The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-03-16
CECIL AND hartford SPORTS
MEN nTHfyIISR DICK SITUATION

MEN DISCUSS DUCK SITUATION
There were a number Of differences
of opinion at the Cecil-Harford
sportsmen get-together in Havre de
Grace High School Saturday night
over the ways and means of getting
ducks on the Susquehanna Flats.
The meeting opened with Senator
Cronin speaking few words on the
purpose of the meeting and why 1t
was called, with the introduction of
Judge Coburn, who was to preside as
chairman.
The chairman gave lengthy talk
on the three bills that were introduce
ed to the Assembly at Annapolis, CIV
ing his reasons why they would bene-
fit the Duckers. He stated the bills
would be brought to the floor of the
meeting for open discussion in rela-
! ton with everyone privileged to
! speak his mind.
The first bill was to abolish the re-
stricted area on the Flats. This area,
governed by imaginary lines consist
] ing of a number of acres, is game
refuge, closed to all cunning and
| travelling, where ducks can't be mo-
lested. After some discussion the
i bill was voted to be passed by ninety
per cent of the assembled sportsmen
| The Chairman then introduced Mr.
! Day of the U. S. Fish and Wild Life
Service, who control and police the
area. Mr.. Day talked on the good of
the refugees, of which there are many
scattered over the country, the part
they play in increasing the duck pop
ulation, as without them a duck
would have no safe place to rest and
breeding grounds in North West Uni
| ed States, Canada and parts of Alas
ka, the very small wintering grounds
comprising about one hundredth OF
he breeding grounds and generally
Hhy it was necessary to the building
up of the number of ducks. He stat
d if one was opened it would be UNI
air to other sportsmen to keep the
:. est closed. But after discussion on
| he area that Aberdeen Proving
Grounds had restricted, the area COW
red by the gun at Carpenters Point,
he agreed our problem was difficult
| one.
The second bill permitting the use
| IF a motor instead of oars as now
are used in bush whacking got a
| cream of protest from every Cecil
County sportsman and several from
darford. Don" Cole from Perryville,
said the noise of motors all over the
Flats would drive the ducks away,
some sportsmen wouldn't use decoys,
would run through other peoples and
chase every duck they saw sitting on
he water. Willard Anderson from
Havre de Grace, said it would discli-
inmate between the rich and the less
lortunate sportsmen who couldn' t
afford a high powered speed-boat to
pursue them. "Rock" Ryan from Per-
ryville said if man can't scull a
boat, it's because he's too lazy 10
earn and doesn't deserve a duck.
Charlie" Poist from Rising Sun,
said the duckers of the Risign Sun
Sportsmen's Club were against it one
hundred per cent. A sportsman from
Elkton said he had discussed the
question with fifty duckers and they
were all against it. Stan Bailey Of
Perryville, said he was against il as
was everyone he had contacted from
that town. Joe" Dye from Havre de
GAGE said he thought Senator Cron-
in should have contacted a group of
sportsmen before he introduced the
DILL. He was against it as were quite
a few he had talked to. Senator Cron-
in took the floor and said he had
talked with a young banker sports
man from Aberdeen and two from
Havre de Grace, mentioning all
names. The sportsmen favoring the
bill were mum" except two who sta
ted they thought it was all right. The
small favoring it received was from
the Chairman, who stated number
OF times between the opposition that
it didn't interest him, he didn't bush
whack, but he thought it would be a
lot easier to get down on the ducks
The comment among Cecil County
| OPoA I0AIOA was lac 10 HunClHS d
sculler." The vote was twenty-five to
thirteen in favor of the bill. The vot-
ing attendance from Cecil County
was less than dozen. Senator James
Hughes and Representative Mrs. Jo-
sephine Mackie were very much in
evidence to get the views of the local
sportsmen
This third bill permitting six bush
whacking days instead of the present
three, was voted down unanimously.