The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-12-15

lefui fertility ~ soil and mildness Of
climate, hold out strong attractions TO
the lovers uf rod and gun TO stay
amongst their many alluring scenes OF
land and water. There are no sudden
changes Of climate, all Is a never
ending summer
The Islands form q continuous chain,
running from northwest TO southeast.
eight Islands composing the group. Ho-
nolulu. the capital and port Of call OF
trans Pacinc steamers. Is situated on
the island of oahu, near the center OF
the group
The coast around the islands is
greatly indented with small bays af-
fording fine deep-sea fishing The up
lands and forests. though now nearly
destroyed from the pasturing of cattle,
afford fine plover dove, pheasant and
quail shooting. as well as wild hog,
cattle goat and deer hunting.
For the love OF bright colors the ma
tive Hawaiians destroyed large num-
bers of the highly plumed birds which
were indigenous to the islands The
feathers from these birds-the 90. iwi,
mamo, etc.--were used in the making
OF the feather coaks and helmets which
were worn by the island chieftians dur.
ing the early days.
Unfortunately the game laws of the
Territory have never been rigidly en-
forced, but nevertheless all kinds OF
| game abound in certain chosen locali-
ties, well known to the island hunters.
TO the lover of wing shooting a fine
days sport may be had amongst the
Chinese turtle doves, which rank first
in Importance amongst the game birds
OF the Territory. The open season
commences on July /, the doves are
found to be very plentiful in the rice
fields, which are harvested about tins
time of the year. The favorite mode
OF hunting these game little birds Is at
flight shooting, as they enter the rice
patches, where. II one finds a good To-
cality and a steady flight occurs, a bag
of 100 birds is easily obtainable in
half day. Good dove shooting may also
be had in the lantana thicl<ets near the
foothills when the rice patches are
under water.
To the lover of the bird dog and gun
who wishes a change from the dove
something entirely different, and amid
different scenes and surroundings may
be found in a trip after pheasants ana
quail. These game birds, the Mongo-
| liam and Japanese pheasant apd CAN
! fornia quail were introduced a score
of wears ago and thrived readily, until
| the mongoose was brought to the IS
| lands from India for the purpose OF
Kidding the cane fields of rats. In a
few years this detested little animal
| left the cane fields for higher and more
! deserted places. 1t was not long before
he began to prey upon the eggs of all
birds nesting upon the ground, espe-
cially the pheasant and quail. Whch
have decreased noticeably during the
last few years. Nevertheless, ENJOY
able sport may be had by persons wen
acquainted with the haunts of these
swift flying birds, which are usually at
an altitude of between one and three
thousand feet Wing shooting over a
well-trained dog on pheasant and guam
is a sport never to be forgotten.
Going higher, wild turkey and chick
ems demonstrated fowls run wild Tor
many years. are found to be plentiful
on some of the islands. Little attention
Is paid to these except by parties
camping out near places frequented by
them.
OF the migratory game birds which
make their winter home on the Islands
and afford fair shooting at times, are
the Pacific golden plover, curlew, turn
stone. wandering taller, sanderllng, and
the following ducks: spoonful, sprig-
TAIL widgeon and teal; while mallard'
brant snow goose, Canadian goose anu
SHINE are seen once In n while, single
. a
stray birds that have followed flocks oil
other migratory birds. The shore plrus
principally plover, are shot from pllhus
placed near mud flats, which at 10"
tide extend some three hundred feet Oh
more from shore. These brds, aitei
feeding during the day upon the opei
fields, frequent the seashore during th'
night, and afford fine flight shooting
toward sunset.
Duck hunting is only INDUCED In pS
the members of gun clubs, or by lnul
viduals who control the shooting rights
over ponds and lakes frequented pS
the ducks. which on these islands are
very limited.
The open season for migratory birds
, commences September Is and ends
/, April /. The shore birds arrive during
the month OF August, while the man
, fight of ducks does not arrive unit
month or so later.
A duck somewhat resembling tn
, teal. and a goose resembling the ca
madam goose are indigenous to the Is
lands, and were in former years yer!
plentiful, but of late these birds hav
) almost entirely disappeared, particu
larly the goose, which made its HON
! upon the slopes of the higher noun
tains.
The first quadrupeds seen In the Ha
waiian Islands were those presented I
! the chiefs by navigators and whalin
ships, during the latter part of tn
eighteenth century. They consisted Q
!, cattle, sheep and swine, some of whic
soon strayed and became wild, so tina
at present persons looking for more eS
r citing sport than bird hunting ma
v spend an interesting day amongst tn
: wild cattle and pigs in the lakewood
= The boars attain huge size and ar
very fierce when their anger Is arouse'
| NVMd goata ara found on all the iRla nd