New-York tribune., 1910-10-23


because the bag happens to be small. The blood
runs warm with the exhiaration Of the great
open air. and. game or no game. the hours glide
by swiftly and happily
There Is hardly prettier body OF water IN
the world than Long Island Sound. and cruising
along the southern Shore where duck most
plentiful the saiior-sportsman passes in ever
changing succession great, steep sand cliffs,
dazzling silver beaches and pretty inlets and
bays the slopes of which often thickly wooded.
sheve to the waters edge in a riot of flaming
autumn 1oiiage-a Kaleidoscope panorama upon
which the eye feasts without ever firing
In the bays Of Peconic and Gardiner the out
look for a really good days shooting is ever
present, for there are plenty OF ducks there, and
if conditions are right goodly number can be
counted on A boat Of shallow draft is indis-
pensable to the safe and comfortable navigation
of these inland waters, however, SO that owners
Of keel yachts visit by preference the bays OF
Huntington and Smithtown, navigable by boats
drawing even seven feet to within a very short
distance of shore. These localities are also
chosen by those whose time is limited because
their nearness to New York and neighborhood
permit of weekend trip being taken by busi-
ness with the assurance Of their getting
back in time to resume work Monday.
Among these hunters there many with
whom the shooting is but an incident OF the
days sailing. They will have their guns on deck
and take pot shots at any bird that may come
their way, but they never go off their course to
exploit a likely hole, follow up the birds
after flushing them They are yachtsmen first,
sportsnen after
Others instead, keen after game Duck
shooting is their object, and sailing only
pleasant of obtaining it. They lose no
time in getting to the best grounds, and are con-
StantIy the alert for birds, scanning the
horizon with glasses running down on a flock
the minute they sight it, and giving eager pur-
suit after flushing it Then, when the afternoon
wanes, they drop anchor q likely spot and
go ashore for the evening flight, remaining
overnight and shooting over decoys in the morn
ing. They frequently put together quite re-
spectacle bags
The boats most in for these weekend
trips are Of the cruising type, anywhere from
thirty to forty-fve feet over all, and built for
| comfort more than speed. It is a revelation to
go below decks in one Of these tiny looking
craft and note what has been accomplished by
the ingenuity Of designers in taking ad-
vantage Of the limited space at their disposal.
Even the smallest OF them is equipped with
sleeping accommodations for four or more
washroom, galley, icebox and every imaginable
convenience One can cruise in any one for
several days without having to go ashore for
anything
Boats starting ducking expeditions usually
leave harbor about noon as to be able to
reach their destination before darkness. They
generally follow the Long Island shore ali the
way up. Ducks congregate here, off and around
the jutting points, at times in immense flOckS
that can be picked up with the binoculars at a
great distance. The birds are pretty wary and
wild. a rule, but seldom fails to get a
few shots at them. Coots and old squaw pre-
dominate in these large f1ocks, but one always
finds mingled with them either teal, black duck,
whistlers, U1allard, ruddy duck, a rare canvas
back some other Of the better varieties Of
course coots cannot come under the heading Of
game birds, but they afford good sport and
any one having scruples about wanton killing
may like to hear that any fisherman will be glad:
to receive these birds in gift.
To be successful in shooting duck, either from
a large sailboat from a dingy. there are re-
Quired skill. practice and knowledge of condi-
tons and places. The location of the focks
varies according to wind and weather. and un-
less you know just where to go in search Of them
you will probably return empty handed
Duck most easy to approach calm days.
SO that saiIboat shooting has its compensations
a poor flight at morning generally indicating
good sport in daytime, and vice versa.
On sighting a flock should sail up to
wfndward Of it and then run down with the wind
astarr The birds arise against the wind and