With Gun ^ Rod in Canada 



decidedly quick and temperamental in inefficient hands. 

 In case of a tip-over it is comforting to know that 

 neither bark, canvas, nor basswood will sink, so if you 

 get into the water, hang on to the craft. 



The queries about your firearms and examination 

 of them were prompted by a very proper desire to see 

 if the calibres were suitable for the game then in season; 

 to find out if you were foolish enough to carry the gun 

 loaded; and how you handled the gun when taking it 

 out of the case and showing it off. Guns of high power, 

 indiscreetly discharged, are liable to kill someone a mile 

 away; carelessly handled, they may kill the owner, his 

 guide, or blow a hole in the canoe. Never pull a gun 

 towards you by the barrel; never point a gun at anyone 

 (except a German), loaded or unloaded; never leave a 

 loaded gun lying around where it can be picked up by 

 women, children, or other inexperienced persons; and 

 if shooting at a target, be sure of the background of 

 your range; if shooting at an animal in the woods, look 

 for four legs and hairy ears, and then look twice again 

 before pulling the trigger; never carry a gun cocked 

 under any circumstances; the operation of cocking, or 

 throwing off the safety, may be done with sufficient 

 speed while raising the gun to the shoulder; if using a 

 lever-action repeater, don't fail to lower the hammer 

 after you are through shooting, or throw on the safety, 

 or, better still, extract the loaded shell from the breach. 



If your guide is inquisitive about your fishing gear, it 

 is because he wants to be sure that you have a suitable 

 rod, reel, line, leaders, flies, hooks or lures, dip-net or 

 gaff. If your trip is to be a long one in a good fish and 

 game country, you will depend partly upon the spoils 

 of your gun or rod for food, and the guide has to be 

 mighty sure that the necessary utensils are in your outfit 

 for obtaining sustenance this way. 



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