On the Easter perimeter of Carteret County are shallow, salty sounds which host large concentrations of migrating birds during the winter months. The area is populated with people who have made a living “on the water” for generations. Among those Andrew Mason is remembered as a dedicated hunter and waterfowl carver.
Mason lived in and around Stacy all of his life. Following a stint in the military during World War I, Mason returned to Stacy where he worked as a commercial fisherman. For twenty years, from about 1930 until 1950, Mason carved a number of decoys. His work consists largely of red heads, canvasback, lesser scaup (known locally as “black heads”) and Canada geese. A number of his decoys can be recognized with the letters “AM” carved into the bottoms.
For additional information
Carteret Waterfowl Heritage, 1993 by Jack Dudley.