The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-01-23

fowl in one week and shipped the
whole lot to New Orleans for $z.4o
a dozen, or 40 cents pair. Ihat
was the largest number of ducks
ever bagged in one week.
Cap'n Theodore johnson leaned
over the edge of the levee and spat
into the muddy waters OF the MIS-
sissippi river. Cap'n johnson,
youngest of the S or oldest market
hunters still alive in the Mississippi
delta region, was talking to rep
resentative of the Fish and Wildll1e
Service.
''In the old days" said johnson,
"a good market hunter down here
shot an average of 100 birds day
and thought nothin' OF it. On an
average good day he bagged pc
tween 140 and $50 birds. And II Is
no exageeration to say that Is to ~
birds was poor days shootin.
The old-time market hunter from
Louisiana knew what he was talk
ing about. He killed and sold about
10, 900 wild game birds each season
between 1902 and 1911 and was con-
sidered one of the most successful
market hunters in the bayous and
swamps OF the Mississippi delta.
"But mark my word for it, the
Cap'n said, "It's a darn good thing
the Federal Government started,
regulatin' the bag limits and sea
sons, or else there wouldn't be many
ducks and geese to look at today
We were shootin' 'em off so fast
!, the birds didn't have chance. But
with the refugees and the laws,
they're comm back now
| Cap'n johnson was referring to
the fact that in 1900 there were at
least $50 million migratory water
fowl in North America and that the
wildfowl began dwindling SO rap
idly that by 1884 there were less
than 80 million wild ducks and
geese on this continent Waterfowl
regulations recommended by the
Fish and Wildlife Service of the
United States Department Of the
| Interior, and the nationwide sys-
tenn of national wildlife refugees are
both playing an important part, he
believes, in increasing the continent
al population of migratory water
fowl, which has more than dou-
bIed since 1885.
Sportsmcn Helped Reduce
Population
Just to keep the record straight
Cap'n Johnson also pointed out thai
not only the market hunters bu'
the sportsmen were important fac
tors in the serious reduction in the
population of migratory waterfowl
between the early 1900's and 1885
What is now the Delta Nationa
Wildlife Refuge" said Cap'n John
son, right here from PilotpWr
down the Mississippi river 20 mile!
to the Gulf and 10 miles east, wa.
the huntin' grounds of the old Del
ia Duck Club. saw the sportsmel
who hunted there because ! was
guide at the club for 6 years ant
then chief guide for more years.
We'll, sir, saw the sportsmei
shoot their share of game. The dali,
bag limit was Is birds back II
1922, but the average hunter killed
more than rs birds If he got hi!
limit. That is, if you count hi.
cripples.s To prove his point
Cap'n johnson said that in 1926
record breaking year, the season
in bag at the Delta Club which &C
commodated large number 0
J hunters was l6,480 wild ducks.
"A poor marksman will fire so o
! so shots to get 10 ducks" the Capt.
said, and he's liable to cripple a
many as is or 20 birds before h
, gets his limit"
Laws Doomed Market Hunting
The captain stated that the tax
!. by market hunters was large unit
game laws and regulations place
restrictions on the market hunter
activities.
"Settin' up a daily bag limit
what did the trick in the first place,
: the old timer explained.
Market hunting then became UT
E profitable. After including the COS
: of camping out during the huntin
, season, buying barrels and ice fc
, shipping the birds, and payin
freight charges, there was littl
), profit for the commercial hunte
with a curtailed take of birds Lik
others, Cap'n Johnson tried 7
|, make a 60 of it" after the bag lin
was set, but he finally turned to otl
e er fields
a The sale Of migratory waterfov
is now illegal.
Game Birds Brought Low Prices
Il started trappin' muskrats ar
doin' jobs along the river" II
G Cap'n said. There was no pc
centage in workin' for small bag
We didn't get much money for tt
$ birds in the first place"
;. In the New Orleans market, Whe
Cap'n johnson and other hunte
. along the Mississippi delta shipp'
:. all their wild fowl, prices seldo
: exceeded 80 cents pair. And tn
was the top price for the be
Birds" he said.
e Green-winged teals were consi
n cred choice birds and commando
the best prices. Yet, during "ol
real good season. Cap'n Johns
r sold his wild ducks for an avera
J. of only 221s cents pair. Most
the birds were pitfalls and m;
lards. These were called goo