4 SHOOTING AND SALMON FISHING 



Secondly, — He will never count the pleasure of a day's 

 sport by the number of head killed ; and he should be able 

 to derive keen enjoyment from the mere fact of having a gun 

 in his hands vi^ith a chance of using it, if even only now and 

 again ; and it should ever be reckoned the greater the diffi- 

 culties to be overcome, the greater is the pleasure to be had 

 ifrom surmounting them. 



Thirdly, — He should be able to sleep in a shepherd's bothy 

 and hob-nob with the fleas, while dining with their happy owner 

 off porridge washed down with cold spring water ; but likewise 

 he should be able to "go nap" through sixteen courses of the 

 best, while neither of the above-named events, or any happy 

 medium, should affect his walking or his shooting the next day. 



Fourthly, — He should be sound in wind and limb, un- 

 tirable, undefeatable, and quick to take advantage of all chances 

 presenting themselves ; and in every shot there is ever the 

 right and the wrong moment in which to pull the trigger. 



Fifthly, — He should not be a jealous shot ; he should not 

 fire long shots ; and in cover he should make it a hard and fast 

 rule NEVER to fire low shots. What are long shots, each one 

 must, to some extent, settle for himself; but using forty-three 

 grains of Schultze and a full ounce of No. 5 shot, with 

 "Field" loading and a very slight choke, the author tries to 

 limit himself to shots that are not over fifty yards, and up to 

 that distance he has satisfied himself at the plate it is entirely 

 his own fault if misses be made. 



In cover shooting or when driving it is easy to judge the 

 chosen distance, almost to a yard, by fixing on some object 

 on either side ; and should game pass wide of these points, 

 steadfastly resolve to let it go by unmolested. 



Sixthly, — He should be punctual to a moment, and he 

 should be quiet, and not raise his voice louder than needful. 

 He should walk the pace his host sets, and pride himself on 

 keeping exact line. The host should regulate his pace to one 

 which he sees is pleasant to his friends, and if there be a very 



