Evening journal., 1908-08-31
Happenings in the Sphere Of Sport
THEY'LL BANG AT
BIRDS TOMORROW
ReedieS Reported Plentiful
on Marshes Of Three
States

Ran and reed bird season VIII open
i'm this State. Pennsylvania, Maryland
and in New Jersey tomorrow. and the
meadows and marshes are sull of 'ep.
Take the word OF the sporting men Of
the sporting goods stores, this promises
to be one of the best seasons for
rails" and "reedies" In cecade. and,
of course, there's no day like the first
day OF the season.
Reports from Darby creek, Crum
creek and Essington, in Pennsylvania,
and from Bridgeport, Salem. Penns-
grove, Timber and Rancocas creeks. in
New Jersey and Red Lion and Chris
tiana marshes IN this State toll of
"reedies" by the thousand and as fat
as butter" as they ought to be.
Change in Game Laws.
New JERSEYS game Jaws contain the
only changes. one or two of which are
calculated to chill the enthusiasm of
prospective visitors to the State OF
sandhills and seaside resorts.
First of all, there's the license to be
paid, amounting to S1O.5l and good for
,one year from time of issuance. The
price would be reasonable enough. ex-
cept for the fact that outsiders are per-
mitted to remove from the Stare only
fifteen birds, whether they be "reedics''
or geese.
Violation Of the law IN New Jersey
means a S25 fine. and it is understood
that the state sufficiently able to ell
force the laws, even to dogging visiting
sportsmen accompanied by a friend OF
two carrying n suit case filled with
birds.
Both reed and rail birds are on their
way southwark. where they spend the
winter season. They usually remain in
this region until the weather grows
actually cold and northeast blasts
sweep the coast.
In the summer season, with its plum-
age of white yellow and black, the
reedbird is the bobolinlS of poetry. As
it fattens on the seeds of meaGow
grasses. it becomes transformed into a
'reedie" of the sportsman, and, il
it escapes the shot here and goes into
the suthland. It is Identified as the rice
bird
It is small in size, not much larger
than an English sparrow, which, in
the magic of the kitchen. not infre-
quently is broiled and served as a
'reedie." AS the reedbird appears in the
feather it is brown and white striped
and the farther South (. goes the lighter
in color it grows.
Hunter Requires Boat.
In cunning for "reedies" a sportsman
with a good pair of legs can make {
! hit I'm the marshes where the birds
/ iced. but f. rails IL is required L
I have a boat and "pusher" a man t'
shove the boat through the marshes
Railbirds are larger than reedbirds
feeding altogether in the fresh-waie
marshes along the coast. Reedbirds
too. have a decided preference 70
fresh-water marshes. but they hav
been known TO invSle salt-wate
marshes.
For flavor tho railbird is superio
Indeed. the king rail is considereh q
be as fine bird Of its kind for eatini
as can be found. Like The reed bird, j
migrates to the North in tie summe
and returns to the South for the win
ter. Generally. it is found in place
where "reedies" are plentiful.
Usually, the opening day of the reed
bird season has attracted every mai
and boy who owns and can borrow
gun. In the "old days. the ones abou
which the sportsmen Of three -scor
years and ten. talk. $50 to 200 birds
day was a good bag, but now four o
five dozen would be prize.