The New York herald., 1922-12-31
DUCK SHOOTING
ALONG THE COAST
New York Sportsmen Follow
the WildfOwl to Famous
Southern Waters.
BY WILL WILDWOOD.

Along the Atlantic coast OF the United
States--a distance of about 1900 miles
as the wild goose fiies---the late autumn
flight of waterfowl attracts multitude
of duck shooters as the seagoing divi-
sions of the innumerable webfoot family
reach the bays and coves Of Maine. and
pursuing the popular game birds south
ward after the close of the Northern
shooting season. which ends with the
last day of December, the very jealous
portion OF the wildfowl shooting fra
ternity may be found at any and all
the ducking resorts In the Southern zone
OF activity. where the open season con-
tinues until the last day OF January.
In former years local laws In certain
Southern States permitted duck shooting
during the entire winter. and with
spring shooting lcgalized In many of the
Northern States the destruction of wild
waterfowl during an open season OF
some eight months--ranging from the
earliest opening date In the North to the
latest in spring time - became so great
that the necessity OF national legislation
for the protection of migratory game
birds finally brought enactment of the
Federal migratory bird law--now justly
regarded as the saving clause--in cor
nection with the various acts establish
threatened extinction of these migrants.
Under present conditions the shorter
open season and smaller bag limits
with absolute prohibition of use OF the
murderous swivel gun and other whole
sale methods and appliances of destruc-
ton, combine to give the sportsnen.
naturallsts OF the United States hope
that the various restrictions and the ca-
operation Of the Canadian Provinces
through treaty will result In an increase
rather than decrease In the future sup
ply OF waterfowl.
New York sportsmen ON Ground.
Many New YorKcrs whose favorite
srort Is waterfowl shooting are now
enjoying the pastirne at some club or
private cunning grounds along the
shores Of the famous Chesapeake Bay
region. the Currituck resorts OF almogt
equal celebrity. or at other Southern
haunts Of ducks and wild geese. all the
way from Maryland. tho Carolinas
Georgia and the Gulf coast OF Florida
To- The we'll known localities for water
fowl on and In the vicinity OF the Texas
coast
The canvasback is By all odds the most
eagerly sought OF tho wild ducks. and
since tho very proper prohibition of
swan shooting the wary Wild goose Is
the favorite OF large aquatic game birds.
The redhead. similar In size and nearly
equal In flavor 10 the highly priced
canvasback. In a close second In popular
favor. feeding as II does on the wild
celery from which both species derive
the opicurean repute as table delicacies.
Other ducks thriving on the same food
acquire like flavor. and II has been
learned that the two choice species first
mentioned deteriorate 10 tho ordinary
quality OF the common species when
their food IL by force OF necessity con-
fined 10 coarse substances Of mud flats
or shallow waters along shores wnerc
fishy pabulum prevails.
Point shooting over deccys Is one of
tho most effective methods along the
seashore. whether in tho resorts of Great
South Bay. on the southern shore OF
Long Island the famous Barnegat of
New Jersey, or In the Chesapeake and
Currituck regions The ducks usually
avoid flying close 10 the shores. but
wing their way over the outlying
points. thus making these places prefer
able for the shooter within his blind
and AZ skilled In calling his chances
are greatly enhanced. as n ost species
may be lured within gunshot or at
tractod to alight In the nlidst Of the