Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-02-01

80 IG LAKE, ARK, is the last
81 y stand of the wild duck in the
~ United States. 1t is the most
EG extensive gathering place for
duck in this country where
they may be legally shot by market
hunters" and shipped out. AS re-
suit, hundreds of thousands are shot
there annually This practice is the
most important factor today in the
elimination of the wild duck. 1t has
been found impossible to protect the
ducks under state supervision.
Big lake and ten feet of land sur
rounding 1t are owned by club OF
which many wealthy st. 1ouisans are
members. Owing to opposition of the
Swamp angels" the members are bar
red from hunting on their own
grounds. A move is now on foot to
have the club deed its property to
the United States government as a11e-
tional game preserve. This would re-
suit il Its being policed by federal
rangers and ducks protected. Many
sportsmen believe that unless this Is
done another generation will see the
total determination of the wild duck,
rs the last few generations saw the
determination of the buffalo and the
passenger pigeons which once were to
be found in this country in millions.
Five thousand wild ducks day have
been killed and shipped from Big lake
to the outside world, chiefly to Chi
cago. The market hunters" other
wise known as swamp angels" who
inhabit the Big lake country, have de-
fed all efforts to stop their slaughter
of the birds. Quite naturally since
their views differ so radically, the
swamp angels" of Big lake do not
take kindly to the attempts Of the
game protection propagandists of the
country to limit the number of ducks
they shall shoot on what they regard
as their own preserves.
During the last few years the Big
Lake Hunting and Fishing club,
which has number of wealthy st.
Louis men among its officers and
members, has lost three club houses
by fire. In the meantime, too, the
club, through its employees, has been
warned that it must cease to operate
under penalty of death to its members
II 1t continues. This property loss has.
naturally, caused the club members to
hesitate before making further I'M
provements on their Big lake pre-
serves. The warnings from the
swamp angels" to individual MEM
bers that they would "fill their hides
with buckshot" has not served to in
crease the ardor of the St. Louis
hunters.
Big lake and ten feet of land sur
rounding it on three sides is owned
by the Big Lake Hunting and Fishing
club. 1t comprises, in all, about go
900 acres. Attempts on the part Of
the owners of the lake to keep the
swamp angels" from killing ducks
thereon have precipitated the trou-
Bile. Recently the club has attempt
ed to protect itself by securing in
functions against about 100 OF the
swamp angels.
Wild ducks begin coming into Big
lake in October, and are found there
in vast numbers until the willows be.
gin TO bud in the spring. OF course,
they come and go, but thousands OF
them are always to be found some
where between the st. Francis river
below and the Little River overflow"
above Big lake, with the lake as the
great central congregating ground.
1t is difficult to convey TO the mind
of the reader who has not been there
an idea of how many ducks use"
Big lake. TO say that they come in
by hundreds of thousands seems in
exaggeration. Yet any hunter who
has shot duck on Big lake during
the height of the season will vouch
for the statement.
When one adds that the duck
flocks frequently darlen the sun as
though heavy cloud had come over
1t another idea OF their number is
obtained And hunters assert this to
be literally true times without num-
ber.
Think, again. of ducks settled on
the lake in such numbers that
masked carce, pushing in amongst
them, finds Itself in a very tangle
Of aiSs creatures and you get yet
ancA4ay angle of the question of how
maidH and also come impression of
hSaR Sme they become after filling
thass Elves with the duck grass
sesn (which abounds there, and even
iii snife oil the constant fusillado the
hunteEs keep UP.