The New York herald., 1922-09-03
RAIL BIRD SHOOTING
ON NEAR BY COASTS
Season Is Here and the Birds
Are Priced as Table
Delicacies.
by WILL WILDWOOD.

With the first day of September the
sey celebrated the opening of the shoot
ing season for rail with a fusillade
along the coast wherever high tide and
presence OF these game birds favored
the sport, among the rice beds wherein
the elusive runners feast and grow fat.
The shores and small tidewater streams
Of Long Island afford very little OF the
natural cover and favorite food OF the
rail, but over Jersey way there are sew
eral very good resorts, the once famous
Hackensack meadows still furnishing
some sport in this line. although the So
called march OF modern Improvement
has brought aShost OF people to dwell
on many tracts where Frank Forester
and his friends found superb sport
three-quarters Of century ago.
Near Nordhon Il is said there is still
fair rail shooting. and there are other
places not far distant where, with a
good pusher and equally good luck, a
moderate bag may be secured. While
as a rule there is little danger or the
shooter starting on a jaunt after rail
without knowing the restrictions OF the
game laws, IL may be reasonable to
mention that the bag limit Is twenty
hve rail In one day, and this applies TO
both New Jersey and New York State.
under regulations OF the Federal Migra-
tory Bird Law To omit the formality
Of securing a shooting license, in either
State, would subject the rail- shooter 20
a heavy fine for his informal. illegal
action.
Along the south shore OF Connecticut.
In the salt marshes or rice fields bor-
dering portions Of Long Island Sound
and the tide-water rivers, are number
OF places where rail- are found. but al
though the Federal Law permits shoot
ing to begin the same date that Is speci-
fled for other States--September 1.-The
local law places the opening date for
rail shooting, September ~, closing
November 30. the same as in New York
and New Jersey
Several species Of rail frequent the
rico fields In various sections OF the
United states during the annual migra-
tlons but the sora rail---or Carolina rail
is most abundant, breeding In the
northern states and that portion OF Cam
ada near our border and moving by easy
stages toward the sunny south In early
autumn 10 spend the winter In a warm
climate not far from the Gulf OF Mexico
and the large streams where Nde-waters
and favorite food hold attractions for
the wanderers. This species. although
or small size, Is Of delicate flavor when
the birds are In the best condition, and
the countless numbers In certain locail-
tics make tho season Of the sora lively
one with the gunners
When the birds are scattered and not
abundant their wariness and the habit
OF running swiftly through the tangled
rice viii be found TO counterbalance
their slow motion on taking wing. to
some extent. as they often rise In un-
expected places A skiilfu pushor who
can propel the boat steadily and hold
II In place without wabhling IL need be
gives the shooter confidence and for
this reason adds greatly 10 the pleasure
OF the day as well as the probability OF
bringing the score 10 the legal limit--a
moderate one considering the small size
Of the sora and the fact that the birds
appear TO be increasing IN numbers un-
der tho restrictions OF the Federal Law.