328 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[MA.Y 14, 1891. 



DUCKING AT LONG POINT MARSH, VA. 



IT had long been a matter of contemplation on the part 

 of myself and friend Walter Bass that we take to- 

 gether a trip after ducks. It made but little difference 

 to either of us whether we should journey to the waters 

 of Currituck Sound, the Giiesapeakeor Back Bay,Virginia. 

 At each place we had friends who had extended to us 

 cordial invitations to visit them. After due thought my 

 friend Bass decided that we accept the invitation of some 

 Jersey friends who owned a piece of marsh on Back Bay. 

 The plan originally arranged was to leave New York in 

 November and pass two weeks upon the ground selected. 

 In November came the ttiirry in the stock maiket. Mr. 

 Bass is a member. That semi- panic altered all our plans. 

 Customers were in too nervous a state to be left; so my 

 friend Bass had to remain to look after the interests of 

 his firm. As I could not go without him, our trip was indefi- 

 nitely postponed. ''AH things come to him who waits."' 

 So one Saturday evening m February found us at the 

 Pennsylvania Railroad depot in this city. Taking that 

 road to Cape Charles, we next morning arrived at Nor- 

 folk, Va. The evening we left New York the weather 

 was the worst imaginable. There was a cold northeast 

 storm in progress, accompanied by a deluge of rain, snow 

 and sleet, and the streets were completely flooded. 

 Leaving as we did on Saturday our Sunday was passed 

 in Norfolk. Never was a greater change in weather con- 

 ditions. That Sunday morning the sun shone brightly 

 from unclouded skies and the air was as balmy as in Sep- 

 tember. Our stay in Norfolk will be long remembered 

 for the many pleasant surprises we met wliile there. We 

 were fortunate enough to fall in with two old friends of 

 Bass's, Seweli Tappen and E. L. Lentilhon, old members 

 of the New York Stock Exchange, the former now 

 largely interested in Norfolk real estate, the latter con- 

 nected with the Dupont Powder Company. In addition 

 to these old friends of Bass's, we became acquainted with 

 Richard Corbin Byrd, Jr., and W. T. Gatupbell, members 

 of the Virginia Club of Norfolk. Through the kind offices 

 of the latter-named gentleman we were introduced to the 

 club and had extended to us all privileges diiring our stay. 

 We were most hospitably entertained at the club, and 

 our great regret was that our stay in Norfolk was all too 

 short, so hearty and lavish were the courtesies extended 

 us. 



Monday morning found us np at an early hour, for we 

 had to leave Norfolk at 7 o'clock. We were bound for 

 Long Point Marsh. The little side-wheel steamer Bonito 

 was the moae, and Pungo Ferry, some thirty miles south- 

 ward, our destination. Going through the South Eliza- 

 beth River, then the Albemarle and Chesapeake (;anal, 

 and then the North River to our stopping place, which 

 is at the head of Currituck Somid. Even then our jour- 

 ney was not at an end, At the ferry we were met by 

 Haywood Bower, who had come down with two Virginia 

 carta. Well, I won't attemj^t a description of them, one 

 of them was for the baggage, the other for Bass and 

 myself. Unfortunately for us our trunk had failed to 

 connect with the Bonito at Noi'folk, and so far as clotli- 

 ing was concerned we were, outside of the suit we had 

 on, traveling on faith. To add to our discomfort it came 

 on to rain, and no umbrellas at that. In spite of every 

 discomforc the thing was all so new it was enjoyed thor- 

 oughly, especially by Bass, as he endeavored to dump me 

 in the road at every opportunity. After the five-mile 

 drive was over we reached Morse's Point. Here we were 

 met by Will Pontin and Uncle Jake Borden, who con- 

 ducted: us to the landing on Back Bay, where then yawl 

 was awaiting us. We were soon underway, and the two 

 miles' sail to Long Point Marsh — our last stopi)ing place 

 — was quickly done, and springing ashore we were met 

 by Capt, Will Borden, who gave us a hearty welcome. 

