The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30
SPORT FALLS OFF
ON DUCK MARSHES
Continuous Rains Overflow Boa
Areas and Scatter Feafh=
cred Game
By FRANK o'DoNNELL

Hunting was not the popular sport
last week that it was about a month
ago. as was evidenced by the falling
off in the attendance Of shooters at the
different resorts. The stormy weather
put crimp in the plans of sportsmen,
who We're contemplating an outing for
the early part Of the week, and interest
in the shooting pastime remained at a
low ebb when the weather moderated.
Marsh land hunters continued to COM
plain Of too much water, the rain hav-
ing formed so many lakes and small
ponds that the 1ocks of ducks were
scattered over a vast territory, out of
range of the guns of the sportsmen.
Snipe, too, were scarce on the marsh
areas.
Shooting from the blinds off the
shores OF San Pablo bay was attended
with much risk to life early in the
week. Hunters found trips TO and from
the blinds an extremely hazardous un-
dertaking even for experienced boat
men. Ray Mecchi and Charles Abble.
two local hunters, were nearly drowned
when their boat was overturned off
Ignacio and they were three hours max
ing shore in the fface of the gale
Julius Bruins and Jack McGovern shot
from the blinds off Vigorit above PinoIe
Tuesday. They both secured limits of
canvasbacks and bluebills. These
ducks were al thick as ever on the bay.
On the east shore Of the lower bay
there was hardly anything doing on
the west side of the lower bay condi-
tions were a little better. Bill Hogan,
NJ. Miller and seven other members of
the Leslie gun club had a fair shoot on
the salt ponds near Belmont
Cal Mcmahon, George Newman and
Andrew Jackson did much better than
they expected at Los Banos, ducks and
geese furnishing fair sport. Other
shooters in the same country found
everything awry as a rule. Walter
Wood, Frank H. Bond and Jack Buck
went 10 Ingomar and found nothing
but water.
Jim Karney and Billy Murphy were
at Sears point, as usual. during the
week, and they reported that there was
not a feather flying in that vicinity.
Doctor Chismore of the Parker Home
club connected with a few birds on
Petaluma creek Sunday, and Frank
Norton of the same organization ac-
counted for an even dozen near McGil-
lis on the Sonoma marsh. Frank Car
roll, another member of the Parker out
fit had a good shoot on the overflow
area near Sacramento. The only pre-
serve on the Suisun marsh on which
anything worthy of note was accom-
plished was that of the Yolante club
on Joyce island. Jim Maynard II.
Blatchley, Walter Kaufman, Pete How
ard and a few others were up to the
island Sunday There were not many
limit bags obtained, though some came
near 10 getting all that the law allows.
Sprig predominated in the strings they
brought to town.
Al Wilson and Bob Sangster, with
three friends, left for weeks stay on
Tomales bay on hunt for black sea
brant, which were said to be coming in
for the herring spawn
Eight members of the Empire gun
club were at the Elkhorn preserve
sunday They were: J. w. Dorsey, II.
5. Dutton. j. Peltier. Charles Laing, W.
ID. Mansfield, Senator J. c. SimThs and
DR.. George G. Geer and guest. Laing
again captured the high gun honors
with a string Of is bluebills.
The quail season expires with to-
morrow and if the weather continues
fine some good sport should be had on
the uplands. Clarence Nauman. Ed
Schultz Tony Prior and Jack Marks
will close the season with shoot near
Bakersfield and f. s. Judah and Ed Gait
will have A final try at the game at
Elkhorn today and tomorrow.