Aeroplane flights called thirty thousand people through the gates the second day of the ten days' meet. This is the biggest crowd, I believe, that ever paid admission to an aviation meet, in this country, and probably the largest that has ever attended any outdoor attraction except the world's series baseball games and the few big football games. In addition, there was a considerable crowd on the outside who did not pay admission, but the actual paid admissions on Sunday were more than thirty thousand. This third annual meet did better than either of those held during the two previous years, and this, I am convinced, proves that aviation is a standard and lasting attraction. CHAPTER II FUTURE SURPRISES OF THE AEROPLANE–HUNTING, TRAVEL, MAIL, WIRELESS, LIFE-SAVING, AND OTHER SPECIAL USES Many will be the future uses of the aeroplane; special uses not necessarily dependent on speed. Sportsmen are likely to find in the aeroplane, especially in the hydro, an admirable vehicle for hunting, aside from their interest in its racing capacity. Already there is pending in the California legislature a bill designed to regulate shooting from an aeroplane, intended as an addition to the California aeroplane traffic regulations, described later. While this bill is probably intended as more or less of a joke, it has been thoroughly demonstrated that it is possible to shoot wild ducks from an aeroplane. Hubert Latham proved this fact in his Antoinette monoplane at Los Angeles. Latham flew from Dominguez Field to the Bolsa Chica Gun Club on the shore of the Pacific, ten miles away, and chased wild ducks for thirty minutes, finally bagging one. The sportsmen of California thought they saw in this feat of Latham's the near approach of a time when the aeroplane would be utilised for exterminating game, and seemed much exercised over the incident. The newspapers saw only the humour of the incident, however, and the sportsmen were quickly reassured. Latham, not content with this achievement and thirsting for new thrills, said that he was going to fly up into the Rocky Mountains and shoot grizzly bears. His last undertaking was to take his aeroplane with him to the Congo where he went to hunt big game and to use the aeroplane in this novel and sensational sport. Strange to relate, after having braved all the dangers of the air, he met his fate by being gored to death by a wounded and infuriated wild buffalo, in July, 1912.