New-York tribune., 1903-05-23

the consideration is given. but it Is probably
some equivalent Of the rum which corrupted our
noble red men The Waterfowl Family is a
well illustrated book about wild ducks. geese.
swans rails and shore birds. what they are.
where they may be found. and when and how
10 shoot them L. c Sanford, who writes about
The shooting in this part Of the country. gives
some advice which shows he has a suspicion
mat some Of his readers may not be ninrods:
In shooting from blinds. # possible. the birds
should be watched through the blind. and not
over he top Il Is q great advantage to keep
the game in sight Iu this way gunner Is more
likely 70 know exactly the time 10 shoot The
habir Of looking UP and then drawing back IS
almost sure 70 attract the attention OF q bird
and shy il on
Which reminds US Of the sporting exploits Of
M Wrinkle According to the authors, the
ducks and geese are in danger Of determination.
II some localities. aided by the law against
spring shooting. they have made a notable in
crease and elsewhere they hold their own ny
dinr Of sheer cunning. but the number of gun
rers increases each year and IN crossing bay
: flock Of low flying ducks Is not infrequently
fred upon every hundred yards. only an insig-
-i4csn+ remnant Of the once vast horde is to he
found On the sloughs OF Illinois, Indiana and
Minnesota. while Chesapeake Bay, that between
1870 and 1870 used frequently TO witness the
Slaughter Of fifteen thousand ducks in a single
da- now Yields only a few hundreds More
r-o-ection for wild waterfowl is urged and pro
test Is made against battery shooting and the
repeat ting shotgun.
II Is interesting TO note that the news OF Ile
truce extended 10 them by man in Yellowstone
Park has spread abroad among TIE fowl ana
thousands Of them are breeding there as tame
n many instances as domestic ducks and geese
They seem 70 be fully aware Of the protectloh
The place affords Wild fowl that fare for them
selves beyond the sanctuary Of Yellowstone
Park have gathered much wisdom from thelr
adventures Hith guns during tn last twenty =
FIVE years. The nallard has acquired an ability
= v-hir7 I'D 50 swiftly on the first alarm that
ne generally beats the gun. He also KNOWS
enough not 70 come within range Of suspicious
cIUmps Of reeds along sho-e-and his judgment
cf range is excellent The ducks have given up
feeding n daylight on such Of their old grounds
are within the bounds Of civilization ouI
when night casts its protecting shadows over
The scene thev steal by thousands 10 the feast
and revel TIL The rrst warning Of the dawn
alarms them with the fear OF their relentless
enemy. As n the geese. so wise have 1hey 'e-
come that though immense focks Of thefn VIII
ter n the bays of North Carolina, comparatively
few fall victims 10 the thousands Of gunners'
their wariness Is proverbial. and there IS NIUE
use in irving for them except with the ala ol
fnelr relatives. acting as CecoSS
Mr.. 7 s Van Dyke who writes ABOUT Ile
waterfowl Of the Pacific coast, says concern
Ing the geese there:
YET with al this abundance that covered acres
q water almost solid with geese III an hodF oI
two II vas no easy matter 10 get one even iohs
before the tenderfoot. with his cheap gun IItS
market shooter with mis- barrels Of aTnlnunl-
tior Or hjg-bar swine without the excuse OF
The market shooter had made them Tar "lidtI.
: shot with the gun from anywhere along tll5
edge % the pond was next 10 lnnposslple' ana u y
vas scarcely any better when fheS new ouls -, -
goose can climb high IN the air quite fdpuis
Tor 50 large Z bird. and he knew enough 70 90 Il
Any kind Of 2 blind IN the water al one
aroused their suspicion. and they came ID 20
high that even e floating battery woulc haNe
been seen by most Of them
The book contains some stirring descriptions
OF hunting incidents. which viii appeal TO al
those familiar with the thrill that comes 10 the
nan who. after lying for hours in the colo
darkness and silence Of some lonely bay, hears
e CRY and the flutter of wings OF flock Of DUCKS
coming toward him. Each sort OF bird Is
treated in 9 separate chapt sr. which begins with
q description # the piumage al different sea
sons measurements. eggs and habits. scientinc
name and forth.
The late Thomas 2. Reed used TO say that
he looked upon fishing as Of implied con
tract between the FISH and the fisherman, the
FISH 10 bite on condition that the fisherman
furnish them Aith a consideration which was