Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-01
REED BIRDS DUE SOON
Police Keep Wary Eye on
Eastern Branch Marshes.
SOME GUNNERS TOO EAGER
Season for "On Toast Specialties
Opens September l.
WILD OATS NOW IN FINE SHAPE
Grand Sport Anticipated Later On.
Clean Up Your Guns and
Get Ready.
|SOME GUNNERS TOO EAGER
WILD OATS NOW IN FINE SHAPE

Policemen doing duty in the county,
especially along the Eastern branch, are
paving attention TO the marshes Just now
because of the approach of the cunning
season, which opens September ]. Inc
police say there are some unscrupuious
nersons who are willing to risk the pay
ment of fine or term in the work
house for the sake Of a few BIRDS.
Sportsmen are already looking over the
marshes and discussing the prospects.
The Eastern branch marsh is in splendid
condition this year. the oats being thick
and fairly well advanced.
But the quantity and quality of the
oats" says William Wagner, one of the
best known gunners in this section. does
not mean that birds are to be more plen-
tiful than usual. although there seems to
be no reason why good sport Should not
be enjoyed in September.
Wild Oats Thick and High.
So thick and high are the wild oats that
the mud is no longer exposed at low tide
and an attractive sight is presented. Dur
ing the past year much of the marsh
near the city side of the branch along
Benning road has been filled with ashes
and refuse. and while the presence of so
many men on the dump may affect shoot
ing to some little extent. gunnerS do not
anticipate much trouble from that source.
Under the law shooting SO near the road
is prohibited
Mr.. Wagner says he has never seen the
Benning marsh in better condition so
early in the season. The Patuxent marsh,
he says. is also in good shape, but is more
backward than the marshes around here.
The Patuxent marsh is better protected
than the local marsh. a license being re-
qured of gunners in Maryland. Members
of the several clubs along the Patuxent
are anticipating fine sport this season and
are making extensive preparations for the
opening day.
While no license fee is required to shoot
on the local marshes. there are laws
which the police are instructed to enforce.
One section relates to the season for
reed birds. ortclan and marsh backbirds,
and reads. THAT no person shall kill,
expose for sale. or have in his or her
possession. either dead or alive. any water
rail or ortolan. reed bird or rice bird,
marsh blackbird. between the first day
of February and the first day of Septem-
Der under penalty of 50 for each water
rail or ortolan. reed bird or rice bird.
marsh blackbird killed. exposed for sale,
dead or alive. and in default thereof to
be imprisoned in the workhOuse for
period not less than fifteen days nor more
than six months.
Read This Section, Too.
Another section relates to trespassing
and is well worth knowing by those who
contemplate going after the birds this
year. 1t reads: ANY person who shall
knowingly trespass on the land of an
other for the purpose of shooting or hunt
ing thereon, after due notice by the
owner or occupant of lands. shall be
liable to such .owner or occupant in ex-
emplary damages to an amount not ex-
ceeding 500. That notice shall be given
by erecting and maintaining signboards,
at least eight by twelve. inches in di
mansions. on the borders of the premises.
and at least two such signs for every
fifty acres; and any person who shall
maliciously tear down or in any manner
deface or injure any of such signboards
shall be liable to penalty of not less
than five dollars for each and every sign
board SO torn down. defaced. or injured
and, in default. to be imprisoned for a
period not exceeding thirty days in the
worShouse."
Backbirds and ortolan have already
appeared on the Eastern branch and
Patuxent river marshes. but reedbirds are
not due or expected here before the mid
die or latter part of August. No COM
plants have yet been received by the
police of violations of the law. although
II is likely that some gunners or pot
hunters will not wait until the opening of
the season.
Open Season for Woodcock.
Woodcock shooting is permitted here
from July l to January /, and some fat
birds have already been killed in the
vicinity of this city. The law governing
their killing provides a fine of s. for
every bird dead or alive. found in pos
session out of season. the alternative be-
ing imprisonment in the workhouse for
not less than thirty days nor more than
six months.
Sportsmen who are familiar with the
game and hunting conditions in this sec
ton say there are fewer Woodcock about
here this year than usual Ii is still
early in the season, however. and there
may be better sport later on. One day
last week two gunners spent the early
morning along the upper part of the
Eastern branch and killed seven birds.
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