458 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



DUCKS AND THEIK FOOD. 



Generally the ducks begin to arrive in this locality from 

 their breeding grounds in the North, between the middle and 

 latter part of October, when some of the smaller species, 

 such as the buffle-head (BucepJiala albeola), make their ap- 

 pearance, and they are in the course of four or five weeks fol- 

 lowed by the mallard (Ana* boschas), dusky duck {Anas ob- 

 scura), pin-tails (Dafila acuta), bald-pates (Marecaamerieana), 

 green-winged teal (Querquedula carolinensis), blue-winged 

 teal (Querquedukt, discors), red-head (Fuligula ferina), and, 

 lastly, the noted canvas-back (Fuligula lialisneria) ; but this 

 duck never becomes abundant until severe weather is experi- 

 enced. The swan (Oygnus americanus) and geese (Branta 

 canadensis) also arrive about the same time as the canvas- 

 backs, and soon distribute themselves over the Chesapeake 

 Bay and neighboring rivers emptying therein. When the 

 birds first arrive they are very poor, and their flesh has no de- 

 sirable flavor on account of their protracted flights. A few 

 weeks' rest in this section, however, and the abundance of 

 food which they procure, soon puts them in excellent con- 

 dition, and they become tender and juicy. 



The Valisneria, or duck grass as it is called here, seems to 

 be the favorite food not only of the canvas-backs, but red 

 heads, bald pates, and some other species. I have often ob- 

 served them feeding together where this plant grew, though I 

 have never seen them in company during their flights. Old 

 sportsmen here, with whom 1 have conversed on this subject, 

 declare that the red-heads and bald-pates especially axe the 

 most daring robbers in the duck family, and frequently attack 

 the canvas-back when he has returned from the bottom, with 

 the duck-grass which he has uprooted, and plunder him, of all 

 his spoil. Others express the opinion that the canvas-backs 

 uproot the grass and consume the root thereof, which is the 

 most tender part, and that the other species usually found 

 feeding with them eat the stalks and leaves. That the can- 

 vas-backs and red-heads especially partake of similar food is 

 evident from the flavor of these two species, which is so much 

 alike in every respect. Indeed, there are many persons 

 claiming to be sportsmen who are not able to distinguish a 

 canvas-back irom a red-head after the feathers have been re- 

 moved or the two served upon the table. True, the canvas- 

 back is the larger duck of the two, as a male bird of this 

 species will weigh very often as much as three and a half 

 pounds, or even more, while a male red-head rarely exceeds 

 two and a half pounds in weight. 



MANNER OF SHOOTING THEM. 



Of course there are various means employed to kill the 

 ducks by those who wage a warfare upon them for pecuniary 

 gain, the principal one of which is the use of the immense 

 ducking gun to which 1 have briefly alluded. This piece of 

 ordnance, with a barrel from five to seven feet in length, and 

 a muzzle of two inches in diameter, is affixed to one end of a 

 skiff, and the gunner, lying down therein, paddles cautiously 

 upon a flock, with very short paddles made for that purpose, 

 and which work entirely beneath the water. When within 

 200 or 950 yards of the birds, he fires upon them, with his load 

 of nearly half a pound of power and three pounds of shot. 

 The report of his gun frightens all the fowl within a mile, and 

 the recoil from the explosion sends skiff and gunner back fifty 

 feet ; but there in front of this death-dealing concern lie 

 many birds dead and others wounded, but the gunner, with a 

 gun which can be discharged from the shoulder, soon pursues 

 and captures them. 



The market hunters also trap the fowl by means of nets, 

 though they can only prosecute this mode of capture in creeks 

 and inlets where the birds are not disturbed by the guns. 

 These nets are staked out, covering the surface of the water 

 to the extent of a quarter of an acre or more, and beneath them 

 is placed a bountiful supply of corn. Rows of corn are then 

 strewn in the surrounding water,, all leading to the net, and 

 the ducks, finding these rows of corn, keep diving for and 

 consuming it until they get beneath the net and are caught. 



Sportsmen who enjoy the duck shooting of the Potomac 

 usually do so from blinds, though many have rare sport upon 

 different points of land along the river, dropping the birds in 

 their morning and evening flights from one feeding ground to 

 another. This shooting, however, depends to a great extent 

 upon tbe velocity and direction of the wind. If it blows with 

 the same force and on the point where the sportsman may be 

 located, providing it lies in the course of the ducks, he is apt 

 to have good success. The birds always avoid a near ap- 

 proach to the shore, but when the wind blows toward these 

 points they are often compelled to pass within easy shot, and 

 are thus dropped while on the wing. 