 Here we found a new cabin, some 40x30ft in dimen- 

 sions. Its inside was one large room, the arrangements of 

 the room being of the simplest character, but admirably 

 suited for sportsmen. For sleeping accommodations we 

 had the best of mattresses and the best of pillows — wild 

 geese feathers filled each tick to the fullest. The 

 marsh is one of the best and we find ourselves in the best 

 of camps as far as ducking clubs are concerned. 



To the south'ard in Currituck Sound are the Swan Island 

 and Carrituck clubs, north of us in Back Bay we find 

 Cedar Island, the Ragged Island and Long Island clubs. 

 Opposite, between us and the ocean, is Knotts Island. 

 The marsh is one of the best shooting grounds in the bay. 

 It comprises some 1,700 acres, is some three miles long, 

 by possibly a third of a mile wide, the extreme south- 

 western point nearly touching the North Carolina line. 

 The boys have cut a canal across the narrowest part so 

 that the different points can be reached without making 

 the long joui-ney around the marsh. 



Om- other associates during our stay were Peter Corp- 

 pery and George Carroway, who are employed as gunners. 

 Peter Diggs was our chef, and for one I can vouch for the 

 savory character of our marsh cuisine, whether it be duck, 

 goose, quail, snipe, or bass or perch fresh from the waters 

 of the bay. Peter always had a tempting meal ready, 

 and I never once was found wanting in appetite, 



So far as oxu- shooting was concerned, our trip was not 

 what it would have been had we been able to leave in 

 November as we expected. The weather was quite warm 

 and the season at the marsh about over. While it lasted, 

 which was until the food had become scarce, the sport 

 h.ad been excellent. The boys had killed and shipped 

 North hundreds of fowl. These were canvasbacks, red- 

 heads, black duck, mallards, widgeon and geese. A few 

 swan had also been killed. My friend Bass's great desire 

 was to kill a swan, but they were wild and wary, and his 

 desire was not gratified. My partner during our stay was 

 Uncle Jake Borden. Over 60 years of age, of medium 

 height, with slightly stooping shoulders, lie proved one 

 of the best of shooting comjianions, and what he does not 

 know about oars and boats isn't worth the learning. 

 Captain Will, a tail fine-looking man physically, quiet 

 and pleasant in manner, did his shooting single-handed. 

 Will Pontin, our other host, a nephew to the brothers 

 Borden, took charge of Bass. During the evening the 

 usual swapping of stories was indulged in . They told of 

 many of the tricks of the bay men , among them the follow- 

 ing: When a canvasback is shot and found poor in 

 flesh, it was an ordinary thing to cut off its head, and 

 picking out a good fat redhead, decapitate that also. Then 

 the head of the canvas was deftly sewn on the body of 

 the redhead, and a merchantable high-priced bird was 

 the result. 



We remained nearly two weeks. We had any number 

 of decoys, and our shooting was entirely point shooting. 



The birds did not decoy well in the daytime, and so we 

 had to get out before daybreak in the morning, and then 

 locate ourselves again before sundown in the evening. 

 By adopting this plan we got faiiiy good shooting. We 

 were not out for slaughter and the result of each day's 

 work was entirely satisfactory. The first Wednesday of 

 our stay we sailed over to Morse's Point and had sport on 

 quail. To our surprise we found on the low bottoms 

 some English snipe, and between both we had rare sport. 

