Wildfowl in Maryland

STOCKTON, Md., Oct. 30. -- Once more the wildfowl are moving south, and goodly numbers of black ducks and mallards are stopping on our marshes; in fact, there are more here now than I have seen at any one time for years. The marshes are in fine condition, every pond on them being fairly choked with rich duck grass. Out on the shoals the same conditions prevail, a rank growth of grass making the wide stretches of shallow water look like meadows. There are some geese here, and more are coming every day, but the large open-water fowl have not arrived yet in any considerable numbers; brant and redheads should be well represented about the first week in November.

We have a way of guessing the weather, that I find from years of experience about the safest guess work of any of the many ways. That is, the direction the wind is blowing when the sun crosses the line in September will be the prevailing wind for the next six months. This fall it crossed with easterly winds, which are fine ducking winds, sometimes they are a little boisterous, but down here they never freeze or get very cold; then fowl are always restless, fly low, and make good decoying.

We will use a power launch this season, the first and only one in Chincoteague Bay in use for that purpose. With it we can get on the ground in half an hour, shoot until dark, and back again in same time wind or calm. This will be far better than living on the boat, as it puts you home to a fine, hot, 6 o'clock dinner and comfortable rooms and beds.

O. D. FOULKS.