South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-06

fected the title The names Chesa-
peake and Canvasback are 70 We old
timed sportsmen Synonymous. Means
hunting experiences are never com
plete unless they have been round
ed out by a try shooting at Can
/ Vasback ducks--enroute-fr
coffin shaped boat or sink box on
the Chesapeake bay The last word
in difficult and result Disappointing
/ duck shooting. "A canvasback COM
+ ing down wind, has-for speed
the proverbial bat out of perdi-
ton" backed off the boards l was
shooting on the Susquehanna Flats,
at a point where the river OF the
same name enters the Chesapeake
bay. There was a vast spread of
( shallow water. where wild celery
I could be found in quantity. making
this the greatest duck feeding
ground in America. We were domi-
ciled at the Flicker club on the bay
shore, about two miles below Havre
I de Grace, Maryland. The club
membership was limited super good
{ fellowship was a requisite, with all
/ crab" proclivi.ies tabooed The
( club prospered under the supervi-
sion of an ebony hued gentleman.
] answering the sobriquet of "Coalie."
A man of many functions. Capt.
! engineer. purser and cook on the
motor boat Chambermaid, second
girl and nurse at the club house
Decoy distributor. guard human
water spaniel and retriever of dead
and crippled ducks on the shooting
I grounds.
| Members of the Flicker club hal
/ arrived III advance. a canvasback
dinner was awaiting us the first
( evening followed by the hunters
pink tea" with personal experience
recounting. while seated around the
open fireplace. "Coalie" was the
welcome little human alarm clock
that PACED us at 4 a. m. the fol-
/ lowing morning. summoning all
members TO mess. Sink boxes float
] ing batteries. decoys and Accession
/ les had been stored aboard the mo-
tor boat the previous evening The
! purring. as our boat slipped out
from shore. headed for Susque-
+ hanna Flats, greeted by the squak
of many ducks we disturbed from
their rest while passing up the bay.
Two double sink boxes were an
! chored about one half mile off
/ shore. safely staked down TO insure.
stability. Eugene Du Pont of Will
mington, Del, a man Of vast shoot
ing experience. was my box COM
| panion. When we were comfort
a bly, ensconced. the colored artist
"Coalie" scattered decoys in a most
artistic manner where they would
attract the attention of the travelling
birds, finally placing a few wooden
| ducks on the edge of our blind,
that it might have the appearance
of a floating log occupied my birds.
The day was ideal for a success
| full shoot, snow was sitting through
the atmosphere, developing into a
! light blanket of flakes, which be-
wildered the birds. driving them in
TO our decoys. and eliminating pre-
! liminary flights and circles. They
| fell in. Early dawn and the first
| gun. cracked together. The rush of
birds from deep water was on. ii
was a busy time in our batteries.
Congealing snow, anchored US TO
the sink boxes, by ice adhesions.
I Our guns were freed from ice by
rapid shooting. We were slightly
uncomfortable but absolutely salts
I fed with our surroundings.
! We ceased TO be pacifists and
were shooting for meat, much need
ed at the club. While every shot
made did not ring the bell. we were
working fairly we'll under adverse
/ and cramped conditions. Du Pont
made some wonderful. overhead,
| pass shooting kills The major por-
ton Of our work was at fairly close
I range. when canvasback.-which
we specialized upon-made their
\ swing over our decoys. Our trap
ped fingers we cuddled around a
/ lighted lantern. Chesapeake bay
ducks. graduate from a night or cor
/ respondence school. where they
were taught 10 side step hunters
camouhages and allurments. Under
/ ordinary conditions they usually
"get-by." They were lost in this
snow storm. milling in every direc-
ton. volplaning TO our decoys. when
/ they could locate accurately,
J No law is incorporated in the re-
vised statutes OF any state prohibit
| ing porting" except an unwritten
edict in the sportsmen's code of
I ethics branding man. leather
| boot hunter" who kills game, while
at rest-nOt moving either on land
! or water. We had trouble keeping
! the transients from getting chummy
with our decoys during this storm.
: With the rising sun came "A cessa-
I ton of snow and an accompanying
! a bsence Of ducks. Lying on ones
! back. with no chance 10 turn. il is
! the acme OF accuracy. 70 pull a fast
| flying canvasback duck from mid
air We were brought back 20
/ earth by "Coalie" appearing with
the announcement, You all have
/ killed your limit"