474 DUCK SHOOTING. 



this shooting' and of some of its most famous ducking 

 shores. Of these, there were four which perhaps had a 

 fame greater than any of the others near Baltimore. 

 These were Carroll's Island, Spesutia Island, Maxwell's 

 Point and Benjies. On all these shores decoy shooting 

 from blinds was practiced, and in the olden times with 

 great success. Even at present not a few ducks are 

 occasionally killed here. Spesutia Island is owned by 

 a club of New York men, and still affords excellent 

 blackhead and redhead shooting, although compara- 

 tively few canvas-backs are killed. At Maxwell's Point, 

 Carroll's Island and Benjies, there is still often good 

 shooting, and when the wind is right the flight from 

 Standing Cove to Benjies across the landward side of 

 Carroll's Island is often very good. 



In old times in the waters near the head of the Chesa- 

 peake Bay many thousands of ducks were regularly 

 killed each season. Almost every foot of available land 

 bordering on the waters where the ducks feed was 

 either in possession of some sportsman, who used it for 

 his own shooting, or was owned by a ducking club. 

 Thousands of dollars have been spent on many of the 

 shores, and the club houses are as comfortable as money 

 can make them. Many of them, however, no longer 

 afford much shooting. The ducks are becoming more 

 scarce yearly. There is still, however, a supply that at 

 times and in certain places makes the sport good, and 

 it is enjoyed by thousands of Baltimoreans every 

 season. 



Many who cannot get shores to their liking on the 



