the
past few years. Formerly it was neg
lected and sold for about - cents per
pair. 1t is now considered almost equal
to the canvas-back or rcd-hcad, and
commands proportionately as high prices
in the city markets.
III. ID. Jackson, Of Pcrryvillc, one of
the best duck shots on the Susquehanna
Flats. rs we'll rs the champion amateur
target shot of Maryland. which honor he
won last spring ut Prospect Park. Balti-
more. breaking 81 targets out of 100, in
speaking of the coming ducking season to
the Cecil Wing" reporter one day last
week. said:-"The outlook at the present
tim" is not 50 good us last year. The
reason for this is that the Flats are ut
the mouth of the Susquehanna river. and
early last rsping these grounds were
greatly damaged by the high waters in
the river. The swift currents spread q
large amount of mud and other debris
over the Flats. hurting the growth of
the wild celery upon which the ducks
principally feed. | have known he said,
at this time in October during past years
when there We're lots of ducks on the
flats. Up to the present time there has
been but few of the best ducks. such as
canvas-backS. red-hcadS and black-hcads.
to put in their appearance. Continuing.
he said. it is Il very hard matter to tell
much about the coming season. as the
ducks may possibly come in great num-
berS later on.