 We hunted over Will Pontui's dog Fj ank, the product of 

 a cross of setter and pointer bloods. In looks and color 

 Frank showed only the blood of his pointer mother. As 

 a worker the dog was as good as the best. Not alone was 

 he good on snipe and quail, but he was a magnificent re- 

 triever both on land or water, or as the j^atives put it, he 

 would both "tote and fetch."' He would bring a duck or 

 goose from the water in a style that cudd not be sur- 

 passed by the best of bay dogs. On Thursday our party 

 went for snipe to Cason's Marsh, but found none. Not to 

 be disappointed in our shooting we went further inl -nd 

 on the point and made a good bag on quail. Sundny, of 

 course, no shooting was done, and church was out of the 

 question. Thrown upon cmr own resources, we asked 

 what we should do? Well, Poutin suggested a row to the 

 beach and the yawl was gotten ready." Uncle Jake and 

 Will Pontin did the rowinjj, while Bass and myself did 

 the appreciative part of the work. A row of some six 

 miles around Knott's Island brought us to the United 

 States Life-Saving Station known as No. 6. Surfman 

 Echeridge was in charge, and we passed a couple of very 

 pleasant hours in his company. He insisted with true 

 Southern hospitality ux^on our remaining to dinner with 

 him. Naturally, the contents of the larder were not on 

 an extensive scale, stiU i do not know but that the dinner 

 of "salt horse," greens and sweet potato pie was as much 

 enjoyed as was ever a dinner at Sam Robbins's. 



The one great subject of conversation was the faulty 

 game laws of Vu-ginia regarding the shooting of ducks. 

 Wednesdays and Thursdays are known as lay days and 

 no shooting is allowed. It is claimed it would be far bet- 

 ter to have Saturday a close day. On Wednesdays and 

 Thursdays the fishermen keep the ducks fully as much 

 on the move as is done by the gunners on oj)en days. It 

 is claimed, and very reasonably too, that Saturday being 

 a day upon which no fish can be shipped North, conse- 

 quently but little fishing is done. That the ducks would 

 be far less disturbed on their feeding grounds than they 

 now^ are under the present law. It} is hoped that the 

 change can be made during the present session of the 

 Legislature of the State. 



When the time came for us to return we seemed to be 

 leaving old friends. Indeed, there was another bond be- 

 tween us, for the boys are old-time Jerseymen, having 

 been watermen at Little Silver, New Jersey, the summer 

 home of my friend Bass for many years. Another season 

 we will endeavor to get away earlier, when we hope to 

 be able to accept the kind invitation of our friends and 

 pay another visit to Long Point Marsh, or. as Uncle Jake 

 christened it. the Little Silver Club, Tee Ka.y. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



CHICAGO, May fi.— I saw some shooters at the depot 

 yesterday, aud they had 90 snipe, about half jacks 

 and the balance sand snipe, with a few plover. They had 

 been out with Sa,n Gibault, a French market-hunter and 

 "guide" of Momence. They got their birds north of 

 Momence and back in the country, away from the 

 marshes. They said if they had liad plover decoys 

 they could have gotten 500 shots at plover. I doubt 

 whether they could do that now. Early in the week the 

 plover seemed to get up and move north very rapidly. 

 Charlie Burton says he and Fred Donald wei-e out there 

 and got 31 birds before noon, near Gilman, and then the 

 birds hit the trail for British Columbia, 



At Mak-sav.'-ba a few days ago John Watson bagged 

 31 plover and Joe Kinney 43. These were mostly yellow- 

 legs. 



Jo. Card has also been down to Mak-saw-ba, the same 

 time as his friend John Watson. Jo. got 85 snipe, which 

 he tried to palm off as jacksnipe. When questioned 

 closely he admitted that "their bills may be a little short, 

 but they're blamed good snipe, ain't they, Johni'" Mr. 

 Card also caught some bullheads, likewise 13 bass, as de- 

 scribed by himself. Pressed also about their weight, he 

 remarked, "They were just as big as rock bass ever get, 

 wasn't they, John?" All this transpired up at Billy JJus- 

 sey's, and I3illy tells the story. By the way, Billy is put- 

 ting in a set of cases of nicely-n^ounted game birds of all 

 our sorts about here, the taxidermist work being done by 

 Dick Turtle. These bu-ds will go very well in a place so 

 much headquarters for the sportsmen of this city and the 

 West. 



Mr. Fred Kimble, of the Peoria Target C, was. in town 

 yesterday, departing in the evening for Cleveland, whex-e 

 he is going to mingle with the Blue Rock and Standard 

 Target people a while, I believe. Mr. Kimble says that 

 when this cruel war is over he is going up to Duluth or 

 somewhere and have a fishing trip. 