Shooting from blinds is practiced to a great extent along the 

 entire length of the river, and many buds are killed by 

 sportsmen in this manner. The blind is generally constructed 

 of old brush, fence rails or logs, sometimes upon points of 

 land or in marshes over which the fowl pass, and at other 

 times on the flats at some distance from the shore, but always 

 early in the season, bo the ducks will become used to it. 

 When placed upon the flats the blind is always made of brush, 

 and large enough to conceal one or two sportsmen and a skiff. 

 The decoys are anchored in the vicinity of this blind, where 

 they attract the attention of the birds passing over from one 

 feeding point to another, and as they descend to join the sup- 

 posed flock upon the water the concealed sportsmen, often 

 have beautiful shots. Sometimes the birds are allowed to 

 alight among the decoys, but the true sportsman drops them 

 on the wing just as they hover over the decoys, fifteen or 

 twenty yards above the surface of the water. 



The shooting or sink box is not regarded as legitf. 



mate by the true sportsman. It is used by the market 

 hunters, and consists of a long, narrow, coffin-like arrange- 

 ment, in which the gunner lies on his back. This box 

 has attached to it flanges or broad leaves hinged to 

 it at the top, which float upon the surface of the water and 

 prevent the swell from washing into it or the box sinking. 

 The decoys are arranged around it just as around a blind, and 

 as the birds descend to join the flock the gunner arises and 

 gives them both barrels. These sink boxes are generally 

 towed upon the flats, and there anchored with the gunner 

 concealed, while his comrade is secreted upon the shore 

 with a light skiff to pursue and capture wounded birds which 

 may be dropped. Years ago there were a number of points on 

 both shores of the Potomac lying in the course of the birds 

 as they passed from one feeding ground to another, and 

 many birds were killed on wing in a true sportsmanlike man- 

 ner as they passed over these points. It is a well known fact, 

 however, to all familiar with the habits of wild water-fowl, 

 that the constant disturbance of them on favorite feeding- 

 grounds will cause them to forsake such places and seek others. 

 The interminable pursuit of them with boats upon their feed- 

 ing haunts has, to a great extent, driven them from many de- 

 sirable coves, and therefore the shooting points over which 

 the birds formerly passed in their flights from one cove to 

 another no longer afford desirable places for dropping them. 



The ducking season on the Potomac usually opens about the 

 middle of November, and about that time mallard, dusky 

 ducks, green and blue winged teal, bald-pates, and sprig-tails 

 are plentiful. As tbe weather begins to get very cold, blue- 

 winged teal and bald-pates leave for a more southern climate, 

 but canvas-backs make their appearance and soon become 

 plentiful. Mallard, dusky ducks, green-winged teal, and 

 sprig-tails remain longer, and, indeed, if the weather is not 

 too severe, many tarry here all the winter. Even when the 

 river is closed by ice there are hundreds of springy places in 

 in the marshes and creeks on either shore which do not freeze, 

 and here the birds generally find food. 



the canvas-back (Fuligula valisneria). 

 Of the many varieties of ducks frequenting the Potomac, of 

 course I rank the canvas-back first, as it acquires a most de- 

 licious flavor here from the wild celery upon which it feeds. 

 In some other localities, where it cannot procure this food, and 

 is forced to live upon water insects, seed, hemes, etc., I be- 

 lieve it loses this flavor, and is held to be a very common bird. 

 The Chesapeake Bay, Susquehanna, Potomac, James and other 

 rivers emptying into that body of water, are the favorite re- 

 sorts of the canvas-back on the Atlantic coast. They extend 

 their winter migrations to more southern waters, and are dis- 

 tributed more or less abundantly throughout the interior. The 

 fall migration of the bird, I believe, is principally from the 

 north-west and over the interior of the country, where it is dis. 

 tributed according to the nature of the weather. Some orni- 

 thologists have found it breeding in our Western country as far 

 south as latitude 47 degs. ; in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon 

 and in the Rocky Mountains. Its breeding grounds extend 

 from that section far into Alaska and the north. It does not 

 breed in any of our Eastern States. 



