CLOSING REMARKS. 245 



desirable result, is the better education of our sports- 

 men in all matters connected with sporting, including 

 the manufacture of the gun, the proper loading and 

 handling and carrying of it. We must do away with 

 the ignorance and awkwardness sure to be exhibited 

 when these subjects are not studied in detail. 



Every sportsman knows something about a gun ; 

 but if he has studied it no further than to know how 

 to load it with certain charges, and then shoot with it, 

 however well, he has but little knowledge of the scien- 

 tific operations connected with the weapon itself. 



The gun is an engine of greater variety and more 

 exquisite mechanism than any other of its size. And 

 to be able to use this engine well, one must know 

 all its parts, and the devices for improving its work- 

 ing. 



The study of the proportionate quantity of powder 

 and shot best suited to the character of a gun, is of 

 prime importance to the sportsman ; and, although 

 we seldom hear the subject discussed, yet out of a 

 dozen fair shooters there will hardly be found two who 

 load their guns exactly alike. Of course all cannot 

 be correct in the proportions of powder and shot in 

 their charges. Some sportsmen may say it is ridicu- 

 lous to be so " fussy " about the loading of a gun. 

 And yet these very persons will doubtless close up an 

 argument on this subject with their " rules," thereby 

 making a virtual acknowledgment of the necessity of 

 a general rule. In previous pages I have given what 

 I believe to be the standard rules for loading; 

 and if 2f drachms of powder and \\ ounces of 



