Evening journal., 1920-10-23
BEST OF DUCK
SHOOTING SOON
Gunners Will Blaze Away
Along Susquehanna on
November
LAWS CAUSED
GREAT INCREASE

/ PORT DEPOSIT. Md. oct. o.
Hundreds Of men are working pre-
pairing for the opening OF the ducking
season on the Susquehanna fate No
Nembcr 1. From port Deposit 10
Betterton In Kent county gunners on
both sides OF the river and bay are
shaping up their outfits for wh al
promises to be the best season In
years. The migration OF wild fowl
this fan will be the greatest o. the
past decade and the early departure
~ The 1Ocks from their Canadian
breeding grounds to the eouihsrn
|. foedng PLACES aucilfs that The shoot
ing Will be Of the record-makinF kind
The sport continues on a three
day-a-week sch edule fr0m~November
L through February. There are acres
OF ducks already gathered at the
mouth OF the river Every place along
The Susquehanna has It's tale OF the
niyriads OF birds enrOute 10 the
flats"
The increase In the number OF fowl
since the passage OF The Migratory
Bird Law rs phenominal. The protec-
lion given the birds and their eggs on
the breeding grounds by the Canadian
government. and the prohibition OF
wholesale slaughter and the stopping
OF Interstate shipments for market
by the United States, the ginners say,
IS entirely responsible for the sport.
.Canvas-Backs and Rcd-Hesds. the
premier ducks from a spOrisman's
point or view, are sherc In as great
proportion as has ever been known,
while black ducks are literally COW
ering the water. Issuing gunner's IL
rensfs has Just begin. The total
number sold by Hartford and Cecil
counties will run into the hundreds
The most approved style OF duck
ing Is from a 'sink-box.' This Is
simply a cofiin-shaped box bult 20
no Its occupant This box Is sup
ported by a platform huir around H.
. The gunner. surrounded usually hy
lOc or more wooden decOys, lies nat
4 on his back In his box until the Mid
ducks are cnticed TO settle down with
/ their wooden brothers.
With the rising Of the gunner the
ducks begil a frenzicd flight and The
success or nc sportsman Is Jrfly de-
4 % ndeni upon his Quickncss and aim.
. BushWisckng" differs only IN, that
the hunter stu.ls HIS hnat % Within
.no7tlng range before. he shows MS
head above is SIDE 11lc "s nk-bov"
Is Inc rich mans method. and with
The necessary men and equipment ihe
rAs. o. the days sport runs into sihe
hundreds Of dollars An otter ftOm
phil8d'lnhia for a ducking outflt e r
ihn f2-days' srort IN November of
4 siqN was refused hire this week.
4 Ducking as practlced on the Sus-
quehanna now Is clean sport. Called
4 out of the warm bed ai o'clock in
4 the morning and compelled by Tho
I Federal and state Police 10 wait until
. i30 before crossing the "line" the
. hunter is but beginning a DAY OF
hardship. When The permit 10 enter
. the ducking restricted territory Is
4 given by the fash Of a light a quick
. silent dash Is made IN small boats
4 for the selected spot 90 "set-out."
4 Then with the coming OF the sun the
. sport Is ono, 10 b. continued until
the chug-chuc o. o police boat at
4 go D. m. tells the hunter his days
f sport is ended.
Shooting from "hlnd' on the
4 shore Is the mode d. lux There Tie
I gunner awaits the coming OF his vic
4 Tins, seated In an arm chair, sur
& rounded by rush and grass screen
4 he has a good time, but doesn't do
4 a great deal Of harm 10 the ducks.
4 The famous Susquehanna Flats are
4 a sand bar formed by the washing OF
4 the river just where it empties into
q ihe Chesapeake Bay 10 is probably
i five miles in length and extends from
4 The Cecil 10 the Hartford county
s shore. with only the government shin
/ channel dividing it. IC Is only about
. Two feet under water and Wild celery
4 abounds This celery Is the food
that draws the fowl TO its banque.
and gives 90 the ducks the sporty
4 iasle' which has" made The canvas
f back and redhead famous
. kNrfII rrnfan hnNn inst hnurfu N an.
n pear in large numbers and those now
I feeding are In good condition. In much
4 greater numbers than ever .he swan
4 Is beginning 10 come In. The swan
4 so little known, Is good eating Only
a few years ago they were the mos
4 prolific Of an the water fowl seer
here. but the unlicensed gunner nearl,
1 destroyed the breed. Middle ageC
gunners ten Of The wonderful sigh
when immense ilocks would maxi
The flats look like a full-blown cot
ton field.
The United Staies and Canada II
i their Joint efforts 10 restore the swal
4 now prohibit absolutely any kllini
4 OF the species The swan is arcad!
coming back. 10 the sorrow OF h
j gunners. The gunners claim that IN
swan Is a NOraci0us root eater AM
4 destroys vast quantities. N the celer'
i plants.
4 The actual cost OF a seasons duck
ing runs into big money. The "hom
boats or living quarters. range from
the $1,000 boat TO The si,0OOO00 yacht
4 The tenders. boxes and decoys carr
the cost upwards 10 5000. To this q
10 be added the cost Of crews rang
f ing from four 30 ten men.
4 What becomes OF the slaughierel
& iucks is a mystery There is appar
i emily no organized method TO marke
legally carried away or shipped b,
national permit the greater portion {
Il served on local tables as present
from The gunners The Maryland Law
prohibits the sale OF any ducks.