Market hunters in Maryland back in the day. I live in MD and waterfowl hunt and there is a long tradition of that in MD....also a long tradition of eastern shore watermen poaching and playing tag with the game wardens. haha
We would kill to see this many canvas backs these days. The dam killed all of the aquatic celery in the Delaware flats and, I've been told, that they way the celery went is the way the cans went. I have never had the chance to take a shot at one.