280 



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. 8, J. Irwin killed 



" 4, J. M. Eyre 



" 4, B. B. Pearson 



" 4, T.Thurlow 



" 4, E. Wells 



" 5, Matzinger 



" 5, J. M. Odenheimer. 



" 5, B.Ford 



" 5, Wells 



" 5, A. Worrall 



" 5, E.Wells 



" 6, E. E. Eyre 



" 6, S. Smith 



" 7, J. R. Eyre 



" 7, C.Price 



" 7, Bringhust 



" 7, H. Taylor 



" 7, H. Edwards 



82 rails. 

 122 

 101 



83 

 136 



95 

 128 



87 

 154 

 136 

 114 

 108 



93 

 101 



82 



91 



96 

 108 



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



8, Matzinger 



8, E. E. Eyre 



8, Brown , 



8, C. Price 



8. J. K. Bonsai 



9, J. Newbold 



9, J. M. Odenheimer. 



9, W. Read 



9, G.Epley 



10, J. Newbold 



10, J. Bonsai 



10, S.Smith 



10, E.Eyre 



11, E.Eyre 



11, H. Edwards 



Oct. 4, S. Smith 



90 rails 

 122 " 



94 " 



97 " 



91 " 

 107 « 



81 " 



132 " 



107 " 



85 " 



83 " 



141 " 



103 " 

 115 " 

 101 " 

 107 " 



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 



