6 INTRODUCTION 



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 sport, many of which are sent to market, and the English 



wild fowlers, or market gunners, are busy on the public 

 waters for six months in the year with no fear of extir- 

 pating the game. 



More than ten thousand ducks were reared in a season 

 at Netherby Hall, and the skilled gamekeeper who 

 achieved this remarkable success proved that big bags 

 of ducks can be shot safely every season. 



The late Rutherford Stuyvesant introduced the new 

 sport to America, and he was fortunate in securing the 

 services of George Edgar, the keeper who had made the 

 wild fowl abundant at Netherby. Ducks and eggs were 

 imported from England and within the year, after the 

 start was made, several thousand mallards and other 

 fowl were reared about some artificial ponds on the 

 Stuyvesant farm in New Jersey. Those who were 

 invited to shoot were enthusiastic in praising the new 

 sport. 



In addition to the birds which were shot, the game- 

 keeper produced many ducks and eggs which were sold 

 to other duck rearers in New York and New Jersey and 

 as far south as Virginia. Wild ducks are now reared on 

 many game farms and afford splendid sport to many 

 guns. 



Upon the untimely death of Mr. Stuyvesant, Mr. Edgar 

 went to another country place in New Jersey, whose 

 owner had purchased some of his ducks and eggs, and 

 although the season was late when he started, he suc- 

 ceeded in rearing this year several thousand mallards, 

 besides a big lot of pheasants and a few guinea hens, 

 which, by the way, fly nicely and soon may be added to 

 our game bird list. 



