TIME MACHINE MAILBOX

Your nice article on the Chincoteague goose farm omitted the name of the operator but brought back some fond memories of growing up on Chincoteague Island. Thought you may like some additional info.  

Hi to Brenda, Barry and brother Ronny. 

 

Tom Elliott

Ft. Myers, Fl. 

 

Thanks Tom!  Here's an excerpt of the 1929 article for PPE readers.- tk 

 

 

Breeding Wild Water Fowl at Chincoteague, Virginia

Thomas J. Reed Has Interesting Wild Water Fowl Preserve. Started 10 Years Ago With Two Ducks. Has 1200 Wild Ducks And 300 Wild Geese.

"A man must like his business to make a success of it." Thomas J. Reed, of Chincoteague Island, is right, for he has demonstrated it in his fascinating business breeding wild water fowl. From his early childhood he has loved ducks and geese. If you are interested in attracting game to your vicinity here is the man who can furnish you with widgeon grass, eel grass, wampee or white waterlily. In his files are letters from every State in the Union, Germany, France, other European countries and Asia. Wild water fowl are shipped to Zoological gardens, game preserves and scientific institutions.

Let it be understood wild fowl is not raised for the table. They are too costly for that. It is easy enough to bring home wild birds, but they are usually dead. To raise wild fowl is another story. So successful has Reed been in his chosen vocation that he doubles his business every year. The fowl are hatched in incubators. As many as a thousand little ducks may be seen in one of his houses during the hatching season. On an average he raises all but five out of every hundred ducklings.

Ten years ago young Reed started his unusual business on a large scale. Two ducks constituted his original investment. With the help of nature and artificial heat he has gradually developed a big business. Last year he shipped not less than 1,400 wild ducks and geese and at the present time he has 1,200 wild ducks and 300 wild geese. By study and application he has learned to understand the peculiar traits and tricks of his feathered friends.

What impressed us most was the tameness of the quackers. We followed our guide to one of his ponds and observed with intense interest. What a sight! As soon as the birds saw their master they came flying and swimming from all directions. Bedlam reigned. We have seldom heard such confusion and tongues as we heard that afternoon, with the exception of a holy rollers camp meeting. The funny thing about it was that the smallest ducks made the greatest noise. Throwing handfuls of feed into the water; for all the feeding is done this way. Tom pointed out the different species. "The little ones there are the gray Holland call ducks. They were imported because of their loud call." We have a ministerial friend who candidated in Kentucky but failed to land the call. He received a letter shortly after saying: "If you had hollered louder, we would have called you." That beautiful glossy blue back bird is imported from India. How gracefully she floats on the water.

Mr. Reed is in a position to furnish wild Canada geese, brant, wild black mallard, wild gray mallard, black English call ducks, gray English call ducks and hopes to breed other varieties as time goes on. His license of a sort rarely issued by our government reads as follows: "To possess, buy, sell and transport migratory waterfowl and their eggs, legally acquired for propagating purposes, to kill migratory waterfowl bred in captivity, and to sell and transport the carcasses of the birds so killed for good purposes, subject to the conditions and restrictions of Regulation 8 of Migratory Bird Treaty Act Regulation." In issuing a license of this kind Uncle Sam recognizes the value of a reservation like the one Reed has established on Chincoteague Island.

Breeding Wild Water Fowl at Chincoteague, Virginia

James

Marinus

Peninsula Enterprise

Accomac C. H., Va.

October 5, 1929