78 MANUAL FOE YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



as to have a combination of the two kinds of sport, in 

 nearly equal proportions, and follows both with nearly 

 equal ardor, I know no plan but that he should have a 

 gun of each description ; for the heavy piece it would be 

 too wearisome to carry over hill and over dale, and the 

 lighter will not tell its tale with effect on sea ducks ; while, 

 if a fine and costly article, it will be seriously damaged by 

 the sea mist and salt air; and the finer the finish and 

 engraving, the greater the damage. 



Such a gun ought to be, by choice, as plain as it can 

 be made. Every line of engraving is a positive drawback, 

 only serving to hold rust. The maximum price, which I 

 should hold it desirable to pay for a fowl gun of this de- 

 scription, is one hundred dollars, and for that, or even for 

 eighty, any one of the New York makers I have named, 

 will provide one of undoubted excellence. 



Than this, I think no double gun should be made 

 larger. For boat-shooting in the bays or beaches I recom- 

 mend, what I always use, two single guns of fourteen to 

 sixteen pounds weight, four foot barrels, and 5 gauge. 

 They should be made without ramrod or pipes, which 

 only renders them top-heavy, and provided with a solid 

 loading rod having a round knob on the upper end, and a 

 complete set of cleaning apparatus to screw in at the 

 other. 



These guns will carry four ounces of any sized shot 

 from BB down to 4, and an equal measure of powder, and 

 will kill with loose charges at 80 yards ; with green car- 

 tridges at 100, sure. 



They are English made, and imported; and can be 