Audubon, who seems to have studied the habits of the can- 

 vas-back in New Orleans, when he was there in 1837, does not 

 speak very favorably of the delightful flavor of this bird. 

 After referring to the species commanding a price of two dol 

 lars a pair, he says : " This enhancement of its value I look 

 upon as having arisen from the preference given to it by the 

 epicures of our middle districts, who have strangely lauded it 

 as superior to any other duck in the world. Previous to that 

 time, in the South, they were regarded as being poor, dry and 

 very fishy, in short not half so good as mallards, or blue- 

 winged teal. With this I cordially agree ; for there, at that 

 season, they are not better than represented." 



No doubt the birds were unable to procure theValisneria or 

 wild celery, and therefore did not excel any of the other spe- 

 cies in flavor. 



The canvas-back is a rapid flyer, and it takes an expert 

 marksman to drop him. If winged only and brought to the 

 water he is an expert diver, and will frequently make his es- 

 cape by diving and moving under the water toward the shore, 

 where he will seek shelter and may rocover from the wound, 

 provided he can escape his natural enemies — minks, gulls, 

 hawks, etc. 



bed-heads (Fuligula ferina). 

 Next to the famous canvas-back comes the red-head, and 

 though it is smaller, equals that duck in flavor, as it feeds upon 

 the sama marine plant when in this section. In the West I 

 believe it lives on various water insects, frogs, grain, berries, 

 and such food as it can get, and I suppose does not have its 

 delicious flavor in that locality. Red-heads seem to be of a 

 sociable disposition, and are often found in company with 

 other ducks, especially the canvas-backs and bald-pates, and 

 in Florida I am told they are often seen with mallards, spoon- 

 bills and other species. It is fond of both fresh and salt water, 

 and is an expert diver. It breeds in the far north, and like the 

 canvas-back its migrations are overland rather than by the 

 seaboard. The weight of a full grown male red-head is about 

 a pound and a half less than that of a full grown canvas-back. 

 As I have yet much to say respecting the habits of the mal- 

 lard, teal, pintails, bald-pates, geese and swan found on the 

 Potomac, I will endeavor to interest your many readers in my 

 next letter. R. F. B. 



GAME PROTECTION. 



—A friend in Spottsylvania, Virginia, who probably thinks 

 our head is too big for our body, has sent us an Indian arrow- 

 head. 



National Sportsmen's Association. — The annual meeting 

 of the National Sportsmen's Association will be held at 

 Wilkesbarre, Pa., June 11. Secretaries of State Sportsmen's 

 Associations are requested to send their addresses to Benj. F. 

 Dorrance, Esq., Secretary of the Pennsylvania Association, 

 Wilkesbarre, Pa. 



The Philadelphia Association at Wobk.— The grand 

 jury have found a true bill against Philip J. Lauber, charging 

 hirn with selling game out of season. The prosecution is 

 brought by the Sportsmen's Association, and is the first of a 

 number which are to be instituted against restaurateurs. 



Pboteotion of Game.— The annual meeting of the New 

 York Association for the protection of Game was held on the 

 14th of January at the residence of Mr. Charles E. Whitehead, 

 Mr. Clinton Gilbert presiding. The following resolution in 

 reference to the sale of venison was unanimously adopted : 



That, after reading the petition of the importers and dealers 

 in venison in this city, the club consider it unwise to attempt 

 to extend the time within which venison can be sold in this 

 State, and the counsel of the club is directed to prosecute 

 all persons found after the 21st violating the law on this sub- 

 ject. 



Mr. Whitehead read a communication in reply to charges 

 made against certain parties trapping wild duck on Shinne- 

 cock Bay. The accused parties denied that duck trapping 

 was practiced on the bay. The feasibility of altering the 

 game laws in relation to the shooting of woodcock, to make 

 it commence on Sept. 1 instead of Aug. 1, as at present, was 

 discussed. It was deemed inadvisable to make any effort to 

 amend the law on that subject. The Treasurer showed a 

 balance of #578.20, and in United States bonds of $4,500. 

 Mr. Whitehead, counsel of the association, showed that dur- 

 ing the year twelve suits had been brought for violation of the 

 Game laws. The officers of the association for the ensuing 

 year are : President— Robert V. Roosevelt ,- Vice-President — 

 J. H. Gautier; Counsel— C. E. Whitehead; Secretary and 

 Treasurer — J. M. Cuthbert ; Executive Committee — Henry T. 

