Quail and Yellowlegs

STOCKTON, Md., Sept. 4. -- Some time ago I was asked to report on the quail in New York and Maryland. My experience with New York quail is limited to one small covey of about six birds, the only birds I saw during a residence of five years in Dutchess county [N.Y.]. I have no doubt there are plenty of birds there, but I never saw them, nor did I ever meet any one who could report more than three or four to his credit on the opening of the season. This was near Millbrook [N.Y.], from 1889 to 1894. Mr. Foster, of that place, a perfect gentleman and splendid shot, will, I know, be pleased to give all the information.

Now, when you ask me about the eastern shore, I am right at home; here as a boy I shot my first quail, and as strength came to my arms, hundreds of canvasbacks answered to the crack of my old muzzleloader; then Town Point [Md.], at the mouth of the Elk and Bohemia rivers, was the finest point on the headwaters of the Chesapeake. Then came my long exile to Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and then back at last to the eastern shore. Here I hope to die in the finest country God ever gave to man, where you can live the cheapest, where every luxury surrounds you, where no one seems to work hard, and all are happy and contented. My garden furnishes me with everything that will grow north of the frost line. The rivers and bay produce fish, crabs, oysters, clams, shrimp, terrapin and snappers, all for the taking. With my dog and gun I add quail, jacksnipe and woodcock to my bill of fare. The coast and marshes give me thousands of beach birds. And to all this the bay adds geese, brant, redheads and bluebills. Where else can you accumulate such an array of luxuries and pleasures?

I do not think our quail have done as well as they did last year. I do not blame last February's storms for it, although no doubt many of the birds perished at that time. The heavy snow soon melted off, and gave the birds a chance to feed, while many were fed by farmers and others interested. I am also sorry to say that a number were killed in the snow by boys and others. I blame an unusual northeast storm last June for most of the trouble; this lasted almost a week, and was accompanied by heavy dashes of rain, in which many of the early hatch were drowned. I find plenty of small birds about, but can hear of few full-grown coveys. Our season is late here, opening on Nov. 10, so by that time I feel sure we will have plenty of birds in good condition.

This summer we have had an old-time yellow leg season. The heavy rains and high tides made the marshes just right, and when the birds struck here they stayed: We have averaged about a hundred birds a day, that being our limit; any more we could not use or give away. We have had days when it would have been easy to kill three or four hundred. Very little bunch shooting has been done, all preferring to improve their marksmanship on hard singles and doubles. Take it all in all, we have had a grand time, and there are thousands of birds yet trading over the ponds.

O. D. FOULKS.