M SPORTSMAN'S HAND BOOK. 



his plows in the fence corner with no fear of their rusting. 

 The real causes of spots in gun barrels are various. 



I believe, with one of your correspondents, that the 

 grades of powder that are called the best have more or less 

 to do with it. The cheaper grades of powder, in our days 

 of adulteration, have incorporated in them more-or less soda 

 in some shape. In blasting powder, soda is used altogether 

 instead of nitre; and soda is known to be one of the best rust 

 preventives we have. Any machinist who has ever used a 

 solution of sal-soda for drilling, or as a drop on the tool 

 when turning shafting, knows the same will not rust even if 

 allowed to lie about the shop or yard for months. I find 

 one of your correspondents changed from the higher to the 

 lower grade of powder and found a cure for the rust busi- 

 ness. I believe, in all business, results are what men are 

 after. I have used, in comparison, the very best grades of 

 powder, from C. & H. down, and have found by actual expe- 

 rience that just as good results are obtained from the lower 

 grades of our best powder makers. 



I am the "Californian " referred to by Mr. Beebe, and 

 the fact referred to, that leaving your gun after shooting 

 without cleaning until the gun is to be used again would 

 preserve the inside in good condition, was first brought to 

 my attention in California, at Lawson's Meadow, on the 

 headwaters of the North Fork of Feather River, where I 

 was prospecting. In going to the meadows I found the 

 slough and bayous literally covered with ducks of all kinds. 

 With my rifle I could make poor headway with the ducks. 

 I went to Mr. Knight (who was running a ferry and the only 

 man living in the meadows at the time) and asked if he had 

 a shotgun. He had not; but thought there was in his wood- 

 shed an old army musket that some '49er had left there. He 

 did not know what condition it was in, as he had not seen 

 it for several years. This was in 1856. We went in search 



