From the earliest years of the 20th Century, moon shining was a common and often necessary way for farmers to make money during bad crop years. Local sheriffs often turned a blind eye to this criminal activity as a way of staying in office or having a more enjoyable time while in office.
But that is when the Federal agents stopped it. With no local loyalties, the Feds would lie in wait and swoop down on the stills like lightning.
One unnamed agent had a secret way of finding moonshine stills. During the January term of Federal Court in the Dublin Division, this one super agent had hauled in fifty suspects to appear before the judge.
A sure fire sign of a still was the presence of yellow jackets, which are drawn to the ferment sou mash. In discounting his high success rate, the agent simply said, "Follow the yellowjackets and you will find the moonshine."
@Macon Telegraph, January 23, 1943.
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