May 7, — There wiU be a spring meeting of the Possum 

 Club and a fish dinner at Werner's Stock Exchange res- 

 taurant, Thursday, May 21, two weeks from to-day. 

 Some of the legislators who have worked in the sports- 

 men's interests at Springfield will be invited to attend. 

 Among other important business there will be brought up 

 the organization of the Kankakee Fish and Game Protec- 

 tive Society, of which matter mention was made in these 

 columns in the issue of April 30, Plans are akeady laid 

 for that to some extent by the leading men of the clubs 

 interested and it is very probable that a successful organ- 

 ization will be made and kept up. 



We need such work and plenty of it, I have direct, 

 eye-witness proof that Jack Wdburn, at Summit station, 

 on the Des Piaines River, has had a net stretched clear 

 across the river through most of the entire run of the 

 pickerel and bass, and has been taking as high as a hun- 

 dred in a day, mostly of pickerel nearly ready to spawn. 

 What is the "fish warden at Riverside doing? Can't Wil- 

 burn be stopped? I know Vv'ilbiu'n and have stopped at 

 his jjlace. He ought to be ashamed of himself, for he 

 picks up many a dollar from Chicago sportsmen. Will 

 Commissioner Bartlett drop a line to his %varden and have 

 Whitburn's nets pulled? 



Down at Crown Point three men now lie in jail, under 

 a |50 fine each for seining in Cedar Lake, A simple, in- 

 nocent book agent came among them in that country, 

 and won their confidence by his artless ways. He got 



his evidence, and then appeared as a fish warden with 

 the result above noted. He was a good book agent. 



It seems our friend Rolla Heikes came out ahead in his 

 race against time, he had to break 450 targets in 90 

 minutes, three known angles, or forfeit $100 in the in- 

 terest of sport, Rolla was trotting easy, and the harness 

 didn't touch him from first to last. He broke his 450 birds, 

 standard keystones, in 52 minutes and 58 seconds, shooting 

 at 528 birds to do it. He used 3 drams of wood powder, 

 Hoz, of No. 8, and shot two Lefevers, 12-gauge. Col. A. G. 

 Courtney handled the guns, and is now complaining that 

 he is sore all over, and had to work harder than Rolla did. 

 There was much trouble from sticking shells, and Rolla's 

 friends think he could lower the above record materially 

 under favorable circumstances. He won his race and his 

 $100 easily, and again showed how hard a man to beat he 

 is at his game of targets. 



Replying for Mr. Geo. T. Farmer to the query of Mr. J. 

 J. Meyri(!k, of England, as to the description of gun 

 issued by the Hudson Bay Co. to their men, Mr. Farmer 

 says these guns were 16-gauge, the barrels being from 36 

 to 40in. long, 



A painful accident befell Ike Watson out .at the Bum- 

 side Park this week. He had left his gun lying loaded 

 upon a table, and on picking it up it was discharged, the 

 top lever being driven by the recoil back into young- 

 Watson's hand between the thumb and fingers. It was 

 very hard to detach the hand from the gun. Ike didn't 

 think it was loaded, having a recollection of putting two 

 shells in his pocket, which, however, proved to be empty 

 shells, 



Mr, J, A. Ruble, late of Beloit, Wis,, is now living in 

 Chicago, and will doubtless soon be a member of some 

 one of our Chicago shooting clubs. E. Hough. 



"FOREST AND STREAM" GUN TESTS. 



SOME time ago a test was made of a Greener gun, and 

 as yet no report has been made upon it. The weapon 

 was the same Greener upon which report has already 

 appeared in these pages. Mr. Such, the owner, was de- 

 sirous of having a trial made with a different size of shot 

 than the No, b and No, 1 shot used in the previous tests. 

 The giui fully sustained its previous record of being one 

 of the finest samples of that popular make of arm. With 

 the black powder at 40yds. the selected circles show a 

 shade under 70 per cent, of the shot accounted for, and 

 at the same distance with the Schuitze powder the right 

 barrel climbed to over 80 per cent. The record is an 

 interesting one in the variation between the two barrels 

 at the two distances. The records show: 



TEST MADE AT FOREST AND STREAM C4UN-TESTING SCREEN. 