 Cary, Alfred Wagstaff, Jr., W. M. Flwss; Committee on 

 Game Laws— Mr. Alfred Wagstaff, .D. L. Luddington, and R. 

 B. Roosevelt. 



Killing Deee for their Skins. — At a meeting of the Call 

 fornia Senate Committee on the revision of the Game law _ 

 it was stated by a member of the Sportsman's Club that two 

 hunters had been shooting deer for two years past in the 

 eastern counties, under engagement to a glove manufactory 

 in San Francisco. Hundreds of deer were slaughtered and 

 their carcasses left for the coyotes and birds of prey. This 

 wholesale killing has nearly exterminated the deer tribe in 

 that part of the State. 



Pound Nets in Staten Island Waters.— The New York 

 and Staten Island fishing clubs have given the impulse to the 

 movement against the use- of pound nets in New York State. 

 Their counsel, Messrs. Morgan, J. O'Brien and J. Stillmau, 

 appeared last Friday before the Board of Supervisors, of 

 Richmond County, asking for the pounds and a new regula- 

 tion concerning the use oi fykes and gill-nets. Counsel urged 

 that as, under section 32 of the laws of 1877, the Board of 

 Supervisors has power, it should entirely prohibit the use of 

 pounds in the waters surrounding Staten Island and the rivers 

 approaching thereto ; and also that the use of fyke and gill- 

 nets be forbidden from the 15th day of August to the last day 

 of December in each year, and that no fyke, seine or gill-net 

 shall have meshes of less- than four and one-half indhes in 

 size. The matter was referred to a special committee, with 

 instructions to draft such regulations as will remedy the evil 

 complained of. This is but the initial step in a general move- 

 ment, and soon King's, Queen's and Suffolk counties will fol- 

 low Richmond's example. 



Acclimatization Society.— The annual meeting or the 

 American Acclimatization Society was held at the New York 

 Aquarium last Wednesday evening. Fourteen new members 

 were enrolled. The officers elected for the ensuing year were : 

 President, Eugene Schieffelin ; Vice-Presidents — A. H. Green, 

 William H. De Lancy, R. B. Roosevelt, W. H. Schieffelin, P. 

 Van Zant Lane ; Secretary, John W. Green ; Corresponding 

 Secretary, Seymour A. Bunce; Treasurer, Edward Schcll. 

 Council— J. C. Mills, John Schuyler, Henry Keteltas, J. W. 

 Fellows, H. C. Pell and W. A. Conklin. 

 v* Syracuse, Jan. 7, 1878. 



Editor Forest and Stream 



It Is not generally Known ana it Is still less appreciated, mat the waters 

 of central New York are most magnificent in proportion aad exceed - 

 ingly suitable for game fish. 



Seneca Kver.receivlng its supply from Canandaigua, Kena, Seneca, 

 Cayuga, Skaiieateles and Onondaga Lakes, besides* otlicr smaller lakes 

 and numerous streams and brooks,flnally merges with the Oneida Elver 

 at what is termed Fureo River Point, and thus forming the Oswego 

 River it finds its way to Lake Ontario. 



No one can trace the course of these waters, knowing the immense 

 supply, without concluding that they must be Bailable for bass, pike 

 pickerel and other game fish, as they certainly are. 



That these waters can bo productive of countless thousauds of choica 

 fish for the public at comparatively little cost, and at the same time 

 afford abundant recreation for hundreds of sportsmen, there is no 

 shadow of doubt ; provided, however, there be given sufficient protec- 

 tion to fish to multiply and attain suitable size. 



Under the present depredations that are annually committed by the 

 use of seines and nets of every description, and especially by catching 

 fish in spawning seasons, the supply is nearly exhausted, and to attempt 

 a day's fishing in these waters with hook and line, is simply a waste of 

 time, money and patience. 



It is safe to say that not less than forty or fifty pound-nets, gill-neta 

 and other illegitimate and barbarous ways of taking fish from Oneida 

 Lake (about fifteen mUes from Syracuse), have been used by marketmen 

 and resorted to through the entire season of 1877; and even farmers 

 owning land on the banks of this lake as well as other prominent busi- 

 ness men residing near, have been engaged in this nefarious frame and 

 shared in the results : no appeal, no threats, no inducements are of any 

 avail, and the conclusion seems to have at last been arrived at that tho 

 evil must work its own cure by eventually destroying tlie source of 

 supply. 



