New-York tribune., 1912-02-11

TIHE twenty-five miles Of Niagara River
lying between the mouth Of Lake
Erie and the brink OF the world S
greatest cataract are not particularly con-
spicuous as a safe and sane hunting ground
for sportsmen. Nevertheless there are
hunters here who venture each year 10
shoal in the river scarcely more than
mile above the roaring water falls. In the
winter months, when the huge ice fields
grind down from Lake Erie, the risk Is OBJ
yiously Increased. Yet II is during this time
that the feeding flocks are the largest and
the sport the most alluring. Hunters for
get the risk in the lure OF the game, and
many tragic instances are recorded con-
cerning their desperate fights with ice jams
In the grip OF which more than one poor
victim has been swept over 10 his fate
AS II in direct defiance to the treacher-
Gus cataract. occasional flocks Of wild fowl
are seen feeding within a stones throw
from the yawning brink itself. These birds
seem 10 realize the dead line Of the current
and hold themselves in a certain spot. feed
Ing there for hours at time. They dive
drift few feet nearer the verge, then re-
appear to recover quickly the loss forced
less bird is seen to rise from its dive so
near the pulling down flow that it extri-
Gates itself from the sweep only by quickly
taking wing and flying back 10 place Of
safety Tourists standing on Prospect
Point, the American side Of the river watch
them In fascinated wonderment. In this
spot the ducks cannot be shot at. as II Is
within the city limits and also on the park
preservation.
In the Canadian channel, however. on the
further side Of Goat Island, the ducks are
forced TO feed above the rapids They
drift down while feeding TO the first great
plunging tier Of swells. and then rise to fly
back mile or so upstream. II is this in
termittent fight that makes the decoys Of
the hunter, hidden on a cake Of anchored
shoal Ice, constant lures for passing birds.
All day long the sport continues, If he
wishes 10 remain.
Yet one can easily imagine the uncer-
tainty, OF cake of ice that is held in
STATUE quo merely by its own displacement.
me water on the shoal is fairly swift. and
q constant wearing and washing against
'he base OF the ice lodge Is liable at any
minute to start 1t moving again on its
downward course. The man who hunts
ron this IS constantly haunted by this
usquleting possibility. Prepared for such
are calamity. however. is a man in a
'oat not far away in the lee of a neigh
Oormg Island. The boatman realizes the
ever present danger Of his companion and
- always alert with his eyes fixed on the
niue oecoy house. His other part of the
same Is TO gather in the killed ducks before
'heE drlft beyond reach. Wounded birds
Org seldom bothered with, as the odds are
sertainly with them on the Niagara River.
S0netInes these cripples take refuge In
o eodies OF Goat Island and The Twins;
''ners pass over the cataract.
nothing unusual happens, an expert
eeu hunter is fairly safe. But there are
~s"ays other possible calamities than the
MINOR one OF the sudden dislodgment OF
~ zee cake. A huge ice field, hitherto
nored - In seemingly permanent state
nAly, may suddenly decide to coast
Oss tle shoals and bear down on the
O. geeung man in the ice blind. Such
-. Isios travel smoothly in open current
e. = the gunner happens TO be watching
o.. approaching flock at the same time
ms companion is intent upon rescu'
h,s DEAD duck, the jam may jog against
~ nttle cake and send him hopping Il
la. arger field for safety. until his care
Th. mate can transfer him TO the boat
a.. usually, perfectly good flock ol
Me- taxes a hurried excursion ovel
"~gass Falls