Crim — Greener, Cost, B350. No. of gun, 35,937. Weight, 

 9?^lbs. Lene:th of barrels, 32in. Gauge, 10. Right bar- 

 rel, full choke. Left barrel, full choke. 



Weather— Clear. 



Cfharge, as given by holder of gun: 



BOTH BARRELS. 



S7i.eW— U. S. Climax. 



Povjclcr, Brand— BlsLck Dupont Ducking No. 3. 

 Po wder, Qunnttty—^% drs. 



\ Jfct7(C— Tatham. 

 S7ioi-, Quantity— lyi oz. 



' Size— No. 3 Cfiilled. 



CARTRIDGE ANALYSIS. 



Three Cartridges TaMn at Bandoin. 



BOTH BARRELS. 

 LoaMna. Poivder. Shot. 



Card over shot; cardil... 141 grs. 663 grs. 164 pellets, 



and two B. E, wads-^ 3. . . 144 grs. 662 grs. 164 pellets, 



over powder. !3-..14lgra. 662 grs. 164 pellets. 



Average 142 grs. 662 grs. 164 pellets. 



TEST AT 40 YARDS. 



Five Shots per Barrel from rest at fixed 30-inch Circle. 



RrCvHT BARREL. LEFT B(VRREL. 



Pattern. Penetration, n pellets, Pattern. Penetration, s pellets. 



1. 113 pellets. 34 sheets. 1. 110 pellets. 40 sheets. 



2. 100 pellets. 36 sheets. 2. 102 pellets. 35 sheets. 



3. 110 pellets. 37 sheets. 3. 99 pellets. 38 sheets. 



4. 101 pellets. 38 sheets. 4. 98 pellets. 41 sheets. 

 .'">, 108 pellets. 40 sheets. .5. 107 jiellets. 36 sheets. 



Av. 106 pellets. 37 sheets. Av. 103 pellets. 38 sheets. 



Three Shots at 4-foot square; 30-inch Circle selected from 

 Inst pattern. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 120 pellets. 1 115 pellets. 



2 114 pellets. 2 110 pellets. 



3 118 pellets. 3 112 pellets. 



Average 117 pellets. 



Average 112 pellets. 



TEST AT 60 YARDS. 

 Five Shots per Ba/rrelf rom rest at fixed so-inch Ci rcle, 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



Patti'm. Penetration, s pellets. Pattern. Penetration, Sijellets. 



1. 59 pellets. 17 sheets. 1. .50 pellets. 24 sheets. 



2. 48 pellets. 19 sheets. 2. 56 pellets. 22 sheets. 



3. 53 pellets. 18 sheets. 3. 41 pellets. 18 sheets. 



4. 43 pellets. 20 sheets. 4. 32 pellets. 20 sheets. 



5. 64 pellets. 21 sheets. 5. 29 pellets. 16 sheets. 



Av. 53 pellets. 19 sheets. Av, 41 pellets. 20 sheets. 



Three Shots at 4-foot squtii-e; so-lndh Girdle selected from 

 best pattern. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 66 pellets. 1 51 pellets. 



2 57 pellets. 2 .59 pellets. 



3 65 pellets. 3 52 pellets. 



Average 62 pellets. 



Average 54 pellets, 



TEST MADE AT FOREST AIJD STREAM GTJN-TESTING SCREEN. 



Greener. Cost, S350. No. of Gun, 35,937. Weight, 

 9%lbs. Length of barrels, 33in. Gauge, 10. Right bar- 

 rel, full choke. Left barrel, full choke. 

 TT"cat/icr— Clear. 



Charge, as given by holder of gun: 



BOTH BARRELS. 



Shell— v. S, Climax. 

 Po'wder, Brand— Schnltze. 

 Powder, Qna;nmy—i}i drs» 



i Jfftfce— Tatham. 

 Shot' Quantity— IM oz. 



( Sise— No, 3 CMlled, 



