200 BAY-SNIPE SHOOTING. 



Notwithstanding the. greatest experience, and de- 

 spite the most favorable signs, the oldest gunner will 

 find that more or less uncertainty exists in obtaining 

 sport, and that his imlucky expeditions generally out- 

 number his lucky ones. Often a flight will commence 

 unexpectedly and without any apparent reason ; 

 and a change of weather, after a long continuance of 

 wind from one quarter, will be followed by good 

 shooting for some days, although such weather is 

 not intrinsically favorable. The follower of bay- 

 birds must therefore make up his mind to disap- 

 pointment, and on such occasions live on his hopes 

 for the future, or his recollections of the past. 



For this sport a heavy gun, such as is commonly 

 employed for ducks, is not at all necessary ; inasmuch 

 as many of the birds are small and the flocks fre- 

 quently scattered, it is rarely desirable to use two 

 ounces of shot and five drachms of powder ; and to 

 fire such a charge at a solitary dowitcher, as is often 

 done, is simply ridiculous. A light field-gun, with 

 an ounce and a quarter of shot and three drachms 

 and a half of powder, (or, as I prefer, an ounce of shot 

 and three drachms of powder,) is amply sufficient 

 will confer more pleasure and require more skill in 

 the use, will cut down a reasonable number from a 

 flock, and will kill a single bird handsomely. 



The gun should be kept at half-cock, and may be 

 laid upon a bench beside the sportsman ; there is 

 always time to cock it, even if a flock is not seen till 

 it is over the stools ; and a gun at full cock in a stand, 

 is a danger that no reasonable man will encounter. 



