The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-04-23
HUNT with CAMERA
GEORGE SHIRAS, 3RD, URGES 1T
As A MOST SATISFACTORY
FORM OF SPORT.
NOVEL NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
BY Using the Devices Of the Trapper,
One May Get Pictures Of Many
Nisht.Lovins Animals Close
to Homes.

Washington, D. C.-GeOrge Shiras,
3rd, who has just arrived III Panama
to assist Colonel Goethals in making
the canal zone a large and safe haven
for birds and animals, is the originator
of night photography OF wild animals
and the pioneer hunter with the cam
era When IN congress he was the
author OF the original bills putting mi
gratory fish and birds under federal
control the bill pertaining to birds
becoming a law last year under the
name Of the Weeks-McLean bill. He
has also suggested a series OF internal
tionaI agreements to protect birds MI
grating between nations. il brief
fled With the senate.
Mr. Shiras' most recent contribution
on the subject Of the newest form OF
sport, camera hunting, is in the shape
Of a communication to the National
Geographic society. He opens up a
wide range Of possibilities for the
sportsman and throws new light on
the proper way to teach the young
idea how TO shoot"
Uses Methods Of Trapper.
"a camera and accessories can be
so arranged that any animal or bird,
and many reptile, however large or
small. agile or cunning, may have its
picture faithfully recorded during day
light or darkness, without the immedi.
ate presence of human assistant,
writes Mr.. Shiras. ITO meet the DIM
culties. have developed methods
suitable to the habits OF each animal.
In the main, / have used many OF the
devices OF the trapper rather than
the hunter, substituting the automatic
camera for the trap and using the
same bats and scents in favorable To-
calities and during the season Of the
year when success is likely. Some
who take up camera-hunting become
discouraged by early failures and are
unable to see how such an instrument
can ever be a satisfactory substitute
for the sportsman 5 gun. Others con
tinue on until won over by the attract
iyeness OF a contest where success
cost no life or an awkwardly handled
camera leaves no wounded animal &c
die lingering death
Mr. Shiras sets his camera and fash
iigh: before darkness. A string across
the runway. along which the animal is
expected to come, or Il bait connected
By a cord with the shutter and flash
apparatus are all the mechanical con
tIivances necessary. He lets the AMI
NAL do the rest.
Plenty of Animals Near Homes.
Il think very few persons suspec
the abundance OF night-loying ami
mails IN the vicinity OF country homes
where there is a dense thicket, (
swamp or a rocky rayine,' he con
tinues. Il have set out every winter
| for several years past a camera ant
| iashlight in the town OF Ormon,
Beach. Fla. within one hundred yard
OF dozen cottages and great win
ter hotel harboring a thousand guest
and employees. Nearly every nigh
came the burst Of brilliant light be
| twlxt an orange grove and thicket
During 30 nights In 1913 the negative
| showed ~ skunks. nine OF which wer
OF different markings: four coons
| three possums. one cat, enc pointe
dog, two rabbits and four wood-rats
YET neither the visitors, natives no
| earetakefs In this vicinity ever er
connferad any of these animals
L rqhe f1etiun / 81 ntr0nQiy express