Evening star., 1924-08-17
MARSH HUNTING
SEASON SOON OPEN
District Sportsmen Will Find
Much Nearby Ground Now
Closed to Them.

There was a time when thousands
or Washintonians hailed with delight
the advent of September I. They were
the sportsmen who found enjoyment
on the local marshes shooting reed
birds, ortolans and blackbirds. The
number has now decreased to hun
dreds, according to some Of the en-
thusiasts already making prepara-
tions to start the warfare the first
day Of the approaching season.
1t was pointed out that reclaim alton
OF the Potomac and Anacostia flats
has deprived the District of a larger
portion of one of the best feeding
places in the United States for the
migratory birds. Wild oats in the
marshes grew just a trife better
here than elsewhere, 1t was said. and
the little ones fattened faster than on
other marshes.
But Uncle Sans Reclamation
Service is fast depriving the birds OF
their resting and feeding place here,
of the marsh left. Between Anacos-
tia and Benning Bridges, where oats
usually were thickest, most of the
marsh has been reclaimed, part of Il
being occupied by the Potomac
Garden Club.
Much Ground Closed.
On the east of the river the seawau
has been finished practically all the
way to Benning Bridge. closing much
of the feeding and shooting grounds
there, and at other points, it is stated
there is not the 3o0-yard space re-
quired by law for hunting purposes
North of Bennins Bridge only a COM
paratively small portion of the fats
has been reclaimed, and there is
plenty of cunning space as far as the
District line.
There also is cunning space across
the line in Prince Georges County,
Md. but the Washington sportsman
who crosses the divide without being
equipped with a Maryland license
may expect to run afoul Of Maryland
sheriff, deputy or constable. Licenses
may be obtained from the clerk Of
any county court.
Under the provisions OF the Mary-
land law resident gunners pay 81
for the privilege of shooting in SIM
gle county, the resident fee being 81.
State-w licenses cost SO to non
residents.
Goal of d. c. Hunters.
The marshes of the Patuxent River.
extending through Prince Georges,
Calvert and Anne Arundel Counties
and Marlboro. nearest to Washington,
are where most Washingtonians pay
their cash for the sporting privilege.
In addition to the license fee, they
are expected to patronize pushers
who earn a livelihood in the Fall
boating such persons. Their fee is
81 tide.
In the District of Columbia the Law
provides no bag limit, while the
Maryland limitation for a tide is so
ortolan and rs reedbirds. There Is No
limitation on black birds. Sale of the
birds being prohibited both in the
District and Maryland, the pothunter,
is said to be all unknown quantity.
Sportsmen still find conditions q
trif1e dangerous the first few days OF
the season. some of the careless ones
persisting in discharging their guns
when something happens to move the
oats. That something. in many in
stances in the past. proved TO be
gunners. and they received charges
OF shot about their faces or bodies
While many gunners were wounded
over a number of years, feww fatalities
resulted.
There is little left of the marshes
on the Virginia side of the Potomac
much of the flats having been re-
claimed. and part of what is left is
I said to be within the 3o0-yard limit
/ of Key Bridge. Shooting within such
distance of bridges, highways and
! dwellings is prohibited. The small
area of marsh left on the Virginia
! side ii is stated, is too small to in
| terest sportsmen.
| Ready for Early Start.
| Persons interested in the sport al
! ready are getting their guns condi-
toned for starting at daybreak Sep
! tember l. Many of them will motor
i to the Maryland marshes the night
before. while others will wait until
| the excitement incident to the open
| ing of the season is over before tax
| ing chances of getting shot.
| Lieut.. H. R Lohman. in command OF
/ the harbor precinct. will take all the
! precautions possible to prevent viola
| tions of the law and to care for er-
! sons who may be unfortunate enough
| to get wounded while on the marshes,
Sign posts will be erected for the
| guidance of the sportsmen, and one
probably will be erected at the Dis
trict line to warn Washingtonians
! they may get dose of Maryland law
! if the line is crossed.
| What about the birds7" was ask e6
! boathouse keeper who caters to
gunnerS.
! Some of them already are here"
ably are on the way"
| Black birds are said to be here in
large numbers. and there are some
! the river say they have heard nothing
! of ortolan being here, explaining that
such birds do not come until later.
They come when the weather gets
cooler and the oats have been tram
pled