The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-20

gets to the tall, inaccessible portion Of tho
grounds. For when 1t reaches these parts
before falling the task of finding 1t Will
be q hard one. and the time taken will
seriously shorten the fun. The game must
be gotten on the upper food tide, or
never and this is only for a few hours.
II the bird Is dropped in a convenient
place, the shot keeps watch Of the place
in which it fell, and directing the shower,
gets the boat near enough to pick II up.
It is necessary to kill the bird outright.
II this is not done 1t will generally dive
at tho approach OF the men, and can re-
main under water for a long time.
A great test Of alelll is to drop the game
into a creek or one OF the small leads
which cut the marshes. This will allow
the boat to approach without trouble.
As the boat Is showed along over, the
matted grass and along the edges Of tho
creeks, the pole Is hit among the reeds.
This will cause the sora to either. fly or
cry out. The cries will toll the men the
number In the marshes and where they
are to be found.
When tho weather and the tide are
right tho birds will sometimes fly up as
fast as the shooter can shoot and re-
load. and tho shower find. Hundreds are
sometimes killed in few hours.
IT'S FLIGHT IS SLOW.
The flight Of the bird being slow and
sluggish, the shooting would be easy
and rather poor sport II 1t was not for
the pcculiartles Of It. Often when the
boat is being propelled slowly the sora
will remain hid until the men nave
passed. and then will rise just toward tho
stern Of the boat. 1t is then necessary
for the gunner to turn almost around
by the twisting Of his back to get aim.
They Will fly from, every unexpected place
and make off for tho taller reeds At
times they will walt until the boat has
been showed almost over the grass, and
near every clump without rising. Then
when the mon are resting and not ex-
pecting them 10 rise from the places from
which tho boat has Just been over, they
will get up In great numbers and make
off, causing the widest kind Of excite
ment and shooting Generally the greater
portion Of the birds are untouched. Tho
tho fact that the bird often dives at the
approach Of danger, and when 1t comes
to the surface and finds tho boat still
in sight will rise. 1t Is this uncertainty
which makes tho fun SO great, and gives
tho mon opportunity tor the best kind
of practice In quick shooting, ana from
all positions.
Dozens of boats arc sometimes on the
Same stretch of marsh, making the air
ring with the noise. and scattering shots
in every direction, The loads are small,
however. trnd unless the person is hit IN
get far too careless mt times. though,
and when too many are In the same
pieco there Is danger Of losing an eye
from careless hunters. These times arc
only during the pick OF the weather, and
MS there Is plenty OF room, the risk need
not DO taken.
I'VE chance kIots wlNch are often
gotten at ducks and other large game,
while showing through the tall reeds Is u
great drawing cards for the hunter The
ducks are flushed, may be, very near tie
boat and by quick work several shots
may be gotten before they arc out OF
reach, These ducks are preferred by
many to tho mallard.
THD SPORT NEVER LAGS.
Tho sora hunting never lags. Tho
sportmen go homo wet and muddy With
their guns rusted BY tho salt water. and
The work Is, indeed, sometimes anything
but light and the preacher, lawyer. farm
or, doctor and those from other callings
In llfe which are always represented In
these grounds. would have to be paid
good sum to make them brave the
toll they are sometimes called upon to
endure while hunting the sora. For II
the sun should come out, or the day get
light, there will DO much showing and
little shooting Tho autumn sun on the
water Is not famed for GOODNESS, and
when tho lawyer undertakes to shove his
skin through several miles Of matted
grass and reeds tho work Will mako
him sweat Notwithstanding this how-
over, for 1t is always due to tho selection
of the Weather In which to hunt, the men
never tire until tho frost has put stop
to the game Tho wetting and mudding
counts only when tho man Ia tired and
hot The next day will find him more
ready than ever to go to the water And
when his friend or stranger says the
tide is unusually high, and the birds are
thick, he will hardly wait until the
breakfast is over, and tho gun and
ammunition gotten before he starts for
the same place. 1t Is q lud!crous sight.
and ono which Is apt to cause smile, to
see an excited hunter capslze his boat
With Its contents. man. ammunition, gun
and all, into several feet Of Shiny mud
and water. OF course there Is tho usual
scrapping for the upturned boat, and
tho men always arc OF the opinion that
tho water is much deeper than 1t really
Is and hence an addition to the fun
furnished the onlookerS Tho bvat y
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