The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-10
DJCK SHOOTING IN MEXTCO.
GAmeI Plentiful. hut OEten ''PrOtected' From
SpOrtsmen for wholesale Slaughter.

sD~Ortsmen FOR wholesale slaughter.
just now the sportsmen Of the republic
who have a friend" and who can get the
necessary permission for shooting over
any of the numerous haciendas where the
game wardens protect the ducks have
shooting which Is not equalled in any
other part Of the world. says the BetiCdn
Herald.
On the larger lakes. like Lake Chapala
for example. it Is possible to hunt without
a permit Of any kind and no one will modest
the sportsman. Rut in the valley Of Mexico
particularly. the ducks come wherever
there is a damp spot almost. and the nu-
merous little shallow lakes TEEN with thou
sands Of the feathered game. which are
easy marks for the sportsman.
But the man with the gun who has not
some friend OF some special n OF get
ting permission TO do his shooting over some
of the protected area has more difficulties
in Mexico than he would have in perhaps
any other section. The hunting Of the
sportsman with his shotgun Is put under
the ban in order that the armada" may
do its work. This is a contrivance for che
wholesale slaughter Of the ducks and is
one Of the most deadly devices Of Its kind
which has been put into use for getting
game in large quantities for the market.
The armada" is a battery Of from fifty
TO 100 guns which are set in a row at a given
angle 80 IA to cover an expanse Of the
shallow lake where the ducks are known
to gather for feeding. They are always
placed on a natural feeding ground. and
this feeding ground is often made doubly
attractive for the ducks by the scattering
- kaae - -aha. x-os, ~ Abe 49,
the ducks will come there.
The guns are arranged in a line and arc
10 set that they will slaughter the ducks
az they swim on the water. some of the
-~armadas- are really mad up Of two bat
teries instead Of one. One Of the batteries
will cover the water and the other il made
fer firing just after the discharge Of the
first armada. and 10 so levelled that il will
catch the ducks just as they start on their
fight, after the discharge Of the first set
of guns.
The guns are 40 srrangsd the, by pulling
a wire the entire battery ia discharged at
once. Sometimes the guns which Com-
pose the battery are of a special design
on a swivel and are made for his very
purpose, but often the crudest sort Of
material is resOrted to in order 20 make up
the battery. Often good strong gaspipe
is secured. pipe which is reasonably sure
not to burst. and is converted into a crude
weapon for the purpose Of the armada.
Invariably the guns are loaded literally
up TO the muzzle.' and anything hard
serves as ammunition, old nails being
included in the category. When the arma-
das are constructed. instead Of the crude
gaspipe. Of q most approved type Of shot
gun. made for this purpose. which scatters
widely and which will stand without burst
ing. being jammed fun Of shot aid powder,
they are often discharged by the use Of
electricity. and thus every modern expe-.
dent is adopted in order 10 get at the ducks
and TO slaughter them in large numbers
for the market.
IL is often the case that three or four
boatloads Of ducks are killed nc one dis
charge of an armada OF this character. In
addition TO those which are killed mt the
discharge OF the armada in wholesale fir
ing OF this character there are naturally
very large numbers OF wounded which are
hunted down singly by hunters who may
Of the armada.
} While the best feeding grounds are al
WAYS selected for the planting Of the
armada, az the same time artificial
methods are in vogue for getting the ducks
in large numbers on the feeding grounds
In front. OF the guns This is in addition to
the device OF throwing food on the water.
There are few canvasbacks TO he found
in Mexico and few mallard. But Of the teal
duck there is an endless variety. The
ordinary large duck. which il plentiful. ia
called the "Rolondrina" and corresponds u
the American widgeon or pintail. There
are no general game laws to protect the
ducks. The restrictions Of the individual
haciendas, however, are harder on the
AVERAGE sportsman than would be a Law
for the general protection Of game.