i 9 4 LETTERS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



other than that of money. He knows what class have the 

 money now ; more than likely he knows what you can afford 

 and will think none the better of you if you fail in the sense 

 of proportion. I could tell you of men who have protested 

 against accepting money at all, and that in these latter days 

 with boots at £3 10s. per pair and decent tea — their main 

 luxury — unobtainable from the remote merchant, and 

 oatmeal — their staple necessity — maintained at a fictitious 

 price to please the farmer, instead of being subsidised as is 

 flour to stop the mouth of the voter. Remember, game- 

 keepers are not a necessity, and thus cannot dictate terms 

 through a union or hold up the country. There is one other 

 point I would like you to be clear upon : some shooters 

 always carry their gun at " safe " until the moment of dis- 

 charge, when almost automatically the thumb presses forward 

 the safety-bolt. This may be, and probably is, a desirable 

 habit to acquire, but on no account whatever should it be 

 made an excuse for treating the gun otherwise than if the bolt 

 were at " danger." In other words, " safe " or not, always 

 carry the weapon as if safety-bolts had not been invented. 

 The correct position is on the shoulder, triggers uppermost, 

 grip on the " small " or the heel plate according to whether 

 a shot is expected or not. Always look through the barrels 

 before loading ; avoid packing the gun in a soft cover below or 

 among others in car or carriage. Neglect of this rule results 

 sooner or later in dints, which require skilled " tapping up," 

 a process which leaves a weak spot. A well known gun- 

 maker with whom I once discussed these dints and their 

 treatment, attributed the frequency of their infliction to the 

 careless " chucking," by " gentlemen's gentlemen," of 

 aluminium shooting seats, with the projecting discs attached, 

 on to the priceless pile of weapons. The safest covers for 

 carrying guns at full length or <f assembled" are made of 

 stout sole leather, the price of which per square foot at the 

 moment is practically prohibitive. 



