Evening star., 1914-08-23
GUNNERSEXPECT
AG0OD SEASON
Wild Oats on Marshes Re-
ported Plentiful and in
Fine Condition.
SHOOTING WILL BEGIN
ON September FIRST
Familiar Sounds Of Reedbirds, 0rto.
Ian and Blackbirds Call Sports
men Home.

Familiar sounds on the nearby marshes
tell Of the presence Of reedbirds. ortolan
and blackbirds, and the quantity of birds
already seen and the excellent condition
Of the wild oats on the marshes. gunners
state, are likely to make the approach
ing season one Of the best cunning sea-
sons in many years. September Is the
opening day of the season and boatmen
and gunners are already getting things in
readiness for the attack.
Maj. Sylvester. District game warden.
has notified Lieut. Dean Of the harbor
police to make preparations for enforcing
the law regulating shooting on the near
by marshes. The law prohibits shooting
within two hundred yards of any bridge
or dwelling. and in order to prevent pos
sible violations near the several bridges
the harbor police will erect warning signs
at various points on the marshes where
shooting is permitted.
Most of the signs will be posted with
In the 200-yard limit Of Anacostia, Penn
sylvania Avenue and Benn!ng bridges and
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. there
being but few places where dwellings are
within the prohibited area.
1TOV1S1OuS the LAW
Under the provisions Of section 6 Of the
act Of June so. 1906, cunning is permitted
on the marshes of the Eastern branch or
Anacostia river north of Anacostia bridge
and on the marshes along the Virginia
shore east of Aqueduct bridge. shooting
within the 2OO-yard limit being the only
restriction.
1t is the intention of the police to en-
force the law against trespassing on the
lands In the vicinity of the marshes
The section of the game law provides
that any person who shall knowingly
trespass on the lands of another for the
purpose Of shooting or hunting thereon,
after due notice by the owner or occu-
pant of lands. shall be liable to such
owner or occupant In exemplary dam
500. That notice shall be given
by erecting and maintaining signboards
at least eight by twelve inches in
dimensions. on the borders of the prem
ises, and at least two such signs for
every fifty acres; and eny 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 s. for each and
every signboard SO torn down. defaced.
prisoned for a period not exceeding thirty
days in the workhouse.
Formerly Shot From Boat.
Years ago." said one of the older
sportsmen. there was no need Of law
furnishing trespassers. Practically every
gunner on the marshes did his shooting
from . boat and had a pusher to get him
through the heavy growth of oats. but
now many Of the gunners do not even hire
boats They wade the marshes or walk
about the outskirts and kill stray birds
that come their way.
..And it is such shooting" he added.
that makes the sport more dangerous
than 1t was years ago."
Boatmen and gunners are In evidence
about the vicinity Of Benning bridge, and
II is from there that a majority of the
vast army Of first-day hunters make their
start There are not many skiffs at the
local lighthouses. 1t is stated. and gunners
are already putting in orders for them.
There is no demand for pushers, 1t is
stated. most of the sportsmen being sat
isfled to look after their own boats and
save the expense that they would incur
mashes charge Sc and $3.50 tide. but
it Is stated the gunner who has
the benefit of such assistance Is the one
who usually gets the greatest number OF
birds.
the marshes near the city. it Is stated.
members of clubs along the Patuxent
river where there are hundreds OF acres
Of marsh land. are visiting that section
and discussing the seasons prospects.
The Patuxent marshes, ii is stated, are
not in good condition. The oats are not
thick It Is reported. and birds are not
numerous.
License Needed in Maryland.
In Maryland a license fee is charged
for the privilege of cunning on the
marshes. and Washingtonians who an
ticipate a trip to that state will do well
to obtain a license in advance Of the
opening of the season. Because of the
reported poor condition of the marshes
and the scarcity of birds 1t is stated 1t Is
hardly likely that many licenses VIII be
procured.
''The great danger of trouble with
Washington gunners," said a boatman at
Benning bridge, will be In crossing the
District line near the Pennsylvania rail-
road bridge. In their anxiety to get a bag
of game they are likely to cross the line
without realizing the danger of arrest"
District Line" will be displayed on a
signboard posted just inside the line to
warn gunners where 1t will be well for
stables and other officers in the lower
end of Prince Georges county. it is
stated, who are likely to be on hand to
catch offenders.
TT is not a question of making a
record of arrests said one of the sports
men, but clearly one of getting the
coin from Washington people
Scores of the more enthusiastic gunners
are in evidence about the District
marshes each day and they all agree that
the crop of oats this year Is the best
they have ever seen. The warm weather
has ripened the oats and brought the
birds here In greater numbers than usual.
the sportsmen say. and there Is every In
dication Of an exceptionally good season.
Sportsmen Returning.
J. H. vandegrift. who has the reputa-
tion of being one OF the best shots on
the branch. is at Asheville, N. C.. at
work.
Il can't miss the reedbird and ortolan
season." he wrote Charlie Baur 81
a az