El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-01-24

"A W hAAE ulaukeL or geese covered
I a the earth. Migratory birds hail
ing from their breeding grounds
{ in Canada follow the coast lire until
California rice and wheat fields are
located. at which time they stop, un-
pack their trunks and arrange for an
extended visit rs preferred % guests,
The at hOulE" feeling Of those itin-
Grant honkers is a source Of expense
and annoyance 70 a grower, who can
readily see in that aEgreg ation OF vO-
raciOus birds a vast stomach store
house for 8 considerable portion Of
arrival Of his self-invited guests and
welcomes with JOY their departure.
The counties Of Clean, Butte, Calusa
and Suffer are the favoute landing
and feeding grounds.
Coming from the land Of the maple
ieaf, chased By cold winds, ice and
snow flurries. those feathered aces
celebrate their arrival in the land Of
continuous sunshine and bountiful
crops. Led by oldtime hOnkers OF the
goose kingdom. who are conversant
with all routes and easily locate their
favorite feeding grounds Of the past.
the younger generation are conducted
70 this haven Of rest and bountiful
feed. Arriving over the land Of prom
Use. q succession OF dives, dips and
tail spins are introduced before vol
planning TO earth. flock follow alight-
ing until available landing territory
is scarcely available. covering the
fields until they assume the appear
ance OF an animated snow covered
area.
Crops Are Destroyed.
With their arrival. the work OF crop
destruction commences. and green
tender blades are devoured TO the
roots. Geese are a menace 20 the
farmer, but a source Of joy and sat
isfaction to the nimrod. The strong
= RIM Of the law issues Hna nTfnH ct hon
shalt not kill or have within thy
possession in excess Of "a geese per
week, naming period from October
Is 10 January 81 as the open season.
One thousand men, industriously and
continuously engaged in killing %
geese per week the year round would
not materially or noticeably lessen
their aggregate number
With their arrival, in many in
stances, the farmers crops are
doomed Pits are then dug in ex-
fensive wheat fields where men
with guns are stationed. When
flock appears above the field guns
are fired and birds are chased
away only for n limited time.
while they feed on an adjacent
field. They return at shutdown in
vast numbers. frequently flying
80 close TO the pits that their
wings start very noticeable aerial
agitation. A shot fired causes
only mOmenfary vvorry or. fear.
They continue TO nliEht soon. 10
q become n working mass Of feeding
birds. comtemteds happy AID de-
Efructive. They become so nu-
merOuS that pit shooting ceases 70
be n line Of sport, but slaughter
as protection 20 the growing crops.
When you first arise from your pit
general goose CONSERVATION prevails
for an instant. They are thrown into
a delirium Of excitement They vault,
zigzag and climb In a frenzied effort
TO increase distance between them
selves and the danger point. The old
leader Of the flock starts a line Of in
structive, conversational orders. urg-
ing all members TO exceed the speed
limit in their effort TO reach a zone
OF aerial safety.
Gets Two Of Them.
The scatter gun artist then selects
as victims a air Of geese near the