A photograph depicting a day in the life of three shooters at Bool Lagoon in south-eastern South Australia, circa 1900
A gelatin silver cabinet card photograph (image size 100 × 150 mm), on a plain card mount, as issued; 'Bool Lagoon SA South East 1900' is written in pencil on the verso.
Trifling blemishes to the margins of the mount; the photograph is in excellent condition.
'Bool Lagoon on South Australia's Limestone Coast has been the most disputed of the state's game reserves set aside for conserving wildlife and managed seasonal game hunting. Bool Lagoon, south of Naracoorte, was simultaneously declared in 1967 a game reserve ... and a fauna conservation reserve ... While Bool Lagoon is officially a game reserve, in dry years it attracts many species of waterbirds, making it a frequent focus of clashes between duck hunters and animal rights activists.... Another ecological issue is that a lot of lead shot was used by hunters in the past. In recent times, only steel shot has been allowed' (AdelaideAZ website). This image of the three shooters with their shotguns and retriever, surrounded by what must be well over one hundred dead ducks (with yet more in the large hessian bag in the background), might well have struck a similar note of disquiet at the turn of the last century. 'Hunting' does seem to be a dysphemism.
Item #121726
Price (AUD):
$400.00