Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-05

when canvasback duck owned
chesapeake Bay! Their title was
acquired through the squatters right
route, continuous meandering of the
shores in quest of food perfected
the title. The names Chesapeake
ana Canvasback are to We old-time
sportsmen synonymous. Means
hunting experiences are never COM
plete unless they have been rounded
out by a try" shooting at V
back en- route, from a coffin shaped
poat or sink box on the Chesapeake
Bay. The last work in difficult and
result disappointing duck shooting.
A canvasback coming down wind,
fas, for speed, the p%roverbial bat
out of perdition" backed off the
boards. l was shooting on the Sus-
quehanna Flats, at a point where
the vast river of the same name
enters the chesapeake Bay. There
was a vast spread of shallow water,
where wild celery could be found in
quantity, making this the greatest
duck feeding ground in America. We
were domiciled at the Flicker Club
on the a shore, about two miles
below Havre de Grace, Maryland.
The club membership was limited,
super good fellowship was a re-
quisite, with all crab" proclivities
DOC The club prospered under
the supervision of an ebony hued
gentleman, answering the sobriquet
of "Coalie." A man of many func-
lions. Captain, engineer, purser and
cook on the motor boat. Chamber
maid, second girl and nurse at the
clubhouse. Decoy distributor, guard,
human water spaniel and retriever
of dead and crippled ducks on the
shooting grounds.
Members of the Flicker Club had
arrived in 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 fire place. "Coalie" was the
welcome little human alarm clock
that PACED us at 4 A. M. the follow
ing morning, summoning all mem
bers to mess. Sink boxes, floating
batteries, decoys and accessories had
been stored aboard the motor boat
the previous evening. The engine
was c~hugging and propeller purring,
as our boat slipped out from shore,
headed for Susquehanna Flats,
greeted by the squawk of many
ducks we disturbed from their rest
while passing up the bay. Two
double sink boxes were anchored
about one half mile off shore, safe
ly staked down to insure stability.
Eugene Du Pont, OF Wilmington,
Del, a man of vast shooting expert
ence, was my box companion. When
we were comfortably ensconced, the
colored artist "Coalie," scattered de-
coys in a most artistic
where they would attract the atten-
ton 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 by birds. The day was
ideal for a successful shoot, snow
was sitting through the atmosphere,
developing into a light blanket of
flakes, which bewildered the birds,
driving them into our decoys, and
eliminating preliminary flights and
circles. They fell in. Early dawn
and the first guns, cracked together.
rush of birds from deep water
was on, it was a busy time in our
batteries. Congealing snow, an
chored us to the sink boxes, by ice
adhesions. Our guns were freed from
ice by rapid shooting. We were
slightly uncomfortable but absolute
ly satisfied with our surroundings.
ceased to be pacifists and were
shooting for meat, much needed at