Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-03-21
FOR SP0RTSMEH
Some Novelties For Use In the
Coming Season.
A DEC0T DUCK THAT FLIES.

boat md Swimming Dish
Cans OF Tiny CaIIber.
That ~roughing it, as applied to the
modern sportsman's pursuit Of fish and
game. even in the widest hunting
grounds Of North America, has lost
much Of IT'S meaning IS n Of the most
evident facts demonstrated by the ex-
hiblts at the recent sportsmen's show
in New York. Between the growth Of
luxurious habits among sportsmen, the
efforts Of makers Of sporting goods to
smooth the way and the inventive gen
ius Of gunners and anglers themselves
the bardshlps that ono We're a feature
Of that form of recreation have been
all but oblterated, says the New York
Times.
4 veteran hunter Of big game, be-
moaning this fact, declared that the
only thing necessary now to bring to
fitting completion the tendency Of the
time was for the sportsman to hire
some one to do his shooting and fish
ing. At the same time, however, he ex-
amined with Keen interest an up to
date camp outfit and made comparison
between it and the half shelter tents
and brush lean-to shacks of his W
hunting experience that was much to
the advantage of the modern equip
ment. On every side were the evil
dences of the advantages enjoyed by
present day hunters and anglers and
even the grumblins old sportsman
made the admission, in spite Of his
contempt for the devices for ease and
comfort. that with the novel aids in
troduced each season hunting is more
like sport and less like work than for
merry.
Some of the new ideas that will be
put to use in the coming season actual
ly compelled the veterans admiration
as promising help for the sportsman, a
notable instance of this kind being a
decoy duck that gave a fair represent
tation of flight in response to the pull
ing Of a cord. Briefly described, the
new decoy is provided with a pair Of
metal wings working on a hinge, which
hutter at a slight pull Of the operating
cord, While n stronger pull causes the
model TO rise two or three feet in the
air ON a rod imbedded in a submerged
platform, which answers as both bal
last and anchor.
Another creation of inventive duck
hunters is a combination of iceboat and
skimmiug dish catboat which while
travelling on the ice has no need to
avoid open water or breaks in the ice.
for it floats as well as slides and, be-
ing well decked over. is equally at
home on water or ice.
In the boat line Il distinct luxury is
an auxiliary" catboat which ought to
find equal favor with duck hunters and
fishermen. The smallest size of this
craft that is made hardly exceeds the
length Of an ordinary dory and is fitted
with a most compact one and a half
horsepower gasoline engine. Another
novelty in the form of a fishing and
hunting boat is provided with a sheath
ed screw 50 covered as to be perfectly
IAON'NANu Ahl ulAAiNpph anu lNt.
The sectional fishing boat which fish
ermen have grown accustomed to see-
ing in two parts, bow and stern, APP
pears for the new season in four and
five parts, 81 bulkheaded MS to be prac-
tically nonsinkable even though one
compartment may be opened at will
and converted into n fish well or box,
with vrufpF. fs,v, .rvgfgf,Va thn arc, - 1-onJ
ing through. The parts may be sepa-
rated by the simple drawing of pins,
and the sections then may be handled
with great ease.
The most distinct novelty in gasoline
engines that has been put on the mar
ket for the season of 1903 is a device
(which provides an igniting spark with
out the use of batteries or sparkling
coil. This equipment to a gasoline en-
CINE generates its own electricity.
The new things I'm guns include some
that Mt tirEt glance appear almost ridic-
ulous, the most striking novelties in
PRODUCED being in guns of the smallest
caliber made. Al instance is a shot
gun with a bore just equal to that Of
tAN 4NAitlAlAA - AAlAhtl A4Alt. IL OOh
Il very suitable arm for the pursuit Of
humming birds or butterflies, and, in
fact, it might be made useful for nat
uralists or specimen hunters, though it
appears the veriest toy. Another inno-
walton in small caliber arms is an i'm
proyement on the older forms Of mag
aZine rife, resulting in a % gun which
in miniature isslike the military style
Of rife in loading and is worked with
the pump motion.
In camp equipments the most decld-
ed innovation is in combinations Of
heavy waterproofed IN with metal
for kitchen utensils, the canvas folding
fiat on the metal base, 50 that practical
looking pots and pals may be packed
into the least possible space. Portable
houses which seem exceedingly simple
in construction will compete for popur
larity with tents that really are canvas