230 



LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



NUMBERS KILLED. 



The number of rails often killed on a single tide by one shooter 

 is almost incredible, when we take into consideration the circum- 

 stance that the birds are all shot singly ; and, if we had not most 

 authentic information regarding these statements, we should hesi- 

 tate to publish them. But, having obtained the memoranda for 

 1846 from a reliable source, we cannot for a moment doubt its 

 correctness, and our own observations lead us to believe that the 

 accounts are not at all exaggerated. The great abundance and 

 luxurious profusion of the reeds along the shores of the Delaware 

 below Philadelphia, and the extensive mud-flats which are covered 

 for miles with these plants, make our river the favorite resort of 

 rails, as well as reed-birds, and the multitude that are slaughtered 

 each season are beyond computation. The following extract is 

 taken from, the paper furnished us and carefully compiled by 

 Major Price, of the National Hotel, Chester, and we select from it 

 the best shooting of the season of "1846 : 



Sept. 3, J. Irwin killed 82 rails. 



" 4,J. M. Eyre 122 " 



" 4, B. B. Pearson 101 " 



" 4, T.Thurlow 83 " 



" 4, E. Wells 136 " 



" 5, Matzinger 95 " 



" 5, J. M. Odenheimer. 128 " 



" 5, B. Ford 87 " 



" 5, Wells 154 " 



" 5, A.Worrall 136 " 



" 5, E. Wells 114 " 



" 6, E. E. Eyre 108 " 



" 6, S. Smith 93 " 



" 7, J. R. Eyre 101 " 



" 7, C. Price 82 " 



" 7, Bringhust 91 " 



" 7, H. Taylor 96 " 



" 7, H.Edwards 108 " 



Sept. 7, J. M. Eyre killed... 90 rails. 



" 8, Matzinger 122 " 



" 8, E. E.Eyre 94 " 



" 8, Brown 97 " 



" 8, C. Price 91 " 



" 8, J.K. Bonsai 107 " 



" 9, J. Newbold 81 " 



" 9, J. M. Odenheimer. 132 " 



" 9, W. Read 107 " 



" 9, G.Epley 85 " 



" 10, J. Newbold 83 " 



" 10, J. Bonsai 141 " 



" 10, S. Smith 103 " 



" 10, E.Eyre 115 " 



" 11, E. Eyre 101 " 



" 11, H.Edwards 107 " 



Oct. 4, S. Smith 104 " 



But the greatest exploit of all is yet to be chronicled. On the 

 8th of September, Mr. J. M. Eyre killed on one tide the sur- 

 prising number of one hundred and ninety-five rails, which is 



