Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-31
SPORT SEASON OPENS
Gunners Will Line Marshes
Early Tomorrow.
THE BIRDS PLENTIFUL
PROVISIONS OF THE LAW TO BE
ENFORCED
Police Officers and Others Given Au-
thority to Inspect Places Where
Game is Sold.

Tomorrow morning. long before the sun
is high enough above the horizon to shed its
rays upon the marshes of the Potomac
river and Eastern branch, hundreds OF
sportsmen will be out looking for reed birds
and ortolan. Some of the more enthusiastic
ones, who will do their shooting in the
vicinity of Benning bridge, will spend the
night there in order to be among the first
to get their guns to going in the morning.
Others will drive to the bridge or other
points, while still others will wait for the
street cars This army of sportsmen will
be brought up by a rear guard, composed
of the owners of Anticipated weapons, shot
guns, muskets any other implement that
will send a charge of shot. 1t is manifest
that the number Of gunners will be suf-
ficient to cause a wholesale slaughter of the
birds
Besides the reed birds and ortoan. there
are some snipe on the marshes, and the
season for shooting them will open tomor-
row. as will the season for shooting WHO
ducks. The latter, however, are not very
plentiful early in the season, although a
few summer ducks and others may be
found.
On the big marsh along the Patuxent
river, between this city and Chesapeake
Beach. birds are also said to be plentiful.
In order for non-residents to do shooting
obtain a license from the clerk of the
county In which the particular part of the
marsh happens to be located. Sportsmen
who are to spend the day upon the Patux-
ent marsh will journey to that locality this
afternoon or tonight. 1t will be necessary
for them to be there before tomorrow morn
ing in order to be upon the ground in time
to catch the first tide.
Large Number to Participate.
1t is probable that the number of gunners
on the local marshes tomorrow will be
greater than usual for the first day, because
the birds came earlier than usual and
therefore may leave earlier. The birds are
plentiful, however, and some good sport Is
anticipated by the gunners.
Under the law sportsmen are not permit
ted to do any shooting at night, and the
killing must be done with ammunition sent
from gun that is fired from the shoulder
This latter provision is intended to prevent
the work of so-caled "pot-hunterS." Small
boats and pushers will be in demand tomor-
row morning at the boat houses along the
river, the more experienced gunners having
made arrangements several days ago. In
order to insure good sport 1t Is almost abSo-
Iutely necessary to have a good pusher. The
man who has a helper skilled in the bust
ness is the one who Is likely to return
ashore with the most game.
After the first tide, when the water gets
too low to enable the skiffs to get through
marshes and go ashore for breakfast or to
rest. Marsh shooting is tiresome and a lit
tie rest during the day will put the sports
men in condition for the next tide. There
are, perhaps, not enough skiffs about the
city to accommodate all the gunners who
want them and some of them will go upon
the water in larger boats and cruise about
the edges of the marshes. Others will walk
along the shore hoping to get a shot at a
stray bird. but these gunners will not al
ways be able to get all the game they kill
Often birds shot in this way fall into the
water and it is impossible to get them with
out the aid of a small boat.
Laws to Be Enforced.
Some attention is being paid to the OPEN
ing of the season by the police and game
warden. There are several provisions of the
law that the police are going to enforce in
order to protect life. One important pro-
vision provides penalty for the discharge
OF a gun within 800 feet of road, railroad
dwelling. This will keep the sportsmen
far enough away from the public highways
to protect drivers and pedestrians. The lieu
tenants of the precincts along the river
front and Eastern branch and the harbor
police will be on the alert early in the morn
ing to see that the provisions of the law are
not viloated.
In order to carry out the provisions of the
game law, Congress enacted a section which
having police authority, or health officer in
the District of Columbia, with sworn In
formation presented to such officer or war
den. is authorized and empowered to thor
Oughly inspect any house, boat market
box. stall, cold storage, or other place of
whatever character or kind, where he may
believe game, meats, or birds, as hereto
fore mentioned in this chapter may be
stored or kept; and any proprietor, agent,
employe, or other person refusing to per-
NIT such inspection shall be deemed guilty
of interference with the police, and, upon
conviction therefor, be fined not more
than one hundred dollars nor less than
twenty-five dollars, and, in default of such
payment. to be imprisoned in the United
States Jail not exceeding six months
Another section Of the law provides
penalty of not less than IS for trespassing
upon private property by gunners. This
section. however. is seldom violated by
marsh gunners, they are usually upon
the water or marshes while enjoying the
sport